DNSFilter, a global leader in AI-powered protective DNS and content filtering, today announced a significant expansion of its MSP Partner Program. The enhanced program introduces a structured three-tier model designed to meet MSPs where they are and invest more deeply in those growing their security services practice.
New research from DNSFilter reveals the scale of the commercial pressure MSPs are navigating with 85% of MSP leaders surveyed admitting there is a security capability they cannot effectively deliver today as they spend more time stitching tools together than stopping threats. The financial impact is direct: 49% cite security tool licensing costs as their single biggest obstacle to growing security revenue, 26% point to an unmanageable tech stack, and 23% to training overheads.
AI-Phishing top concern among MSPs surveyed
The top threats MSPs are most worried about over the next 12–18 months are operating at a layer that most current tools do not cover:
- 58% of MSP leaders name AI-generated phishing and social engineering as the biggest emerging threat
- 42% of leaders cited Identity-based attacks (credential theft, MFA bypass)
- 33% of respondents shared concern with supply chain and third-party compromise
- 26% cited autonomous AI agent access, ransomware, and IoT/OT vulnerabilities amongst their top threats.
The common thread: these attacks operate at the DNS and web layer, before the endpoint agent can intervene. By the time an endpoint agent sees a threat, the user has already clicked, the page has loaded, and the resolution has happened. 38% of MSPs say they cannot effectively deliver protection against AI-generated threats today with 30% saying they cannot deliver network-level visibility beyond the endpoint.
The Security Opportunity MSPs Are Sitting On
DNSFilter’s 2026 MSP Research* found that 47% of MSP leaders cannot effectively deliver security posture reporting for compliance or cyber insurance purposes, the second-largest capability gap in the market, behind only advanced threat detection. For MSPs serving finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and legal clients, that gap is both a risk and a missed revenue opportunity.
“Our research makes the commercial reality facing MSPs impossible to ignore, but the flip side of that is a real opportunity we want to help our partners capture. When our partners succeed, more businesses get protected. That’s the outcome we’re building for,” said Ken Carnesi, CEO and Co-Founder of DNSFilter.
Built for MSPs from Day One: Introducing the Three-Tier MSP Partner Program
Today, more than 6000 MSPs use DNSFilter, and last year the company made its largest MSP investment to date, acquiring Zorus and launching CyberSight to identify phishing infrastructure and lookalike domains before they reach client networks.
The new enhanced MSP Partner Program builds on this foundation with a three-tier structure designed to match the level of investment DNSFilter makes to the level of commitment an MSP brings:
DNSFilter Select Partner: Partners get immediate access to our multi-tenant platform and the DNSFilter Partner Edge Portal, white-label campaign assets, self-paced training, and volume-based pricing with no application form, no approval queue, and no long-term contract standing between them and a security layer their clients will feel.
DNSFilter Accelerator Partner: By invitation or application, for MSPs committed to growing their security services practice. Accelerator Partners receive a named account manager, sales engineer support for demos and POCs, co-marketing resources backed by MDF investment, and a dedicated annual business review so growth conversations are grounded in actual numbers, not guesswork.
DNSFilter Strategic Partner: DNSFilter’s deepest commitment, reserved for partners going all-in on security services growth. Includes custom enablement, joint selling motions, co-branded/white-label marketing, ongoing MDF, and a dedicated DNSFilter team aligned to the partner’s revenue goals. When a Strategic Partner wins, DNSFilter wins with them.
“The MSP community is where cybersecurity protection actually gets delivered to the businesses that need it most. With this next chapter in our program, we’re putting more resources, more people, and more structure behind the partners who are growing with us. If you’re an MSP who’s been thinking about making DNSFilter a bigger part of your stack, this is the right time,” said Dan Cucchi, VP of MSP and Channel Sales, DNSFilter.
“DNSFilter has been a core part of our security stack for years, and this new MSP program reflects exactly what we’ve always valued about this partnership, a team that understands how MSPs operate and builds programs to match,” said Rick Dupuis, Sr. Manager, Technical Solutions, Mainstay Technologies. “For Mainstay, DNS protection isn’t optional; it’s a non-negotiable first layer of defense for every client we onboard. Having a partner program that reinforces that model with the right pricing, support, and tooling makes it easier for us to deliver consistent security outcomes at scale.”
“Being part of DNSFilter’s MSP program isn’t just about adding another tool to our stack, it’s about aligning with a team that genuinely understands how we operate and what our clients need. DNSFilter has earned that trust. The platform delivers where it matters: reliable protection, a management experience built for multi-tenant environments, and a support team that treats us like partners. That’s what makes the relationship sticky and what makes it easy for us to put DNSFilter in front of our clients with confidence,” commented Charles Love, COO, ShowTech Solutions.
For more information please read our blog or visit the Partner Page for further details.
*About the Research Methodology
Survey of 100 senior-level cybersecurity and IT professionals at US-based Managed Service Providers. Fieldwork conducted in spring 2026. Respondents hold titles of Director level and above. Full report can be found here
About DNSFilter
DNSFilter is a cybersecurity company that protects every click, leveraging AI-driven content filtering and threat protection to block threats up to 10 days earlier than competitors. DNSFilter’s solution secures workers wherever they are, helping organizations boost productivity, minimize compliance risk, and protect corporate brands on public Wi-Fi networks. Trusted by more than 45,000 organizations worldwide, DNSFilter enables organizations to deploy powerful protection in minutes while gaining deep visibility into their security posture. Learn more at dnsfilter.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260630616164/en/
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