The AI Landscape for MSPs – Managing Governance, Compliance, and Cyber Threats

05/15/25 • 32 min

Beyond the Horizon: Future-Focused MSP Insights

In this episode of the Beyond the Horizon podcast, Pete Roythorne sits down with Nicole Reineke, Senior Director of AI Strategy at N-able, to explore the fast-changing world of AI and its impact on managed service providers (MSPs). From the weaponization of AI in cybersecurity to the critical role of data governance and ethical compliance, this conversation delves deep into both the potential and peril of emerging AI technologies.

Nicole brings a wealth of experience and insight, breaking down how MSPs can better prepare for the future of AI by adopting responsible governance frameworks, understanding vendor responsibilities, and embracing AI tools that are rapidly becoming essential to staying competitive. Whether you're just starting your AI journey or looking to scale responsibly, this episode is packed with actionable insights and thoughtful commentary.

Episode Summary:
Pete and Nicole discuss:

How AI is being weaponized to identify misconfigurations and vulnerabilities in IT infrastructure.
The growing responsibility of vendors in embedding safe, ethical AI practices into their platforms.
Insights from the MSP Horizons Report on how partners are adapting to AI governance, oversight, and ethical compliance.
Why scripting with AI is getting safer—and how different AI models are starting to specialize in specific domains.
The future of personalized AI assistants, and how MSPs of all sizes can begin building AI-driven workflows.
Real red flags the industry should be paying attention to in order to avoid falling behind.
Practical tools and resources MSPs can use today to implement responsible AI.

Key Takeaways:

AI Governance Is No Longer Optional: MSPs and vendors alike must take an active role in implementing governance frameworks to meet compliance and ethical standards.
Vendors Are Central to AI Adoption: Most MSPs rely on vendor-integrated AI solutions—placing the burden of responsibility and innovation on technology providers.
Specialization in AI Models: Different platforms (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT) are proving to excel in different areas, making a multi-model strategy increasingly relevant.
Weaponized AI in Cybersecurity: Threat actors are leveraging AI to find and exploit vulnerabilities faster than ever, underscoring the need for proactive defense.

Recommended Resources from Nicole:

Top AI newsletters, podcasts, and thought leaders she follows.
Tools and frameworks that help MSPs experiment safely with AI—no massive budget required.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational information about issues that may be relevant to information technology service providers. Nothing in the podcast should be construed as any recommendation or endorsement by N-able, or as legal or any other advice. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by N-able employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of N-able or its officers and directors. The podcast may also contain forward-looking statements regarding future product plans, functionality, or development efforts that should not be interpreted as a commitment from N-able related to any deliverables or timeframe. All content is based on information available at the time of recording, and N-able has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. https://www.n-able.com

Episode Summary:
Pete and Nicole discuss:

How AI is being weaponized to identify misconfigurations and vulnerabilities in IT infrastructure.
The growing responsibility of vendors in embedding safe, ethical AI practices into their platforms.
Insights from the MSP Horizons Report on how partners are adapting to AI governance, oversight, and ethical compliance.
Why scripting with AI is getting safer—and how different AI models are starting to specialize in specific domains.
The future of personalized AI assistants, and how MSPs of all sizes can begin building AI-driven workflows.
Real red flags the industry should be paying attention to in order to avoid falling behind.
Practical tools and resources MSPs can use today to implement responsible AI.

Key Takeaways:

AI Governance Is No Longer Optional: MSPs and vendors alike must take an active role in implementing governance frameworks to meet compliance and ethical standards.
Vendors Are Central to AI Adoption: Most MSPs rely on vendor-integrated AI solutions—placing the burden of responsibility and innovation on technology providers.
Specialization in AI Models: Different platforms (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT) are proving to excel in different areas, making a multi-model strategy increasingly relevant.
Weaponized AI in Cybersecurity: Threat actors are leveraging AI to find and exploit vulnerabilities faster than ever, underscoring the need for proactive defense.

Recommended Resources from Nicole:

Top AI newsletters, podcasts, and thought leaders she follows.
Tools and frameworks that help MSPs experiment safely with AI—no massive budget required.

Previous Episode

Business Learnings from the UK’s M&S and Co-op Hacks

In this special edition of Beyond the Horizon podcast, head security expert Lewis Pope takes a deep dive into recent high-profile cyberattacks in the UK — particularly those affecting Co-op and M&S. He analyzes what happened, who's behind the incidents, and what businesses can learn from these attacks to bolster their own cyber resilience.

Key Topics Covered:

Rapid Incident Response:
Insights into how swiftly Co-op reacted, with prepared public statements almost immediately after the breach.
The M&S Cyberattack:
Discussion on whether exploited vulnerabilities were previously known and patchable.
Ransomware Groups in Focus:
In-depth exploration of DragonForce and the Scattered Spider group — their tactics, trends, and what makes them notable.
Lessons for Business Leaders:
Critical takeaways for organizations on preparedness, patching, response protocols, and interdepartmental coordination (e.g., involving HR in resilience planning).
Wider Resilience Threats:
Exploration of physical infrastructure vulnerabilities like undersea cable threats and recent power outages in Europe, and how freak weather and climate shifts intersect with cybersecurity.

Lewis emphasizes that resilience isn’t just a technical issue—it’s an organizational one, requiring involvement from abroad range of departments including HR, facilities, IT, and executive leadership. Cybersecurity today is about more than just prevention. It’s about response readiness, cross-functional resilience, and understanding the expanding threat landscape—both digital and physical.

N-able also produces Now That's It: Stories of MSP Success. This Podcast explores stories of how leading MSPs and other Channel leaders built their businesses, and how they overcame the challenges they faced to get to where they are today. Inspiring, educational, and often heartfelt this is a must for anyone looking to build their own business. You can listen to Now That's It on your favourite streaming service or watch it on YouTube.