Key Takeaways:
- Spectra has introduced the first company-level, performance-based Certification of Resilience for MSPs tied directly to insurance readiness.
- The certification is backed by a warranty, providing refunds to end customers if certified MSP services fail to meet defined standards.
- A Cyber Risk Advisory Board, led by former federal cybersecurity officials, will guide the certification’s evolution in alignment with real-world threats and regulations.
Spectra has launched a new cybersecurity initiative designed to raise operational accountability across the managed service provider (MSP) landscape. The Certification of Resilience for MSPs, Standards v1.0, offers a company-level assurance framework that focuses on measurable performance rather than prescriptive tooling or individual staff credentials.
The certification arrives at a time when insurers are looking for objective indicators of security maturity among MSPs, while customers are demanding evidence that their providers can uphold critical systems in the face of ransomware and other advanced threats.
“We certify channel partners,” said Edouard von Herberstein, CEO of Spectra. “The goal is to provide insurers with an assurance they can rely on, and customers with accountability they’ve never had before from a partner.”
Unlike individual-focused certifications that may leave businesses vulnerable to employee turnover, Spectra’s program stays with the organization. It evaluates outcomes rather than processes—such as confirming that backup services follow the 3-2-1 principle with at least one immutable copy—while allowing MSPs flexibility in how they meet those expectations.
Critically, the certification is backed by a warranty: if a certified MSP’s service fails to deliver on the required standard, the customer is eligible for a refund. Spectra is positioning this warranty as a meaningful differentiator that demonstrates confidence in both the certification framework and the MSPs that qualify for it.
“This isn’t about checking a box,” said Eric Altamura, Spectra’s Chief Operating Officer. “It’s about verifying that services perform under pressure, especially when they matter most. We are setting a higher bar for resilience.”
The certification also opens new opportunities for MSPs looking to improve their standing with cyber insurers. By providing insurers and brokers with verifiable, standardized indicators of security posture, the program is designed to streamline underwriting and help providers gain access to preferred policy terms.
To ensure that the framework remains aligned with current threats and regulatory changes, Spectra has formed a Cyber Risk Advisory Board. The board includes two senior figures with significant government and policy experience:
- Dr. Michael Sulmeyer, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy and current professor at Georgetown University.
- Iranga Kahangama, former Assistant Secretary for Cyber at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and a fellow at UC Berkeley’s Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity.
Altamura noted that the advisory board was instrumental in shaping version 1.0 of the certification and will continue to play an active role as the standards evolve.
By combining real-world performance criteria, insurer-aligned metrics, and the backing of national cybersecurity leaders, Spectra aims to bridge long-standing trust gaps between MSPs, insurers, and the customers they serve.
This move also reflects growing pressure on MSPs to not just promise security—but prove it. In an environment where ransomware continues to disrupt critical sectors and where insurance carriers are increasingly wary of unverified risk, Spectra’s initiative offers a new path forward.
Certified MSPs gain more than just a badge—they gain a competitive edge based on demonstrable resilience, operational accountability, and verified reliability.
Did someone say MSPs?? If you liked this post, you’ll love MSP Expo, part of the ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW, Feb 10-12, 2026 Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Aside from his role as CEO of TMC and chairman of ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW Feb 10-12, 2026, Rich Tehrani is CEO of RT Advisors and a Registered Representative (investment banker) with and offering securities through Four Points Capital Partners LLC (Four Points) (Member FINRA/SIPC). He handles capital/debt raises as well as M&A. RT Advisors is not owned by Four Points.
The above is not an endorsement or recommendation to buy/sell any security or sector mentioned. No companies mentioned above are current or past clients of RT Advisors.
The views and opinions expressed above are those of the participants. While believed to be reliable, the information has not been independently verified for accuracy. Any broad, general statements made herein are provided for context only and should not be construed as exhaustive or universally applicable.
Portions of this article may have been developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence, which may have contributed to ideation, content generation, factual review, or editing
