Top Five Access Security Topics for MSPs | SSH

Cybersecurity has been a part of core offering for Managed Service Providers (MSP) for some time now.  Recently, secure access to targets and environments has taken the center stage, since access control, goverance and secrets management are all under scrutinty by customers and regulators alike. 

Here's an overview of the trends and specific concerns currently top of mind for MSPs regarding access security: 

1. Human-Centric Security Risks 

Human error remains the leading attack vector: Most breaches now originate from weak passwords, phishing, misdirected emails, or mishandled credentials. Since credentials are at the hear of many breaches, securing them should be a priority for MSPs as well. Points to consider include: 

• Vaulting or managing credentials like critical passwords and SSH keys and then rotating them 

• Migrating to passwordless and keyless authentication methods, since they eliminate the need to manage permanent credentials lingering in the managed environment or endpoint devices  

• Using Secure Mail with sender and receiver verification when sharing confidential or customer information with email 

2. Endpoint threat from BYOD and shadow IT 

The blending of personal and work devices, with up to 92% of remote workers using personal devices for work tasks, exposes networks to major risks. In addition to unsecure password management, ensuring user ID and device security are a priority. Therefore, MSPs need to: 

• Use strong user ID verification methods, such as biometric authentication 

• Ensure only verified and secure devices can access critical environments by using Device Trust 

• Continously monitor sessions for anomalies, like antivirus tool being disabled during the session 
• Prevent policy-violating or anomalous access attemps, for example, based on time, location, or ID 

3. Regulatory Compliance & Proof of Security 

Regulations are getting stricter worldwide: requirements like the CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) and GDPR-equivalents are pushing MSPs to demonstrate not only controls but proactive compliance strategies and transparent audit trails for access management. The following capabilities will help MSPs avoid fines and build customer trust: 

• Providing tamper-proof audit trail of activities for authorities and customers to demonstrate security maturity 

• Recording sessions to demonstrate compliance

• Monitoring critical sessions live for four-eyes inspection 

4. Access Management 

Since MSPs manage critical customer environments, every access to such environment is privileged and should be protected with the best Zero Trust principldes. It is not enough to verify IDs but to: 

• Ensure that every session has the minimal privileges to get the job done by linking the verified identity to the right role for for the duration of the session. 

• Ensure automatic off-boarding of the session once the task has been completed

• Use worklows for task approvals and get external authorization for particularly critical sessions 

• Have a centralized access management solution to manage internal, external and third-party users in a consistent fashion

5. Future-Proofing Security

MSPs can stay a step ahead in the access security game by future-proofing their environments. Key elemnts in this regard include: 

• Preparing for quantum-safe encryption to prepare for the threat posed by quantum computing. Building a crypto inventory helps determining what assets and connections to protect first 
• Using quantum-safe connections to protect absolutely critical data transmissions 

• Applying AI-powered analytics for behavioral anomaly detection, real-time alerts, and automated threat responses to secure access

PrivX Just-in-Time PAM for MSP access security 

The MSP security conversation in 2025 is shaped by rising human-centric risks, more demanding compliance and audit requirements, the mainstreaming of Zero Trust, BYOD & remote access risk, the need to right-size critical access with minimal effort and preparing for quantum threats. 

MSPs who proactively address these issues will be better positioned to demonstrate credibility, retain client trust, and remain compliant in an ever-evolving threat environment. 

PrivX Just-in-Time PAM by SSH Communications Security (SSH) is just the solution for MSPs to boost their access management security.

PS. Check out our white paper on how MSPs can reduce access management risk, complexity and costs in customer environments..