For MSPs and TSPs serving the small and medium business market, the security conversation has fundamentally changed. Cyber risk is a commercial, operational and insurability issue. As threats grow in frequency and impact, the question is no longer whether to introduce minimum security standards for clients, but how to do so in a way that protects both the MSP and the customer.
This is where SMB1001, and specifically a mandatory minimum Silver compliance level, becomes a compelling proposition.
SMB1001 Silver requirements
Silver SMB1001 ensures that fundamental security disciplines are in place, requiring organisations to:
- Document core cyber security policies and assign clear accountabilities, and Provide staff with security awareness training + acceptable-use guidance
- Identify and assess cyber risks including systems, data, and users
- Implement essential technical controls such as access management, backups, and endpoint protection
- Establish basic incident response and recovery processes
What’s in it for me?
1. Reduced inherited risk
MSPs inherit client risk. A single poorly secured customer can become an entry point for attackers targeting shared tools, credentials or supply chains. By enforcing a minimum standard, MSPs dramatically reduce the likelihood of preventable incidents.
2. Greater operational efficiency
Supporting clients with different security postures is costly and inefficient. When every client meets a defined baseline, onboarding becomes smoother, documentation is consistent and support teams spend less time compensating for avoidable gaps, improving scalability and service quality.
3. Accountability and commercial protection
One of the most common challenges MSPs face is being blamed for incidents that stem from ignored advice or unmanaged risk. SMB1001 formalises expectations. Building minimum requirements into client agreements clarifies responsibilities, records decisions and informs difficult post-incident conversations.
4. Market Differentiation
Requiring SMB1001 Silver positions the MSP as security-led professionals rather than a reactive IT suppliers. It signals maturity, consistency and a commitment to best practice, helping you stand out in a market where “cyber” is often promised but inconsistently delivered.
At an absolute minimum, any organisation beyond a single person should be treating SMB1001 Silver as the baseline. It provides a practical, stable, and insurable foundation for cybersecurity without unnecessary complexity.
The Message For Clients
The word “mandatory” can feel uncomfortable, but framed correctly, SMB1001 is a safeguard for both parties. Partners that successfully introduce this approach tend to position it as a shared commitment to resilience, insurability, and professionalism.
- A clear and achievable security baseline
Many small businesses know they have cyber risk but feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice and complex frameworks. Silver SMB1001 provides a clear, right-sized starting point that aligns with their scale and resources. - Improved cyber insurability
Cyber insurers are raising the bar, and for many policies, Silver-level controls now represent the minimum threshold for cover. Making SMB1001 mandatory helps clients remain insurable, avoid exclusions and prevent premium increases driven by poor security posture. - Reduced likelihood and impact of incidents
At Silver level, organisations have the controls in place that stop the most common attacks and significantly improve recovery when something does go wrong. This reduces downtime, data loss and reputational damage. - Predictable investment instead of crisis spending
By embedding SMB1001 into their managed services relationship, clients move away from unpredictable, reactive incident costs and towards planned, manageable investment in resilience.
When I conduct my annual IT review I have SMB1001 as one of the line entries on the security status checklist.
By making Silver SMB1001 a requirement, MSPs protect their own businesses, elevate the quality of their client base, and help small organisations operate more securely in an increasingly hostile digital environment. A minimum cyber security standard is simply good business – for you and your clients.
Need help building an SMB1001 practice? Manage Protect can help you structure and manage your SMB1001 offering – Get in touch today.
