Managed service providers are pulling ahead of internal security teams when it comes to AI. That’s the headline from Cynet’s Global AI Security Readiness Report, which surveyed 1,600 people across nine countries.
The gap is real. MSPs reported using AI tools in 60% of security functions — things like automated remediation and AI copilots. In-house teams? Just 44%.
MSPs also expressed more confidence in their threat detection and response capabilities. And they have reason to be confident: only 22% of MSP clients reported a security incident in the past two years. Among in-house teams, that number was 60%.
Both groups agreed on their biggest worry: AI-powered phishing and social engineering. That was the top concern for 39% of MSPs and 40% of in-house teams. Identity-based attacks came in second.
The report suggests the gap may close soon. 59% of in-house teams said they plan to bring in MSPs to help deploy new AI-driven security capabilities. Even when budgets increase, some organizations are finding it harder to build AI security expertise internally than to buy it.
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