MSP 3.0 – A Vision and Roadmap for Managed Service Providers in the AI Era

Jan-Jaap Jager, CEO of Acronis, envisions AI as a transformative force that enables managed service providers (MSPs) to achieve unprecedented efficiency, scalability, and growth by shifting from reactive, labor-intensive operations to autonomous, productivity-driven models.

In his own words upon becoming CEO in late 2025: “My goal is to accelerate AI-driven innovation and help our partners grow their business faster — enabling managed service providers to achieve greater efficiencies and deliver even higher levels of protection to their customers.”

Under his leadership, Acronis is evolving into an “AI-native company” that delivers natively integrated cyber protection solutions, empowering MSPs and IT professionals with Autonomous Cyber Protection.

Core Elements of His Vision for MSPs in the AI Era

Jager emphasizes that AI is already reshaping MSP operations by automating routine, time-consuming tasks so technicians can focus on higher-value work. In a recent LinkedIn post, he posed the question: “If AI is reshaping the MSP market, what work should still require a human?”

He highlighted common MSP pain points—tool sprawl, operational complexity, evolving ransomware, Microsoft 365 exposure risks, and margin pressure from competition—and noted that up to 93% of IT leaders plan to introduce autonomous agents within the next two years.

Key benefits he highlights include:

• Automation of repetitive tasks: Software updates, patch management, anomaly detection, system monitoring, and more. The Acronis Cyber Platform already supports more than 25 AI-powered scenarios designed to automate routine operations and move MSPs toward an “autonomous MSP” model—where systems not only assist but actively act on behalf of technicians.
• Productivity as the #1 strategic differentiator: AI frees up human time for strategic advisory roles, client relationships, trust-building, innovation, and complex decision-making (e.g., 2 a.m. incident judgment calls or understanding business-specific risks).
• AI-driven growth and resilience: He positions AI-powered automation and integrated cyber protection as the foundation for the “next era of MSP growth.” This includes practical tools like generative AI assistants (e.g., Acronis Copilot for scripting and software deployment) and AI-based features for patch stability scoring and proactive remediation.

2026 Outlook and Practical Focus

Jager opened the 2026 Acronis Partner Kickoff event (themed “AI-Driven Protection for the Next Era of MSP Growth”) with an address focused on how AI and automation will “redefine efficiency and resilience” while turning AI into a real growth driver for MSP businesses.

The event previewed Acronis’s 2026 innovation roadmap, including new AI-powered launches for protection, management, and automation to help MSPs scale faster and stay competitive.

This aligns with broader Acronis content on advancing MSPs to “MSP 3.0”—a proactive, predictive, cybersecurity-first model where AI handles scale and complexity, reducing costs and enabling small teams to manage large environments effectively.

In summary, Jager’s vision is optimistic and partner-centric: AI does not replace MSPs—it supercharges them. By leveraging Acronis’s AI-native platform, MSPs can eliminate operational drudgery, reduce risk, strengthen client relationships, and differentiate through superior productivity and protection. He actively encourages ongoing dialogue with MSPs (via events like the Cyber Roadshow) on what human roles will look like in an autonomous future.