As cybersecurity skills gaps, round-the-clock response demands, and rising customer requirements strain smaller IT teams, Magna5 leaders say mid-market companies need a security operating model they can sustain.
PITTSBURGH, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mid-market companies are managing enterprise-level cybersecurity demands with generalist IT teams, according to security leaders at Magna5, a national managed IT, cybersecurity, cloud, and compliance services provider. Nearly six in 10 cybersecurity professionals reported critical or significant skills needs within their organizations, according to the 2025 ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study. The same study found that budget constraints continue to limit organizations' ability to hire the cybersecurity expertise they need.
For mid-market companies, the pressure often falls on generalist information technology (IT) teams already responsible for infrastructure, cloud environments, user support, and day-to-day operations. William Hale, Senior Director of Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) Services at Magna5, said organizations should pay attention when cybersecurity demands begin exceeding what those teams can reasonably manage. "If leadership finds itself constantly reacting to security gaps instead of proactively managing risk, that's a structural problem as much as a staffing problem," Hale said. "At that point, it's not about working harder; it's about recognizing the current model has hit its ceiling."
Detection and Response Stretch Generalist IT Teams
The World Economic Forum's Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 identifies unequal access to cybersecurity resources and expertise as a continuing resilience challenge, particularly for organizations with fewer resources. Magna5's security and vCISO teams work alongside mid-market IT departments to help close that gap.
Detection and response require specialized expertise that generalist IT teams may struggle to maintain. Recognizing subtle signs of compromise and responding under pressure demand skills beyond routine infrastructure management and user support.
The challenge extends to coverage. "Attackers choose the timing, not the target," said Brandon Bell, Senior vCISO at Magna5. "Monitoring must be continuous so an alert on a holiday weekend gets the same attention as one on a Tuesday morning."
Every Security Tool Needs an Owner
Adding cybersecurity technology does not automatically close a capability gap. New platforms also create operational work, including configuration, monitoring, alert review, maintenance, and follow-up. For mid-market teams already balancing infrastructure, user support, and security responsibilities, that work can become another demand on limited staff time.
Bell said problems often begin when companies purchase technology in response to a specific incident. "The result is expensive software generating alerts that nobody is tuning, reviewing, or acting on," Bell said.
That can leave leadership believing a security gap has been addressed when the underlying operational responsibility remains unresolved. "Every tool purchased needs an operational plan attached to it, not just a line item in the budget," Bell said. "That ownership question — who configures, who reviews alerts, who acts, and who reports — is where Magna5 helps mid-market teams build a sustainable model."
Closing the Capacity Gap Without Replacing the Team
Co-managed support can add specialized expertise without replacing the internal team. Hiscox's 2026 Cyber Readiness Report found that 55% of surveyed organizations were investing in specialist staff as part of their cyber resilience spending, reflecting the growing demand for specialized security expertise. For mid-market companies, where budget constraints can limit hiring, co-managed support can add that expertise without replacing the internal team.
Hale said the model works best when responsibilities are clearly defined. "Internal teams stay in place doing what they do best, while the co-managed partner fills the specific gaps around threats and around-the-clock coverage," he said. Clear boundaries around routine work, escalation, incident response, and reporting help prevent security responsibilities from falling between teams.
Expectations around cybersecurity are also becoming more relevant to business relationships. Customers increasingly ask for evidence of security posture before signing contracts, vendor assessments are becoming more demanding, and cyber insurers can require specific controls before issuing or renewing coverage. Those pressures add to the responsibilities mid-market companies must maintain consistently.
"Cybersecurity responsibilities keep expanding, and the team supporting them does not always expand with them," Hale said. "Leadership needs to know what the internal team can sustain consistently, where specialized support is needed, and who owns each responsibility. That is how you build a security program the business can maintain."
About Magna5
Magna5 is a national managed IT, cybersecurity, cloud and compliance services provider serving small and mid-sized businesses, mid-market organizations, and regulated industries across the United States. The company helps organizations manage critical IT infrastructure, protect networks and data, support users, and strengthen operational resilience through 24/7/365 monitoring, managed security, cloud, backup, disaster recovery, and compliance support. Magna5 works with security- and uptime-conscious sectors including the Defense Industrial Base, healthcare, financial services, legal, manufacturing, education, construction, government, and professional services. For more information, visit www.magna5.com.
Sources:
- Hiscox. (2026b). The Hiscox cyber readiness report 2026: US focus.
hiscox.com/documents/Hiscox-Cyber-Readiness-Report-2026.pdf - ISC2. (2025, December 4). 2025 ISC2 cybersecurity workforce study.
isc2.org/Insights/2025/12/2025-ISC2-Cybersecurity-Workforce-Study - World Economic Forum. (2026, January 12). Global cybersecurity outlook 2026.
weforum.org/publications/global-cybersecurity-outlook-2026
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