Key takeaways_

• If your MSP isn’t talking about AI, that’s a red flag. You risk falling behind competitors.
• An AI-ready MSP helps with readiness assessments, secure infrastructure, data governance and ongoing optimisation.
• Start now: audit your MSP, assess your AI readiness and find the right partner to guide you forward.

AI is accelerating change at a pace businesses can’t ignore. For the last few years, it’s been redefining how organisations compete and grow – from automating workflows to unlocking predictive insights.

Now, the question isn’t if or whether you should adopt AI; it’s how fast can you do it to avoid falling behind?

For most companies, managed service providers (MSPs) are the trusted partners keeping technology running smoothly. They manage infrastructure, secure data and guide digital transformation. But if your MSP isn’t AI-ready, neither are you. And that’s a serious disadvantage in a market where AI is fast becoming the standard, not the exception.

Your MSP should be proactive: starting conversations about AI strategy, security and data readiness before you even ask. If they’re silent, it’s a warning sign. Because while you wait, your competitors are already leveraging AI to innovate, cut costs and win customers.

In this blog, we explore what you should expect from an AI-ready MSP and how to make the right choice.

What is an AI-ready managed service provider?

An AI-ready managed service provider isn’t just an IT partner; they’re your strategic guide to adopting and scaling artificial intelligence across your business.

Traditionally, MSPs focused on keeping systems operational, managing networks and providing reactive support. In the AI era, that’s no longer enough. Today’s MSPs must help you plan, implement and optimise AI solutions that deliver measurable business value.

Here’s what a proactive AI MSP can help you achieve:

• Assess AI readiness: They’ll audit your current infrastructure, data quality and security posture to identify gaps before you invest in AI.
• Develop an AI roadmap: Align AI initiatives with your business goals, ensuring every project drives ROI rather than becoming a tech experiment.
• Prepare your data: AI thrives on clean, structured data. MSPs help you organise, secure and govern data to meet compliance and ethical standards.
• Select and integrate AI tools: From predictive analytics platforms to automation solutions, they’ll recommend and implement the right technologies for your industry.
• Secure AI deployments: AI introduces new risks like model manipulation and data breaches. MSPs put robust security measures in place to protect your systems.
• Monitor and optimise: AI isn’t “set and forget.” A good MSP provides ongoing performance monitoring, updates and scaling strategies as your needs evolve.

As many organisations continue to get to grips with AI – and many fail to build the right foundations – proactivity is key. An AI managed service provider shouldn’t wait for you to ask; they lead the conversation. And this is why choosing the right partner is critical.

How an MSP can help you adpot AI effectively_

AI adoption rests on secure, scalable and data-driven foundations. A proactive AI managed service provider takes ownership of this process, ensuring every step is aligned with your business goals and protected against risk. Here’s how they make it happen:

1. Strategic planning: Turning AI into business value

Before any technology is deployed, your MSP should help you answer the big questions: What problems are we solving? How will AI deliver ROI?

Specific tasks include:

• AI readiness assessments: Reviewing infrastructure, data maturity, and compliance posture.
• Roadmap development: Aligning AI projects with objectives like predictive analytics or workflow automation.
• Budget & ROI forecasting: Prioritising initiatives that deliver measurable outcomes.

2. Infrastructure readiness: building a secure foundation

AI workloads demand robust infrastructure and airtight security. Your MSP ensures your environment is ready and protected through:

• Cloud migration & optimisation: Moving workloads to scalable, secure cloud platforms.
• Compute resource provisioning: Setting up GPU/TPU power for machine learning.
• Network hardening: Reducing latency and securing endpoints for real-time AI applications.
• Cyber security controls: Implementing encryption, zero-trust frameworks and identity management to protect AI systems from breaches and model manipulation.

3. Data governance: preparing the fuel for AI

AI is only as good as the data feeding it. Poor data equals poor results, and compliance risks. MSPs can eliminate any issues by:

• Conducting data audits: Identifying gaps, inconsistencies and compliance issues.
• Data cleansing & structuring: Preparing datasets for accurate AI outputs.
• Compliance management: Ensuring GDPR and industry-specific regulations are met.
• Securing data pipelines: Protecting sensitive data during ingestion and processing.

4. Tool selection and integration: choosing what works

The AI market is crowded. Your MSP helps you cut through the noise and integrate tools seamlessly. This includes supporting:

• Vendor evaluation: Comparing platforms to help you determine which is right for your business needs.
• Deployment and integration: Connecting AI tools with ERP, CRM and data lakes.
• Automation setup: Implementing RPA and AI-driven workflows for efficiency.

5. Continuous improvement: staying ahead of emerging capabilities

AI isn’t static: it evolves rapidly. Your MSP ensures you stay competitive, with long-term support for consistent adoption and value.

Specific tasks to achieve this include:

• Model monitoring and retraining: Keeping AI outputs accurate as data changes.
• Performance dashboards: Tracking ROI and operational impact.
• Trend forecasting: Advising on new AI capabilities before competitors adopt them.
• Security updates: Regular patching and vulnerability scans to keep AI systems safe.

Of course, no business is the same. Your road to AI success is therefore likely to be unique. While this is a list of the services you might expect from an MSP, it’s crucial to find a partner who can align their support to your specific challenges and needs.

Red flags to look out for with your current MSP_

With AI usage accelerating so rapidly, your MSP should already be considering it in your services. If not, it’s a sign they’re not preparing you for the future. Here are the warning signs to watch for:

• They’re stuck in a “break-fix” mindset: If your MSP only reacts to problems instead of planning ahead, they’re not thinking strategically. AI adoption requires foresight, not firefighting.
• No mention of AI in roadmaps or quarterly reviews: Your MSP should proactively include AI in your technology roadmap and business reviews. If AI isn’t on the agenda, they’re not futureproofing your business.
• Lack of guidance on data readiness or compliance: AI success depends on clean, compliant data. If your MSP isn’t auditing your data or advising on GDPR and security standards, you’re at risk of poor AI outcomes and regulatory penalties.
• No cyber security strategy for AI: AI introduces new attack surfaces: model manipulation, data poisoning and API vulnerabilities. If your MSP isn’t addressing these risks, your AI initiatives could become liabilities.
• No AI skills or certifications: If your MSP team has no AI-related certifications or partnerships, they may lack the expertise to guide you effectively.
• No AI use cases or success stories: A proactive MSP should share examples of AI-driven improvements for clients. If they can’t, it suggests they’re not actively implementing AI solutions.
• Silence on emerging AI trends: If your MSP isn’t briefing you on developments like generative AI, predictive analytics or automation, they’re not helping you stay competitive.

What to look for in an MSP_

Is your current MSP showing any of the warning signs? If yes, it might be time to switch to an AI-ready partner who can help you navigate the next steps before you’re left behind. Here’s what to look for to find an MSP who can guide your AI adoption roadmap.

Proven AI expertise

Your MSP should demonstrate real-world experience in AI deployment, not just theoretical knowledge. Look for certifications and partnerships with major platforms like Microsoft Azure AI, AWS, or Google Cloud AI, as these often showcase proven knowledge with the technology.

MSPs should also provide case studies or success stories that show how they’ve helped businesses similar to yours implement AI solutions effectively. If they’re able to talk about how they support other clients, it’s an indicator of active experience.

Questions to ask:

• What AI certifications does your team hold?
• Can you share examples of AI projects you’ve implemented for businesses like mine?

Proactive approach

An AI-ready MSP doesn’t wait for you to ask about AI; they lead the conversation. They should include AI in your technology roadmap and quarterly reviews, outlining how it aligns with your business goals.

If they’re not initiating these discussions, they’re not preparing you for the future. Ask about AI in your initial meeting with an MSP and see what response they come back with. If they bring ideas to the table, it’s a good sign.

Questions to ask

• How do you incorporate AI into client roadmaps?
• What proactive steps do you take to keep clients ahead of AI trends?

Strong cyber security framework

AI introduces new vulnerabilities, from model manipulation to data poisoning. Your MSP should have a robust security strategy that includes zero-trust architecture, encryption, identity management and continuous threat monitoring. They must also ensure compliance with regulations like GDPR and ISO standards to keep your AI deployments secure.

Actively ask about how they can help you to secure your business against AI risk and how they’ve helped similar organisations.

Questions to ask

• How do you secure AI models and data pipelines?
• What measures do you take to prevent AI-specific threats like data poisoning?

Data governance capabilities

AI success depends on clean, compliant data. Your MSP should offer data audits, cleansing, and structuring services to ensure accuracy and reliability.

They should also establish secure data pipelines and advise on ethical AI practices, including bias mitigation and responsible use.

Questions to ask

• How do you prepare client data for AI projects?
• What steps do you take to ensure compliance with GDPR and other regulations?

Scalable infrastructure solutions

AI workloads require high-performance environments. Your MSP should design infrastructure that supports scalability, optimise for low latency and ensure high availability for AI applications. This includes expertise in cloud and hybrid environments tailored for AI processing.

Questions to ask

• How do you ensure infrastructure can handle AI workloads?
• Do you support hybrid environments for AI deployment?

Continuous improvement and innovation

AI evolves rapidly. Your MSP should provide ongoing monitoring, retraining of models and performance dashboards to track ROI. They should also keep you informed about emerging AI trends and help you adopt new capabilities before competitors do.

Questions to ask

• How do you monitor and optimise AI models over time?
• How do you keep clients informed about new AI technologies?

Infinity Group your MSP for the AI era_

When it comes to preparing businesses for the AI era, Infinity Group doesn’t just talk the talk: we walk the walk. We use AI internally to streamline operations and deliver smarter services, so we understand firsthand how to make AI work in real-world environments. This isn’t theory; it’s practice.

Our expertise is backed by the Microsoft Copilot Advanced Specialisation, a credential that proves we’re leaders in deploying AI-powered solutions across Microsoft technologies. This means we can help you unlock the full potential of tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot and Dynamics 365 AI features, ensuring your business stays ahead of the curve.

And security is at the heart of everything we do. AI introduces new risks and we cover these within our comprehensive cyber security services, implementing zero-trust frameworks, encryption and continuous threat monitoring to protect your AI systems and data.

We also run AI readiness assessments to evaluate your infrastructure, data quality and compliance posture, giving you a clear roadmap for successful adoption. And once you’re on the journey, we provide ongoing support to keep your AI strategy optimised and secure.

Plus, with a five-star service rating across our MSP offerings, Infinity Group is trusted by businesses nationwide to deliver proactive, strategic and future-proof solutions. If your current MSP isn’t talking about AI, it’s time to partner with one that does – and does it well.

What to do next_

Not exploring AI is a competitive risk – so it’s crucial to work with an MSP who can support you in implementing it safely and effectively.

So, what should you do now?

1. Audit your current MSP relationship. Are they proactive about AI? Do they include it in your roadmap? If not, that’s a red flag.
2. Start with an AI readiness assessment. Understand where your business stands in terms of infrastructure, data quality, and compliance.
3. Get a clear roadmap. AI adoption is a journey, and you need a plan that aligns with your goals and mitigates risks.

To help you take the first step, we’ve created a comprehensive AI Roadmap eBook. It covers the groundwork for successful AI adoption – from data preparation to security considerations – so you can move forward with confidence.