From AI-focused startups to established security industry giants that are delivering tools for MSPs and MSSPs, here are 10 key security tools for service providers to know.
As the massive industry-wide push for AI security continues, many emerging vendors in the space are taking the strategy of working with solution and service provider partners from an early stage. A number of these startups were on hand at the recent XChange Security 2026 event, alongside many established security industry vendors that are likewise delivering tools for MSPs and MSSPs.
[Related: Microsoft’s Gigantic AI-Fueled Bug Disclosure Signals New Era For Security: MSP Execs]
Startups with offerings for agentic security, AI governance, identity protection and data security showcased their latest capabilities for MSPs, as organizations continue to seek help with managing their growing deployments of both sanctioned and unsanctioned AI.
For Gladstone, Oregon-based Covenant Technology Solutions, exploring partnerships with emerging security vendors is a key focus amid the AI rush in 2026, according to CEO Timothy Choquette. The solution provider is also working to get promising security startups connected with other MSPs, as well, Choquette told CRN.
“We’re really leaning into them, learning about them, teaching them, helping them down the course, getting them introduced to all these other MSPs,” he said. Rather than relying solely on direct sales efforts, startups are smart to leverage the channel ecosystem because “every company here [can be] your partner,” Choquette said.
What follows are 10 hot security products for MSPs to know in 2026.
Aura Business
Aura Business offers what it calls identity-centric BYOD (bring-your-own-device) security, with a focus on enabling MSPs to move off of traditional MDM (mobile device management) technologies. Key advantages include rapid deployment, simplified management and identity-based protection, according to the company. The Aura Business platform also provides stronger privacy functionality than legacy MDM tools, which often create issues on devices where both work and personal data is located, the company said.
BarracudaONE Identity Security
Barracuda Networks recently expanded its push into identity security with the acquisition of Evo Security, bringing together privileged access management (PAM), identity protection, access control, identity threat detection and response into a single platform for MSPs. While the company already had built identity capabilities into its BarracudaONE platform, the vendor saw a major gap in the market that led to the acquisition of Evo earlier this month, the company told CRN previously. Barracuda plans to integrate Evo’s technology into BarracudaONE while allowing current Evo partners to continue operating without disruption, the company said.
Cavelo Flash
Attack surface management startup Cavelo recently launched Cavelo Flash, an agentless tool that delivers near real-time risk posture assessment and has been designed for prospecting. With Flash, an MSP can enter a prospect’s email address during a conversation and generate a one-time report in minutes, according to the company. That report highlights vulnerabilities, sensitive data exposure and configuration risks without requiring an agent to be installed. Flash includes vulnerability management, automated data discovery and classification, and configuration management, which all can be used as a gateway to the Cavelo 360 DSPM (data security posture management) platform.
CrowdStrike Agentic MDR
CrowdStrike recently debuted the next AI-enhanced generation of its MDR (managed detection and response) offering with the launch of Agentic MDR. The offering enhances CrowdStrike’s Falcon Complete MDR through the building and deployment of AI agents for greater automation of security workflows, according to the company. Agentic MDR ultimately “redefines managed defense for the AI era” through augmenting work by its Falcon Complete security analysts with agentic capabilities, the company said in a news release.
Cynet Version 4.33
Cynet recently updated its all-in-one cybersecurity platform with new capabilities including a cross-site dashboard, which delivers a comprehensive view of an organization’s security posture, the company said. The Cynet version 4.33 release also introduced improved capabilities for SIEM (security information and event management) such as a new events page that “centralizes and unifies Cynet’s SIEM capabilities”—ultimately enabling security teams to more easily access and configure SIEM functionality, according to the vendor.
Goodweek
Goodweek provides AI environments that enable partners and customers to connect multiple leading AI models—including ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini—with internal knowledge bases and business applications. MSPs are able to use the platform to help customers establish a centralized and controlled approach to AI deployment, according to the company. Key capabilities include a model-agnostic approach without platform lock-in, dedicated AI environments for different departments or teams within an organization, pre-configured AI actions and secure access to an organization’s proprietary data.
Huntress Managed ITDR
Huntress recently expanded its Managed ITDR (Identity Threat Detection and Response) offering to include support for Google Workspace in addition to Microsoft 365. MSPs can now provide customers with a single managed ITDR service regardless of which productivity platform customers use, Huntress said. Key capabilities include detection and protection related to identity abuse, with functionality for monitoring unexpected login activity, detecting persistent malicious inbox rules and tracking malicious utilization of data centers, the company said.
Kipio
Kipio offers an AI operations and security platform that is built for helping MSPs secure and govern the fast-growing usage of AI across their customers. The Kipio platform provides capabilities for AI discovery, governance and compliance, security and measurement of return-on-investment. Key functionality for MSPs includes a multi-tenant console and can be deployed through existing RMM (remote monitoring and management) or MDM (mobile device management) tools, according to the company.
Kipling Secure AIDR
Kipling Secure offers AIDR (AI detection and response) that is tailored to meeting the needs of MSPs, according to the company. The platform offers capabilities for discovery of AI usage, including unsanctioned “shadow AI” tools and agents, as well as providing AI governance. Key capabilities for MSPs include automated, real-time blocking of actions that would violate policies as well as comprehensive visibility into AI activity across an organization’s environments, the company said.
Petra Security
Petra Security offers an ITDR (Identity Threat Detection and Response) platform that is focused on stopping threats including business email compromise, token theft and MFA (multifactor authentication) bypass attempts. Key capabilities include detection and prevention of sophisticated account takeovers inside Microsoft 365 environments, according to the company. Instead of relying on suspicious IP addresses or other standard indicators, Petra uses machine learning, behavioral analysis and context across user activity to identify signs of compromise, the company said.
