Managed service providers (MSPs) are at the intersection of IT support, cybersecurity, and, increasingly, regulatory compliance. Healthcare, finance, and tech clients now expect MSPs to do more than keep systems running. They rely on them to ensure audit readiness, adapt to evolving frameworks, and reduce risk across environments. But compliance isn’t easy, especially when it includes dozens (or hundreds) of client environments. Here are some of the top challenges MSPs face in delivering compliance services — and how to get ahead of them.
1. Navigating a maze of frameworks
One of the biggest challenges MSPs face is managing a growing list of compliance frameworks—SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, GDPR, and more. Each client may require a different set, and keeping track of them can become overwhelming pretty quickly. The solution is to standardize wherever possible by creating repeatable processes and templates for commonly requested frameworks. Leveraging tools that map controls across different frameworks (like aligning SOC 2 requirements with ISO 27001) can significantly reduce redundant work and accelerate delivery.
2. Evidence collection chaos
A major compliance hurdle for MSPs is the chaos of evidence collection. Clients end up scrambling to find documentation and screenshots each audit cycle. At the same time, your team gets bogged down in endless email threads trying to validate security controls. Automating the process eliminates manual effort and minimizes errors by using integrations that pull logs, policies, and system data directly from source systems. This streamlines audit prep and frees up your team to focus on delivering higher-value services.
3. Lack of internal compliance expertise
While your team may be packed with technical talent, not everyone is well-versed in audit preparation, regulatory terminology, or control testing. To bridge this gap, it’s essential to partner with compliance experts who can support both your internal teams and your clients. Even better, consider using platforms combining audit services with purpose-built software, so you’re not left to decipher complex control language alone.
4. Keeping clients continuously compliant
Many MSPs successfully guide clients through a single audit, only to see them fall out of compliance months later due to overlooked changes or breakdowns in process. Shifting from point-in-time compliance to a continuous compliance model can help you and your clients maintain ongoing visibility and stay consistently audit-ready. And solutions that offer real-time monitoring, automated alerts, and clear dashboards make it incredibly easy to make the shift.
5. Scaling compliance without burning out your team
As your client base grows, so does the complexity and workload of managing compliance. But simply adding more staff isn’t a scalable solution. To keep pace without burning out your team, the key is automation. With the right platform, you can streamline compliance tasks like control testing, reminders, evidence collection, and audit preparation, enabling your team to support dozens of clients efficiently and effectively.
Make compliance your growth engine
Compliance isn’t going away—in fact, it’s becoming a bigger differentiator for MSPs. Those who can help their clients stay secure and audit-ready will win trust, build loyalty, and grow faster.
That’s where a platform like Thoropass comes in. Built for security-minded MSPs, Thoropass combines audit-readiness software with real experts and scaled automation. From SOC 2 to HIPAA and beyond, it’s everything you need to offer compliance as a service—without the growing pains.
Photo: Blazej Lyjak / Shutterstock
