Msps For The Protection Of Critical Infrastructure

What Msps For The Protection Of Critical Infrastructure does

MSPs for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure, doing business as MSP Collective, is a nonprofit industry advisory organization founded in 2023 and headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama. Its stated mission is to represent managed service providers and managed security service providers that serve U.S. critical infrastructure, with operational focus on the Defense Industrial Base and contractors subject to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program. Governance is led by Executive Director Scott Edwards and Treasurer Bryan Champagne, supported by a board drawn from the CMMC compliance community, and the organization positions itself as an advisory body to the Cyber AB, the Department of Defense, NIST, and relevant committees of the U.S. Congress.

The organization's core products and services are an ESP (Ecosystem Service Provider) Directory, a tiered membership program, and a body of published white papers and regulatory comment letters. The ESP Directory, launched on January 21, 2025, lists CMMC Level 2 Ready providers whose readiness is validated by authorized C3PAOs against published selection criteria, serving as a credentialed matchmaker between certified service providers and defense contractors seeking CMMC support. The membership program is structured in four tiers: Public Sector, DIB, Corporate, and Sustaining Members, with Sustaining Members including Summit 7 and ISI (Defense), providing the organization with institutional anchors and a forum for member-led policy positions.

The business model is nonprofit and member-funded, with revenue derived from dues across the four membership tiers. No dues schedules are publicly disclosed in the available input. The go-to-market mixes policy advocacy, including formal comments on rulemakings such as FAR Case 2017-016 and draft standards such as NIST 800-53, with directory-driven lead generation for member providers and resource dissemination to DIB contractors. Headcount is reported in the 1-10 range, consistent with a lean trade-association operating model that relies on member volunteer labor and outside technical contributors for white paper work.

Name

Msps For The Protection Of Critical Infrastructure

Legal name

MSPs for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure

Website

https://www.mspcollective.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MSP Collective is a nonprofit industry advisory organization representing managed service and security providers (MSPs/MSSPs) supporting U.S. critical infrastructure through CMMC compliance advocacy, a validated ESP directory, and tiered membership services for the Defense Industrial Base.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Industry Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Managed Security Services (MSSP) & 24/7 SOC Operations (BPAKAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Onsite/Managed Staffing Programs (MSP-lite) (BPACACAD), Data Security & Privacy Managed Services (DLP/Encryption) (BPAEADAL)

Keywords

• Critical infrastructure cybersecurity
• CMMC provider directory
• NIST compliance guidance
• Managed service provider association
• Cybersecurity policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Huntsville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The MSP Collective operates as a nonprofit organization funded through membership dues. The organization offers four membership tiers: Sustaining Member (MSPs/MSSPs fully dedicated to the mission, eligible for Board Seat), Regular Member (MSPs/MSSPs fully dedicated), Associate Member (MSPs/MSSPs supportive of mission but not CMMC L2 certified), and Supporting Member (non-MSP organizations including suppliers, auditors, lawyers, accountants, researchers, consultants, insurers, technology vendors, and academic institutions).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The MSP Collective is a nonprofit industry association representing managed service providers and managed security service providers that support U.S. critical infrastructure. It operates a tiered membership program, maintains a C3PAO-validated directory of CMMC Level 2-certified External Service Providers, and provides industry advisory input to Congress, the DoD, Cyber AB, and state legislatures on ESP cybersecurity standards and CMMC compliance.

Product overview

The MSP Collective operates as a nonprofit industry advisory organization, not a software product company. Its primary offering is the ESP Directory—a validated registry of CMMC Level 2 certified Managed Service Providers and Managed Security Service Providers. The organization also provides a tiered membership program connecting MSPs/MSSPs with the Defense Industrial Base ecosystem, and distributes educational resources including regulatory letters, white papers, and workshops on CMMC compliance and NIST 800-171 requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ESP Directory A validated web directory of External Service Providers that have received CMMC Level 2 Assessment Certification. Entries are checked with the C3PAO that performed each assessment, allowing organizations seeking assessment services to identify managed service providers and managed security service providers aligned with CMMC and NIST SP 800-171.
• Membership Program An annual tiered membership program for mission-dedicated MSPs and MSSPs, supportive MSPs and MSSPs that are not CMMC Level 2 certified, and non-MSP ecosystem supporters. Sustaining Members are eligible for Board Seat representation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Directory entries validated with C3PAO that performed each assessment
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Summit 7coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummit 7 is a Sustaining Member of the MSP Collective and is displayed as a founding/industry advisory partner. Summit 7 provides cybersecurity services to the Defense Industrial Base and shares the MSP Collective's mission of securing critical infrastructure.
• ISI (Defense)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISI is a Sustaining Member of the MSP Collective and an industry partner displayed alongside the MSP Collective branding. ISI provides cybersecurity and compliance services to defense contractors.
• Cyber ABcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MSP Collective actively engages with Cyber AB (the CMMC Accreditation Body) on matters related to the CMMC program, ESP standards, and RPO certification requirements. The organization provides recommendations to strengthen the DIB and CyberAB ecosystem.
• C3PAOs (Third Party Assessment Organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MSP Collective validates ESP Directory entries directly with the C3PAO that assessed each ESP and awarded the CMMC Level 2 Assessment Certification. This partnership ensures the integrity and accuracy of the directory.
• U.S. CongresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MSP Collective desires to collaborate as an industry advisory group to Congress on topics related to ESPs in securing critical infrastructure, the federal contracting base, and the Defense Industrial Base. The organization advocates for Congressional appropriations to help DIB members offset CMMC compliance costs.
• Department of Defense (DoD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MSP Collective serves as an industry advisory group to the DoD, providing insight into ESP importance for securing the Defense Industrial Base. The organization advocates for DoD appropriations for grants to DIB organizations to offset CMMC compliance costs.
• NISTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MSP Collective engages with NIST on standards matters, advocating for a tailored NIST SP 800-53 baseline specifically for ESPs and recommending changes to standards such as SP 800-171, 800-171A, 800-172, and 800-172A.
• ND-ISAC (National Defense Information Sharing and Analysis Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MSP Collective notes that ND-ISAC has failed to take initiative in using ESPs as cybersecurity leverage points. The organization positions itself as an alternative advisory voice for the DIB ecosystem.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• ISACA: Global professional association for IT governance, risk, and cybersecurity. Comparable as an established cybersecurity membership/credentialing body that competes for similar policy influence and member mindshare.
• SANS Institute: Cybersecurity training, certification, and research organization. Comparable as a major cybersecurity standards/training/advisory presence that touches the same DIB and MSP audiences.
• CompTIA: Major IT industry trade association offering MSP credentials (e.g., Trustmark, Managed Services certification), community resources, and policy advocacy. Comparable as a broader incumbent membership body for MSPs/MSSPs, but with a much wider portfolio.
• ISSA (Information Systems Security Association): Global not-for-profit association of cybersecurity professionals with chapters and advocacy programs. Comparable in structure and mission to MSP Collective, though broader in scope across the cybersecurity profession.
• (ISC)²: International cybersecurity professional association (CISSP). Comparable as a long-established cybersecurity professional body with advocacy, certifications, and member communities intersecting with MSP/MSSP interests.

Direct peers

• IT-ISAC: Information Sharing and Analysis Center for the IT sector including managed service providers. Comparable as a sector-specific ISAC serving a constituency that overlaps heavily with ESPs and DIB-focused MSSPs.
• ND-ISAC (National Defense Information Sharing and Analysis Center): Defense-sector ISAC addressing cybersecurity information sharing for the Defense Industrial Base. Directly comparable as a defense-cyber ecosystem membership organization whose reach the Collective seeks to complement for ESPs.
• Cyber AB (CMMC Accreditation Body): The CMMC Accreditation Body oversees the ecosystem of C3PAOs, RPOs, and certified ESPs. Directly comparable as the central authorizing body whose gaps the MSP Collective fills, particularly the ESP directory, making it the closest peer.

Emerging players

• National Cyber Forensics Training Alliance (NCFTA): Public-private alliance focused on cyber threat intelligence and forensics. Comparable as a nonprofit collaborative ecosystem that also engages with government on cyber defense, with potential to compete in advisory and threat-sharing spaces.

Others

• Mandiant (now Google Cloud / Mandiant): Cybersecurity advisory and incident response provider with deep DIB and federal exposure. Related as a comparator for the kind of CMMC advisory practice members deliver, but operating as a commercial vendor rather than a membership association.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/msp-collective

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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