Disclaimer: This blog was originally published on June 10, 2022, and has since been updated for accuracy and clarity.
Managed service providers help businesses meet compliance rules by keeping systems updated, adding security tools, and guiding you through industry requirements. Without the right IT support, compliance can drain resources and put your business at risk for fines, failed audits, and security issues.
Regulatory compliance can be difficult, especially in high-risk industries, such as healthcare and finance. Requirements like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) can feel strict and confusing, but they help protect sensitive data.
Meeting these requirements takes ongoing work, which is why many businesses work with a reliable MSP to strengthen security controls, keep systems updated, and maintain audit-ready documentation.
At Intelligent Technical Solutions (ITS), we make compliance manageable. Our team helps businesses navigate HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOC 2, and CMMC, among others, by handling the technical work and monitoring that keep you audit-ready.
In this article, we’ve invited Sean Harris, ITS Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, to explain how MSPs help businesses overcome compliance challenges and meet regulatory requirements.
You'll learn:
- Why is regulatory compliance challenging for businesses?
- How does an MSP help with regulatory compliance?
Why is Regulatory Compliance Challenging for Businesses?
Compliance is tough for a few clear reasons. When you understand them, it is easier to see how an MSP can help.
Below are the most common compliance challenges businesses face:
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Regulation Complexity
Many compliance frameworks come with long lists of detailed requirements. For instance, HIPAA covers administrative, physical, and technical safeguards, while PCI DSS requires specific steps for network security and encryption.
Since each regulation uses different terms and requires different documents, compliance can feel confusing and time-consuming.
Sean notes, “Compliance isn't a checklist you copy from one framework to the next. HIPAA cares about protected health information. PCI cares about cardholder data. The overlap fools people into thinking they're done when they're nowhere close.”
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Constant Change
What passed your last audit may not pass the next one. Regulators and security standards change as new threats appear, so someone needs to track updates and keep your systems protected.
In its January 2026 OCR Cybersecurity Newsletter, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommends that organizations keep hardening systems by:
- patching known weaknesses
- removing unneeded software
- keeping security protections set up right
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Resource Constraints
Compliance takes time, money, and the right skills. You may need new hardware, licensed software, security tools, and trained staff. Many small and mid-sized businesses lack the time or budget to hire a full-time compliance expert, so they often work with an MSP for compliance support.
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Fragmented Systems
Many businesses split compliance tasks across teams. IT manages security tools. Finance handles audit records. HR tracks training. When these groups are not aligned, gaps appear quickly.
On top of that, compliance tools do not always share information. One tool may track updates, another tracks user access, and another stores audit evidence. When details are spread out, it is easier to miss gaps until an audit issue or security incident occurs.
Read: Benefits of Letting Your MSP Manage All Your Devices
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Lack of Expertise
Compliance is not something you can hand off to just anyone. It requires people who understand both the technical requirements and how to apply them to your business. Finding or training staff with that knowledge can be difficult, especially for smaller companies new to compliance.
MSPs bring experience, tools, and steady support to close compliance gaps. They help you stay compliant year-round through continuous monitoring and support.
Below are the key benefits of working with an MSP for compliance:
Gap Analysis and Planning
MSPs start by checking where you are today against the rules you must follow. They review your technology, security controls, and documentation. Then they list the gaps and build a clear plan with priorities, timelines, and next steps.
Many MSPs have already helped other businesses in your industry, so they bring proven knowledge and can spot issues faster
“Every regulated industry has its predictable failure points,” Sean explains. "Healthcare practices miss the same HIPAA controls. Defense contractors miss the same CMMC requirements. When you've seen it a hundred times, you don't need to discover the gaps. You already know where to look.”
Technology Infrastructure
Compliance often requires specific security settings and protections. MSPs help ensure your systems comply with rules for data storage, network security, and access control. They apply updates, identify when equipment needs upgrading, and keep systems properly configured.
Security Implementation
Most regulations require specific security safeguards to protect sensitive data. MSPs set up firewalls, encryption, multi-factor authentication, and monitoring tools that support these compliance requirements. They also configure and test these tools to make sure they work.
Documentation and Evidence
Auditors expect to see records that prove your compliance measures are working. MSPs help create and maintain this proof for security controls, system changes, incident response steps, and policy rules. This documentation shows exactly what you did and when you did it.
Ongoing Monitoring and Updates
Compliance requires continuous monitoring. MSPs check systems daily to detect configuration changes, unauthorized access, and security alerts before they become audit issues. They also track regulatory updates across their clients to keep you informed of new requirements.
"Most compliance failures don't happen during the audit. They happen in the eleven months between audits, when a firewall rule gets changed at 2 am, a patch gets skipped, or a regulation quietly updates.” Sean said. “If nobody's watching in between, you're rebuilding your compliance posture from scratch every year."
Training Support
Many regulations require employee security awareness training to reduce human error risks. MSPs provide tailored programs that cover industry-specific topics like phishing recognition, proper data handling, and password security. They also track completion rates and maintain records that meet auditors’ requirements.
Vendor Management and Visibility
Vendors can create compliance risks. To reduce supply chain risk, MSPs help by:
- reviewing vendor security practices
- checking service agreements
- monitoring vendor compliance
MSPs also track all your technology and compliance activities in one place, giving you organization-wide visibility to quickly spot gaps.
Read: How MSP Flat-Rate Services Benefit Your Business
Need a Trusted MSP for Regulatory Compliance?
Compliance takes ongoing planning, specialized tools, and continuous oversight. Working with an MSP helps you avoid common mistakes, stay audit-ready, and access compliance expertise without hiring full-time staff.
Since 2003, Intelligent Technical Solutions has helped organizations in regulated industries meet HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOC 2, CMMC 2.0, and other compliance requirements.
Our virtual Chief Security Information Officers (vCISOs) manage your security strategy and regulatory programs, so you can stay ahead of changing requirements and focus on your core business.
Ready to simplify your compliance process? Schedule a free compliance consultation to identify compliance gaps, talk through your requirements, and build an actionable roadmap.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What should I look for when choosing an MSP for compliance?
A: Look for MSPs with experience in your specific industry and regulatory frameworks. They should provide dedicated compliance expertise, proven processes, and a track record of helping similar organizations meet their requirements.
Q: What makes MSP compliance support different from hiring internal staff?
A: MSPs bring specialized expertise across multiple frameworks without the commitment of full-time hires. You get a team of compliance experts, proven tools, and continuous monitoring that most organizations cannot staff internally.
Q: What happens during the initial compliance assessment?
A: The MSP reviews your current technology, security controls, and documentation against your required frameworks. You receive a detailed gap analysis, prioritized recommendations, and a clear roadmap to achieve compliance.
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