Spectra, a cyber risk platform purpose-built for the managed services ecosystem, has announced two significant company milestones: the formation of its Cyber Risk Advisory Board and the launch of its industry-first Certification of Resilience for MSPs, Standards v.1.0. This certification is designed to provide a warrantied path to performance outcomes and direct qualification for cyber insurance, addressing critical needs in the cybersecurity landscape. The advisory board aims to guide the evolution of these standards against emerging threats and regulatory shifts.
The Spectra 2025 Cyber Risk Advisory Board comprises practitioners, national security experts, and policymakers. Chaired by Dr. Michael Sulmeyer, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy and current professor at Georgetown University, the board also includes Iranga Kahangama, former Assistant Secretary for Cyber, Infrastructure, Risk, and Resilience at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and current Fellow at the Center for Long Term Cybersecurity at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Sulmeyer emphasized the critical role of MSPs in national security, stating, “I am excited to advise Spectra on this crucial mission to improve the understanding of cyber threats to improve insurance outcomes from MSPs. These entities occupy a critical role in the cybersecurity threat landscape: the broad scale of their operations means that improving their security improves the security of the nation as well.”
Eric Altamura, COO of Spectra, noted the incorporation of the advisors’ insights into the latest standards. “This program isn’t about theoretical compliance; it’s about verified performance aligned with the expectations of customers and insurers. We’re setting a new bar for what it means to be a resilient MSP and backing that with a financial guarantee. The program is designed to empower quality MSPs in the insurance marketplace that often overlooks the critical role of MSPs in providing security and resilience for businesses around the world,” Altamura added.
Spectra’s Certification of Resilience framework seeks to bridge the gap between cybersecurity marketing claims and tangible risk reduction for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while also increasing transparency for insurers. MSPs achieving Spectra certification gain enhanced credibility and direct access to brokers and insurers. Spectra facilitates referrals to certified providers who meet resilience requirements, aiming to improve win rates and streamline cyber insurance underwriting.
Unlike traditional certifications that may focus on individuals or theoretical controls, Spectra’s Certification of Resilience is company-based. It is directly tied to business outcomes and eligibility for preferred insurers, positioning certified MSPs as trusted partners. Furthermore, the certification is warrantied: should an MSP service fail to meet the defined standards, Spectra commits to refunding the service to the end customer. Erick Simpson, CEO and chief strategist at Channel Mastered, commented on the certification’s value, stating, “In today’s channel, trust is more than a value — it’s a competitive advantage. Spectra’s new certification empowers partners to prove they’re not only compliant but truly capable. It validates their expertise in protecting customers now and well into the future, backed by the confidence of industry experts.”
Spectra operates as a cyber risk platform from Hamilton, Bermuda, focused on improving cyber resilience within the managed services ecosystem. More information is available at spectra.bm.
