The Managed Security Services (MSS) market in the United States was valued at $6.7 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15.4% through 2030. In this context, integrating external cybersecurity into managed services has become a strategic move for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) seeking to expand their offerings, strengthen their value proposition, and position themselves as full-spectrum partners in digital security.

What Defines External Cybersecurity

Unlike internal threats — which originate from within the organization — external threats arise in environments outside the company’s direct control: social media, marketplaces, forums, fake apps, cloned domains, and the deep and dark web. In this fragmented landscape, external cybersecurity becomes a critical layer to anticipate risks to the brand, digital channels, and corporate data. These include phishing, typosquatting, fraudulent profiles, illegal content distribution, data leaks, and exploitation attempts based on exposed credentials or known vulnerabilities.

Detecting threats in uncontrolled environments requires continuous monitoring of the external attack surface, takedown automation, threat analysis in closed spaces, and intelligence to identify insider recruitment attempts or vulnerability mentions before they escalate. External cybersecurity platforms extend the organization’s defensive capabilities beyond its internal perimeter — and are now a strategic pillar of any modern digital defense strategy.

How External Cybersecurity Can Expand an MSP/MSSP’s Portfolio

For managed service providers, the strategic question is no longer “how to protect the perimeter?” — but “how to protect everything outside of it?” This includes everything from fake social media profiles to leaked data in dark web forums — as well as phishing, typosquatting, illegal distribution of digital assets, and malicious domains. Adopting an external cybersecurity platform enables the delivery of brand protection, deep and dark web monitoring, attack surface mapping, and automated takedown services — all integrated into the existing digital protection portfolio.

By integrating a threat intelligence solution focused on external environments, you position yourself as a strategic partner — able to deliver extended visibility over reputational risks, fraud, and leaks, even across assets the client may not be aware are exposed. This translates into higher retention, competitive differentiation, and new revenue streams.

Why Integrate External Cybersecurity

1. Clients Demand Broader Solutions
   Organizations that hire managed services are increasingly aware of the importance of protecting their external digital assets. Trust in a provider capable of anticipating and mitigating external risks has become a key selection and retention criterion. 

2. Portfolio Expansion with High Revenue Potential

   External cybersecurity services enable higher-value contracts, better margins, and predictable revenue. They also increase switching costs, driving client loyalty. For MSPs, this strategic evolution into an MSSP does not require complex restructuring when supported by scalable platforms like Axur..

3. Automation and Operational Efficiency
   Adopting solutions with robust automation capabilities allows service scaling without proportional headcount increases. With Axur’s platform, for example, it’s possible to launch managed security services in under three hours, using preconfigured models and multi-tenant architecture. Automated detection, analysis, and response reduce operational effort and increase delivery speed.

How to Start Offering External Cybersecurity

To integrate external cybersecurity into your portfolio, the first step is identifying where your clients are vulnerable outside the traditional perimeter. Ask yourself: are they exposed on public digital channels? Is their brand being used in phishing campaigns or fake profiles? Have there been corporate or user data leaks on the deep/dark web? These threats occur outside the infrastructure monitored by traditional solutions — and are often ignored until they cause visible damage.

Platforms like Axur typically provide visibility through Threat Scan and access to Threat Hunting tools that support partner prospecting and help uncover these types of opportunities.

Use Cases by Industry: How External Cybersecurity Delivers Real Value to Your Clients

The application of external cybersecurity varies by business profile — but the risks are always real, frequent, and often invisible to those only looking inside the perimeter. By understanding how these threats manifest across different sectors, managed service providers can identify clear value opportunities, justify new contracts, and expand their clients’ security coverage with tangible results.

Below are the most common risk scenarios and how an external cybersecurity platform can help protect brands, data, and digital channels in typical MSP and MSSP client segments.

🛒 E-commerce and Retail

Top external risks

• Phishing, website cloning with fake checkouts
• Exploitation of vulnerabilities
• Fake profiles on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok
• Customer data leaks through integrated systems
  
  

How to deliver value

• Automatic detection and takedown of fraudulent domains
• Monitoring of brand mentions and suspicious campaigns on social media
• Detection of leaked data in forums and closed groups
• Visibility into alerts that impact trust and conversion
  
  

🏦 Financial Services, Fintechs, and Payment Platforms

Top external risks

• Phishing using the brand on fake websites and apps
• Targeted attacks by threat actors
• Sensitive data leaks (clients or transactions)
• Fake profiles on support channels
  
  

How to deliver value

• Continuous brand monitoring with takedown capabilities
• Curated threat intelligence alerts focused on the external attack surface
• Alerts for leaked credentials and payment data
• Fraud reduction directly affecting end clients
  
  

🎓 Education and EdTech

Top external risks

• Illegal sharing of paid content
• Public disclosure of internal links, exams, or credentials
• Fake profiles offering “free access” to courses
• Student data leaks (login, ID, grades)
  
  

How to deliver value

• Detection of unauthorized content on the web and dark web
• Automated removal of unauthorized links and materials
• Continuous monitoring of exposed credentials and sensitive mentions
• Reputation and business model protection

🏭 Industry, B2B, and Manufacturing

Top external risks

• Brand misuse in scams involving suppliers or partners
• Forgotten domains (shadow IT) being exploited in attacks
• Leaks of business documents or confidential projects
• Cloned websites or institutional materials
  
  

How to deliver value

• Mapping and monitoring of the external attack surface
• Detection of critical exposures that may go unnoticed internally
• Identification of fraud attempts involving brand or executives
• Curated threat intelligence with actionable recommendations

Axur’s Offer for Managed Service Providers

Axur offers an external cybersecurity platform specifically designed to support MSPs and MSSPs in growth. Our focus is on full external attack surface coverage, powered by proprietary artificial intelligence technology and API integrations with ecosystems like Splunk, ServiceNow, and custom Webhooks.

If you want to learn more about how to integrate external cybersecurity into your portfolio — and start selling more projects while increasing revenue — get in touch with us.