Acronis TRU Security Day Boston 2025, held in person on May 22 at the Seaport Hotel, brought together MSPs from the region for a full day of insights into cybersecurity and business growth. The event’s educational sessions zeroed in on how MSPs can turn challenges like compliance demands and advanced threats into strategic advantages.
When most channel professionals think of Acronis, they think of backup. That’s still part of Acronis’ DNA, but its evolution into a full-scale cloud platform began in 2014. Over the past year, the company’s technologies prevented more than 7.5 million cyberattacks, showcasing a proactive defense capability that resonated with attendees seeking stronger protection for clients.
At the same time, MSP adoption of Acronis security solutions has surged. Over half of Acronis partners now use one or more of its security tools, and protected workloads have grown 188% year-over-year. This growth, coupled with the organization’s strong commitment to the IT channel, set an optimistic tone at the event. With the right cybersecurity offerings, service providers can drive both client safety and new revenue.
Monetizing Compliance: From Obligation to Opportunity
In a panel titled Solving Compliance Challenges to Close Deals, experts explored how following frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, and state privacy laws can be a differentiator in a competitive market. The takeaway: MSPs that proactively address compliance can win client trust and new business. Instead of merely checking a box, compliance should be positioned as part of a broader value proposition.
According to the panel’s experts, MSPs can win by highlighting how their compliance-ready solutions reduce client risk and simplify audits. Acronis is supporting this approach not only with technology but also enablement: through its #CyberFit Partner Program and MSP Academy training, partners now have free access to extensive compliance and security education. The emphasis was clear – those MSPs who embrace compliance as an opportunity are poised to stand out and close more deals.
Turning Security Services into Profit Centers
Gerald Beuchelt (pictured left)
Another recurring theme was “security-as-profit” – how MSPs can move beyond basic defense and actually grow revenue with cybersecurity services. Acronis executives and analysts provided data-driven context: the cyber threat landscape continues to worsen, but that in turn is fueling demand for expert security services.
According to Acronis Threat Research Unit (TRU) findings, attacks on MSPs and their clients have skyrocketed. One recent report noted a 197% increase in detected threats in late 2024 vs. 2023, including a sharp rise in phishing and ransomware targeting service providers. But event speakers hammered home that no industry is immune. Everyone needs to invest in cybersecurity.
In Cyber Stats You Can Sell, Acronis CISO Gerald Beuchelt demonstrated how MSPs can use cybersecurity statistics and real-world incident reports in their sales conversations. By sharing regional threat insights (for example, prevalent malware types or breach costs in a client’s industry), an MSP can quantify risks and showcase the value of advanced protections.
Maximizing the Microsoft Stack (and Everything Else)
Pat Hurley
With many MSPs building services around the Microsoft ecosystem, it was no surprise that Unlocking the Microsoft Stack for MSP Growth was a key session. The audience heard from Acronis’ Vice President & General Manager, Americas, Pat Hurley, on ways to enhance profitability and efficiency by layering value on top of Microsoft’s most popular services.
Acronis, for its part, has been doubling down on integrations with Microsoft tools – a strategy validated by a recent announcement that its platform boasts nearly 300 technology integrations overall. In fact, Acronis partners have collectively activated over 11,000 integrations, including deep ties with Microsoft Intune for device management, Entra ID (Azure AD) for identity, and Sentinel for SIEM/SOAR.
“We very confidently believe we have the most complete and comprehensive solution for Microsoft 365, again, purpose-built for MSPs in a unified integrated platform. We connect with Azure as well. We have a lot of different capabilities that you guys can exploit as service providers. Not just protect clients, but also to boost your profitability and bottom line,” Hurley said.
Platform consolidation was a recurring refrain. MSPs shared their experiences of eliminating redundant tools and unifying workflows, which directly translated into saved admin time and lower costs. Acronis’ open ecosystem approach means an MSP can plug in other common applications, too. Remote monitoring and management platforms like ConnectWise, network monitoring tools like Auvik, and automation tools such as Rewst can send alerts and data into the Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud console.
Peer Insights: Growing an MSP Business Securely
Beyond the technology and products, Acronis TRU Security Day Boston put a spotlight on the human side of running a successful MSP. A candid fireside chat, Growing Your MSP: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why, featured MSP leaders sharing hard-won lessons. The panelists stressed fundamentals: invest in your people, standardize processes, and don’t skimp on your own security. In a complex threat environment, scaling an MSP safely requires internal discipline as much as external solutions.
One key topic was the challenge of hiring and training quality cybersecurity staff. The free Acronis MSP Academy was cited as a useful tool to develop and retain talented technicians.
Gaidar Magdanurov
Selling Cybersecurity: Wisdom from Acronis President Gaidar Magdanurov
“Security today isn’t just antivirus. It has to be a complete system that covers your endpoints, servers, and cloud services. It means disaster recovery, remote management, and proactive monitoring. If you’re missing pieces, you’re not fully protected, and that leads to downtime. I’ve been on countless calls where partners focus on technical features like failover and testing, but customers don’t care about that. They care about cost.
“If you can show them how much downtime is costing them each month, and how a small investment can cut that by 80%, the conversation moves fast. Add to that the ability to test and validate backups automatically and send reports, and now you’re talking real value. The story starts with prevention and savings. It’s about reducing risk, staying compliant, and qualifying for cyber insurance. With the Acronis platform, you already have the tools—you just need to turn them on. No extra agents, no complexity, just more protection for your clients.”
Key Takeaways for MSP Leaders
Wrapping up TRU Security Day Boston 2025, a clear picture emerged of Acronis’ vision for MSPs and how recent innovations support it. Compliance, advanced security, and integration were not just buzzwords but tangible areas where MSPs can differentiate and profit.
For the MSP leaders in attendance, the event’s educational content boiled down to this:
- Make compliance a selling point: Don’t just help clients meet regulations, use that capability to stand out. Align with vendors like Acronis that embed compliance features into their platforms. Then, train your sales team to articulate the business value of compliance (less downtime, avoided fines, etc.) in dollar terms.
- Embrace integrated security platforms: Adopt a unified platform can slash your overhead and improve security outcomes. With Acronis, MSPs can consolidate endpoints, backups, identity, and more in one place, gaining both operational efficiency and richer data to inform responses.
- Leverage threat intelligence and XDR capabilities: Clients face threats of increasing volume and complexity, but MSPs now have access to enterprise-grade detection and response tools purpose-built for them. If you haven’t already, evaluate solutions like Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud with XDR. It can bring advanced threat visibility into reach for MSPs without hiring a dedicated security team.
- Invest in partnerships and people: The event underscored that success in the MSP business is a combination of the right technology and the right teamwork. Take advantage of vendor programs, trainings, and marketing resources. Join security-focused communities and learn from security professionals throughout the industry. Develop a culture of security within your own company. Use the same best practices that you preach, and never stop innovating.
