If you’re an MSP or MSSP that is tired of cobbling together risk assessments and compliance reports manually then Cynomi wants your attention. The AI-powered virtual CISO (vCISO) platform vendor has rolled out ELEVATE, a partner program built to help service providers grow faster, operate leaner, and unlock new revenue streams.
It’s 100% channel-only, which means no competition from the vendor itself. But the bigger story is what the program brings to the table: quick ramp-up, no installation headaches, a full enablement stack, and high-margin services that let small teams play like big ones.
Interview with a Cynomi Partner
Meet John Lutfy
John Lutfy
ChannelPro spoke to Cynomi partner John Lutfy, president of InfraNet Solutions, to discuss the news. InfraNet, an IT solutions provider out of Quincy, MA, has been a Cynomi partner for about a year.
“The relationship has been really good. We’ve been moving into vCISO services and was as the perfect tool to round out that service,” he said. “We’re excited about the ELEVATE news. Cynomi has been a consistent partner when it comes to support and resources, and it’s getting even better.”
An example of the resources and support is in-depth research. Cynomi’s new State of the vCISO Report suggests that vCISO services are taking off in the industry and that MSPs should take notice. The data collected showed a 319% year-over-year jump in MSPs offering vCISO services.
“We’ve been looking at that report and finding ways to leverage that with our existing customers,” Lutfy shared. “We view reports like this as a sales opportunity. We’ll share out key stats, include them in our newsletters, and on social media as well.”
WHAT MSPs GET WITH ELEVATE
Take a Closer Look
- Zero Setup, Immediate Deployment: Partners can start offering AI-powered vCISO services without onboarding delays.
- Full Enablement Stack: Access sales and technical training, marketing support, and tools for ongoing success.
- Revenue Boosters: Built-in assessments and solution mapping help drive upsells and expand your client footprint.
- Performance Tiers: The more you grow, the more benefits you unlock, including co-marketing and deeper support.
With over 300 partners already using its vCISO platform, Cynomi’s goal is to cut down manual work and turn cybersecurity into a service that any MSP can offer — regardless of its size.
Learn more about the big vCISO opportunity for MSPs in this upcoming ChannelPro webinar presented by Cynomi.
Frequently Asked Questions
State of the vCISO Report 2025
Key stats from the Cynomi State of the vCISO Report
Q: What’s the Methodology Behind the Report?
A: The report is based on a May 2025 survey by Global Surveyz of 200 senior (director level or higher) MSP and MSSP leaders in the U.S. and Canada from companies meeting minimum employee thresholds. This ensures consistent year-over-year comparisons.
Q: How Popular Are vCISO Services?
A: Very popular. Adoption has surged from 21% of providers in 2024 to 67% in 2025 — a 319% increase. Demand among SMB clients is also high, with 96% of IT providers surveyed reporting either high or moderate demand.
Q: Why Should My MSP Offer vCISO Services?
A: vCISO services let you move up the value chain and transition from reactive support to proactive leadership. It creates stickier client relationships, opens new revenue streams, and sets your MSP apart from competitors offering only technical services.
Q: What Drives Demand for vCISO Services?
A: SMBs want proactive, structured security programs. Rising regulations push compliance readiness, and many view cybersecurity strategy as a growth driver, not just defense.
Q: What Are the Most Promising AI Use Cases in vCISO Work?
A: Top areas include compliance readiness, task prioritization, client communication, automated reporting, and risk assessments, along with automating manual tasks and remediation planning.
ChannelPro Executive Director of Content & Engagement Jonathan Browning has been a leader in the IT channel for close to a decade. He’s an avid fan of technology, and believes the managed services industry is the most important driver of economic growth and human innovation on Earth.
Images: iStock, Cynomi
