Summit 7 Creates MSP Collective to Protect Critical Infrastructure

MSPs Summit 7, NeoSystems and Quzara are teaming up to launch a Managed Service Providers for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure collective. The collective is a group of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) dedicated to maintaining a secure, functional, and resilient critical infrastructure.

The collective is in the process of completing 501(c)6 status as a nonprofit organization.

The MSP Collective

The mission of the MSP Collective is to inform the U.S. government and critical infrastructure industries on topics related to MSPs and MSSPs, according to a statement. As a collective, the group seeks to collaborate as an industry advisory board to Congress, the Department of Defense (DoD), the Cyber AB, and state legislatures to provide insight into the importance of External Service Providers in securing critical infrastructure, the federal contracting base, and the Defense Industrial Base (DIB).

The MSP Collective seeks to help define the requirements for external service providers handling or processing controlled unclassified information as defined in DFARS 252.204-7012 / NIST SP 800-171, according to the statement. The collective's board members all have extensive history with, background experience with and knowledge of relevant areas from government policy and standards to running successful MSPs for DoD contractors.

The MSP Collective will provide best practices, industry insights and collaboration opportunities to the U.S. government and critical infrastructure industries. The MSP Collective plans to expand its membership in the coming months as it continues to grow and better serve its mission.

Critical Infrastructure Protection: Executive Insight

"The MSP Collective is a group of MSPs and MSSPs dedicated to helping the US Government and Federal Ecosystem understand the important role External Service Providers can play in protecting critical infrastructure," said Summit 7 CEO Scott Edwards. "We're excited to have NeoSystems and Quzara join us as the first two of three founding members."