A decade ago, managed security services transformed the MSP industry. The MSPs that built early capability in SIEM, SOC, and endpoint security captured enormous market share. GRC is following the same trajectory, and the window to capture first-mover advantage is open right now.
Who this is for: MSP founders, investors, and growth leaders thinking about where to invest for the next five years.
TL;DR
- Managed security grew from a niche to a mainstream MSP service in under five years; GRC is on the same curve
- GRC and managed security are complementary — MSPs with both offer a complete security and compliance stack
- 6clicks is the GRC infrastructure layer that makes this expansion possible without hiring specialists
The managed security parallel
Cast your mind back to 2014–2016. Managed security was considered specialist work, the domain of large MSSPs and defense contractors. Mid-market clients didn't think they needed it, and most MSPs lacked the capability to deliver it.
Then the threat landscape accelerated. Ransomware, data breaches, and regulatory requirements for security controls turned managed security from a nice-to-have to a commercial necessity. The MSPs that had built early capability captured enormous value. Those that waited found themselves competing in a market where first movers had locked up the best clients.
GRC is at exactly the same inflection point in 2026.
Why GRC is on the same growth trajectory as managed security
Several structural factors are driving GRC adoption at pace:
- Regulatory proliferation: New frameworks (NIS2, EU AI Act, critical infrastructure reforms, APRA CPS 234 updates) are adding compliance obligations faster than organizations can keep up internally
- Insurance requirements: Cyber insurers are requiring documented compliance programs as a condition of coverage, just as they required security controls a decade ago
- Supply chain demands: Enterprise buyers are pushing compliance requirements down to their MSP and technology vendor supply chains
- Board pressure: Boards are asking for compliance status reporting with increasing frequency, creating demand for continuous monitoring programs
Why GRC and managed security are complementary, not competing
The best MSPs of 2026 and beyond will offer both. Managed security protects the technical environment. GRC manages the governance, risk, and compliance layer that sits above it. Together, they provide:
- Technical security controls — delivered through managed security
- Governance and accountability structures — delivered through GRC
- Regulatory compliance evidence — delivered through GRC
- Risk management and reporting — delivered through GRC
Clients in regulated industries need both. MSPs that can deliver both have the strongest possible retention and the highest client lifetime value.
The investment thesis for GRC
The business case for investing in GRC capability mirrors the managed security business case from a decade ago:
- Large, growing addressable market
- Under-served mid-market segment
- Recurring subscription revenue model
- High switching costs once embedded
- Platform economics improve as the client base grows
With 6clicks, the investment required is low. The platform, frameworks, AI, and content infrastructure are provided. The MSP provides the relationship, industry knowledge, and delivery capability.
How 6clicks enables the GRC growth strategy
6clicks is the infrastructure layer that enables MSPs to execute this growth strategy:
- Hub & Spoke architecture scales as the client base grows without proportional cost increases
- Hailey AI handles the compliance intelligence layer without requiring specialist hires
- Content Library eliminates the content investment that slowed managed security build-outs
- Partner program provides the go-to-market support to accelerate time to first revenue
Frequently asked questions
No. The GRC market is still in early-stage penetration for MSP-delivered services. Most mid-market organizations are managing compliance through consultants, spreadsheets, or point solutions — not managed services. The market is large and still underpenetrated.
GRC provides the documentation, policy, and evidence layer that proves the technical controls your security team manages are effective. Together, they provide a complete managed security and compliance offering.
Leverage your existing security client base. Offer ISO 27001 gap assessments to your security clients first — you already have the access, context, and trust.
Building organically requires significant investment in frameworks, templates, methodology development, and specialist hiring. 6clicks provides all of this out of the box, reducing build time from 12–18 months to 2–4 weeks.
A mature 50-client GRC practice charging an average of AUD 6,000 per month per client could generate approximately AUD 3.6M in ARR, with gross margins that may reach 55–70% depending on the delivery model. For many MSPs, this represents a significant expansion of recurring revenue.
Next step
Start building your GRC growth engine today.
