MSPs Face Growing BYOD Security Gap as Demand and Risk Surge, New Omdia Research Finds

BOSTON, April 15, 2026 — A new Omdia-authored whitepaper,“The BYOD Opportunity: What MSPs Need to Close the Last Unmanaged Gap,” reveals that unmanaged personal devices have become a growing source of risk — and opportunity — for MSPs, driving a significant security gap across their client environments. This study was commissioned by Aura Business.

The problem: BYOD management demand is rising and so are security incidents

The demand for BYOD security is already established across the MSP market. In a survey of 319 U.S.-based MSPs conducted by Omdia in early 2026, 65% reported that at least one client had asked for help addressing the security or data-exposure risks of employee-owned devices in the past 12 months, with 45% saying multiple clients had raised the issue.

At the same time, the risk is no longer hypothetical. 55% of MSPs reported at least one BYOD-related security incident in the past 24 months. Despite this, most MSPs aren’t offering BYOD management. There is a 55 percentage point gap between corporate laptop monitoring (79%) and employee-owned device monitoring (24%), leaving personal devices, which regularly access corporate email, files and credentials — largely outside the managed perimeter.

The shift: identity is the real risk, not devices

Among the 177 MSPs who reported BYOD-related security incidents, reported causes included:

• 45% cited credential theft or account compromise
• 42% reported email or messaging compromise (primarily phishing)

Only 29% reported lost or stolen devices, which — Omdia notes — for years has been the primary mobile security concern. This signals a clear shift toward identity-based threats, where attackers exploit credentials and access points on personal devices connected to corporate systems, not the devices themselves.

The opportunity: a new category of security services

This gap represents more than just risk — it’s a clear business opportunity for MSPs.

The research shows that BYOD-related requests are not abstract, but structured and repeatable. Half of MSPs report that clients want help implementing technical controls, 46% are asked for best-practice recommendations, and 40% are asked to define or review BYOD policies — services that map directly to MSP delivery models.

MSPs are already signaling intent to act:

• 92% said they could see a path to offering BYOD services
• 36% preferring to offer such services as an optional add-on to existing services

As traditional IT services face increasing pricing pressure, BYOD security stands out as a high-value, security-adjacent offering that can drive differentiation and recurring revenue.

Closing the gap with Aura Business for MSPs

Aura Business for MSPs was purpose-built to allow MSPs to:

• Enforce identity-centric security policies without taking ownership of the device
• Enable employee self-enrollment with no manual configuration
• Monitor device health and automatically restrict access when risks are detected
• Integrate directly with existing environments like Microsoft Entra

By removing the operational and liability burdens of traditional device management — and doing so without accessing personal data — Aura enables MSPs to deliver a scalable, privacy-first BYOD solution that fits into their existing service stack.

The data is clear: clients are asking for help, incidents are already happening, and most MSPs are not yet equipped to respond — making solutions like Aura Business for MSPs well-positioned to help providers adapt to this shift.

For more information, read the full whitepaper and visit aura.com/msp.

About Aura

Aura is one of the fastest-growing online safety solutions for individuals and families. Whether you're protecting yourself, your kids, or your aging loved ones, Aura meets your needs at every stage of life. From real-time threat detection and scam alerts to tools that help parents protect their kids from predators, cyberbullying, and tech-driven mental health risks, Aura empowers families to thrive in the digital world. Learn more at aura.com.

About Omdia

Omdia is a market-leading data, research, and advisory business that helps digital service providers, technology companies, and enterprise decision-makers succeed in the connected digital economy. Through a global base of analysts, the company delivers expert analysis and strategic insight across the IT, telecommunications, and media industries.Omdia provides actionable insights to support business planning, product development, and go-to-market initiatives.

Its combination of authoritative data, market analysis, and vertical industry expertise enables informed decision-making, helping clients capitalize on emerging technologies and evolving business models.Omdia is part of Informa TechTarget, a B2B information services business serving the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors. Informa plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Omdia methodology

Omdia conducted a survey of 319 US-based managed service providers in Q1 2026. All respondents derived more than 50% of their revenue from managed services. The sample captures a range of MSP sizes: 38% reported annual recurring revenue above $10 million, with the remainder below that threshold. Sixty percent of respondents at director level or above. The client profile skews mid-market: 59% of respondents serve clients with 100 or more employees, though MSPs serving smaller clients are also well represented in the sample.