SMBs Hit a Cybersecurity Breaking Point as 91% Fear AI-Driven Attacks, Driving Shift to MSP-Led Security Models, WatchGuard Finds
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/smbs-hit-cybersecurity-breaking-point-040000344.html
Publish Date: 2026-05-20 00:00:00
Source Domain: au.finance.yahoo.com
New global research shows internal teams can’t keep pace, fueling demand for always-on, outcome-driven security services
SEATTLE, May 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — New research from WatchGuard® Technologies, a global leader in unified cybersecurity for MSPs, reveals that while most businesses believe they are adequately staffed, the complexity, speed, and scale of modern threats – especially those powered by artificial intelligence – have outpaced what internal teams can realistically manage.
The result is a fundamental shift away from do-it-yourself security toward externally delivered, always-on protection models.
According to the study of nearly 1,000 IT and cybersecurity leaders across 20 countries, 91% of organizations are concerned about AI-driven cyberattacks, while 75% experienced at least one cyber incident in the past year. At the same time, 54% say they lack the ability to deliver continuous 24/7 monitoring and response, and 67% need additional support to meet growing compliance demands.
Together, these pressures are forcing organizations to rethink how cybersecurity is delivered – and who is responsible for it.
From Internal Function to External Service Model
Despite investments in staffing and tools, internal IT teams are reaching their limits. The research shows that cybersecurity challenges are no longer driven by lack of awareness, but by an unsustainable operational burden.
Nearly half (48%) of organizations already rely on managed service providers (MSPs) to supplement their internal teams, signaling a broader shift toward MSPs as primary cybersecurity partners rather than secondary support.
“This is not a skills gap; it’s a capacity gap,” said Joe Smolarski, CEO of WatchGuard Technologies. “Organizations understand the risks. What they lack is the ability to monitor, detect, and respond at the speed and scale required today. Cybersecurity is moving beyond what internal teams can handle alone, creating…
