N-able’s newest enhancement to its Cove Data Protection platform introduces a stronger safety net to the IT channel. N-able anomaly detection for MSPs helps spot suspicious behavior in customer environments, sometimes even before attackers reveal themselves.
With the addition of Anomaly Detection as a Service (ADaaS), N-able has woven early threat detection directly into Cove Data Protection. The feature uses tools such as Honeypots to spot and isolate malicious activity before it impacts real backups. This gives MSPs more time to respond, bolster resilience, and protect clients without adding complexity.
N-able Chief Technology and Product Officer Michael Adler told ChannelPro the feature builds on a fundamental truth: “Attackers are getting smarter. They’re going after the data before they reveal themselves to their intended target.”
By monitoring for unusual data activity, such as changes in file behavior or access patterns, the system can alert MSPs to early warning signs of compromise, Adler explained. “We’ve actually seen a couple of occurrences now where we notified a customer and said, ‘Are you really deleting these devices?’ They were like, ‘Wait a second, we didn’t do those activities.’ You have ransomware inside your environment.”
That kind of visibility, Adler added, is key to ensuring that restores remain clean and reliable. It gives MSPs and their clients greater confidence in their ability to recover quickly without paying a ransom.
Mike Adler
From Detection to Proof: Demonstrating Your Value
For many MSPs, cybersecurity success is invisible. If nothing happens, clients may believe their IT service provider isn’t doing anything. However, N-able’s anomaly detection gives providers a tangible way to show ongoing protection efforts.
“This is something MSPs and IT teams can take to their auditors or their board [members],” Adler said. “These are the kinds of features that allow customers to say, ‘We have these points across the entire attack spectrum that are looking out for you.’”
That proof bolsters client trust and even strengthens an MSP’s case during compliance reviews or renewals. The goal is business continuity. “It’s about ensuring that a business can continue to operate in times of crisis,” Adler pointed out.
A New Service Opportunity: ADaaS in Action
Along with strengthening their own defenses, MSPs have a big opportunity with anomaly detection. They can turn it into a new service offering that demonstrates ongoing vigilance.
The feature acts as another “listening post” in a customer’s environment, Adler said. “It’s another avenue to know, ‘Hey, there’s something happening.’ These features show a customer that someone else is looking out for them.”
That proactive element, Adler added, reinforces an MSP’s role as a true guardian of cyber resilience. It equips them with new tools to improve efficiency.
One Piece of a Cyber Resilience Puzzle
The new detection capabilities align with N-able’s broader cyber resilience framework. This framework combines endpoint monitoring, threat detection, and data recovery under one strategy. Earlier this year, the company added endpoint vulnerability scanning to its UEM product line, giving MSPs another “listening post” across customer systems.
N-able recently debuted Anomaly Detection as a Service for MSPs.
“All these are places that MSPs can now take to their customers and say, ‘These are the things we’re doing for you to keep you safe,’” Adler noted. By combining vulnerability scanning and anomaly detection, MSPs can show progress in reducing cyber risk month over month.
No Lock-in, No Limits: Why Integration Wins
As MSPs juggle multiple platforms and client requirements, Adler emphasized that integration, not lock-in, will define the future of managed services. “Every MSP’s got tools, or they’re going to bring in a customer that has X or Y or Z,” he said. “You have to be resilient enough to take in some of that data, plug it into your technology stack, and be successful with it.”
That open, best-of-breed approach distinguishes N-able’s platform strategy from competitors that favor single-stack ecosystems, he added.
Extending its push into secure AI, N-able in September also launched Cat-MIP. This is an open standard that improves AI accuracy and interoperability across cybersecurity and IT management. The move reinforces the company’s focus on helping MSPs adopt automation safely and effectively.
AI and the Next Leap for MSPs
While AI is the hottest topic in the channel, agentic AI offers the most exciting opportunities over the next few years, according to Adler.
“We’re going to see just this wild transformation of technology and even economic model as we start introducing agentic AI into the world of MSP. It’s going to make MSPs more efficient, help them have a better handle on their data, and frankly, better service their customers.”
That said, capitalizing on the massive AI opportunity comes with new security responsibilities. “It opens new doors, but also new risks,” Adler warned. “You have to really apply that cyber resiliency approach to your adoption of AI and look for ways to protect the data.”
Next Era of MSP Resilience
N-able’s latest upgrade isn’t just a new checkbox for MSPs. It’s a signal that the company is building a unified foundation for detection, response, and recovery. Beyond just about spotting threats, it helps service providers show leadership in resilience. For MSPs, that’s the ultimate differentiator.
Anjali Fluker is senior channel editor for The ChannelPro Network, where she covers news, trends, and best practices for the MSP community. She specializes in telling the stories that matter to IT providers serving the SMB market. When she’s not reporting on the latest in managed services, she’s connecting with channel pros at industry events across the country.
Images: iStock, N-able, Anjali Fluker/ChannelPro
