The way we think about cybersecurity has changed, but too many organizations still treat it like it hasn’t. If you’re working with a managed service provider, it’s easy to assume there’s a clear line between what you’re responsible for and what they own. However, as your environment becomes increasingly hybrid, cloud-native, and interconnected, those lines blur rapidly.
That blur creates a risky gray zone. When something goes wrong, determining who is accountable isn’t always obvious. And when every minute counts during a security incident, ambiguity can turn a manageable issue into a full-blown crisis.
The Overlap of MSP Security
Once upon a time, IT environments had neat borders. You ran your own data centers, managed your networks, and MSPs helped out with clearly defined services. But those days are gone. You’re now operating in environments that span cloud platforms, containers, APIs, and remote teams. And that means responsibility isn’t just shared, it’s overlapping.
Take infrastructure. Your MSP may manage the hardware and physical security. But what about the virtual network segments or access policies? That’s often on you. And when it comes to platforms or middleware, you might rely on the MSP for patching, but you’re likely still in charge of user access, integrations, and app configurations.
Then there’s data and applications as the most sensitive layer. Even if they’re hosted on MSP-managed infrastructure, the choices you make in app design and access control can introduce risk. In this space, security failures often result from small decisions made on either side of the partnership, but tracing root causes across the stack is anything but simple.
The Managed Gray Zone in Action
The biggest risks hide between clearly defined roles. For example:
- Configuration Drift: Your MSP sets a secure default, but your team later tweaks it… Maybe to make something run faster or address a user complaint. Suddenly, there’s a vulnerability no one’s watching for.
- Incident Response Chaos: You detect something weird in your app, but don’t know what’s happening underneath. Meanwhile, your MSP sees unusual network traffic but has no context for your app. Neither side has the full picture.
- Compliance Assumptions: Just because your MSP has some certifications doesn’t mean your specific use case is covered. You might think you’re compliant—until audit time proves otherwise.
These gray areas aren’t hypothetical. They’re where most real-world failures happen.
Building A Framework for Clarity
You can’t eliminate complexity, but you can manage it. Start by building a living framework that clearly defines who is responsible for what and adapts as your environment evolves. Here are the building blocks that matter most:
- Security Control Mapping: Assign each control to a specific owner and define the coordination process for shared controls.
- Ongoing Matrix Maintenance: Revisit your control matrix regularly—don’t let it gather dust.
- Risk-Based Ownership: Align responsibility with actual risk. A dev sandbox shouldn’t be treated the same as your payment systems.
- Clear Communication Channels: Ensure both sides understand who to contact, when to escalate, and how to collaborate during times of change or crisis.
Technology Solutions for Better Boundaries
Once your framework is in place, technology can help you enforce it and maintain high visibility. Look for ways to close the coordination gap using tools and integrations that reduce friction:
- Security Orchestration Integration: Real-time visibility through connected monitoring and policy enforcement across both your and your MSP’s systems.
- Zero-Trust Principles: Identity-first security, micro-segmentation, and continuous verification that works regardless of who “owns” a resource.
- DevSecOps Handoff Clarity: Seamless integration of security testing and vulnerability management into shared deployment pipelines to avoid finger-pointing.
Contracts and Legal Coverage
If your contracts are still focused on uptime and ticket resolution, you’re missing the point. Today’s environment demands more sophisticated language that defines what happens when things go wrong, not just when they go right.
Get it in writing:
- Who’s preserving logs?
- How are you coordinating with regulators or legal teams after a breach?
- What are your shared obligations under laws like GDPR or CCPR?
Implementation and Continuous Improvement
Treat your shared responsibility framework like a product, not a policy. It needs maintenance, iteration, and feedback.
- Review it regularly against new threats and business shifts.
- Use shared dashboards for visibility and alignment.
- Run joint tabletop exercises to pressure-test assumptions.
- Track metrics like response time, detection success, and ownership clarity to refine the model.
Avoid Risky Security Overlap. Work with Lazarus Alliance
Emerging tech, from AI to edge computing, is only going to increase complexity. The organizations that succeed won’t be the ones with the cleanest diagrams or longest contracts. They’ll be the ones who’ve built real partnerships with their MSPs, backed by clear, adaptable frameworks and mutual accountability.
You don’t need to simplify the environment. You need to be more strategic in managing complexity. That starts by bringing clarity to the gray zone before it becomes a liability.
To learn more about how Lazarus Alliance can help, contact us.
- FedRAMP
- StateRAMP
- NIST 800-53
- FARS NIST 800-171
- CMMC
- SOC 1 & SOC 2
- HIPAA, HITECH, & Meaningful Use
- PCI DSS RoC & SAQ
- IRS 1075 & 4812
- ISO 27001, ISO 27002, ISO 27005, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, ISO 27701, ISO 22301, ISO 17020, ISO 17021, ISO 17025, ISO 17065, ISO 9001, & ISO 90003
- NIAP Common Criteria – Lazarus Alliance Laboratories
- And dozens more!
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