Skip to content

Certification

SPECTRA Certification of Resilience

SPECTRA Certification is an independent inspection: not a self-attested questionnaire and not a check-the-box compliance audit. It establishes objective, practical controls tied to the leading causes of cyber-related loss, using a vendor-neutral framework that insurers rely on for underwriting and portfolio risk analysis.

What Certification Actually Verifies

Internal security

IT support & governance

  • Defined SLAs and incident response procedures.
  • Regular staff training.
  • Risk assessment of third-party providers.
  • Threat intelligence and other proactive security measures.

Internal security

Protective controls

  • Regular penetration testing and vulnerability scanning.
  • Security awareness and phishing training.
  • Secure device configuration and remote access controls.
  • Endpoint protection with MDM policies.
  • Zero-trust access and segmentation to prevent systemic compromise.
  • Disaster recovery capabilities to mitigate business interruption.

Managed services

Delivered to clients

  • MDR with 24×7×365 SOC monitoring.
  • Tested and immutable backup.
  • Email/BEC protection.
  • Managed firewall.
  • Disaster recovery.

Why Certification Matters

For MSPs

Demonstrates service quality and strengthens customer confidence.

For clients

Provides assurance of robust, standardized cybersecurity protections.

For insurers

Supports accurate risk assessment and underwriting.

For the industry

Contributes to systemic resilience and reduced impact of cyber threats.

Achieving SPECTRA Certification demonstrates an MSP’s compliance with industry-aligned cybersecurity benchmarks spanning governance, protection, detection, and recovery: a trusted mark of quality and risk management maturity in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

The Four Levels

SPECTRA Approved badge

Free

SPECTRA Approved

Where every MSP starts. Verifies four basic controls, MFA, backup, endpoint protection, and RMM, through a short, self-service process in PRISM. No credit card, no sales call. Includes one discounted cyber insurance referral for a client of your choice.

Get Approved Free

SPECTRA Certified Level 1 badge

SPECTRA Certified

Level 1

Best for MSPs with 24/7 SOC and MDR in place: Everything in Approved, plus verified MDR with 24×7 SOC monitoring. Unlocks qualified leads from insurers, eligibility for SpectraCare warranties, and access to preferred insurance coverage for you and your clients.

Talk to sales

SPECTRA Certified Level 2 badge

SPECTRA Certified

Level 2

Best for MSPs running the full stack: endpoint, email, backup: Everything in Level 1, plus verified email/BEC security and tested, immutable backup. Unlocks higher-priority leads from insurers, increased SpectraCare warranties, and even better coverage for you and your clients.

Talk to sales

SPECTRA Certified Level 3 badge

SPECTRA Certified

Level 3

Best for mature MSPs with advanced network security and DR: Everything in Level 2, plus verified managed firewall and disaster recovery. Unlocks the highest-priority qualified leads from insurers, eligibility for SpectraCare warranties, and access to the best possible insurance rates and coverages for you and your clients.

Talk to sales

You can enter at any level your current stack supports, and move up when you’re ready. Certification is reviewed annually at every level.

Recognized by The Insurance Market

SPECTRA certification is recognized by cyber insurance market leaders in Lloyd’s of London and the U.S., where our carrier partners offer broader cyber coverage, discounted premiums, and significantly shortened applications for businesses in all industries and sizes. Through SPECTRA’s insurance broker partners, certified MSPs and their clients can access the program in almost every state and receive a no-obligation quote with special terms only available through the SPECTRA program.

  • Beltex Insurance
  • BMS
  • Ariel Re
  • HUB International
  • Ledgebrook
  • DUAL
  • Canopius
  • RT Specialty
  • Tokio Marine
  • Brit

SPECTRA is not an insurance carrier or broker. We partner with licensed brokers who place the coverage once the applicant’s cyber posture has been verified.

An Elite Network, Not a Directory

SPECTRA certification is performance-based and warranty-backed, tied to real insurance and business outcomes: not a checkbox audit. Low-performing MSPs do not pass. Membership is a small group of MSPs capable of delivering comprehensive cybersecurity consistently.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does certification take?

Approved is self-service and takes about 20 minutes. Level 1 through 3 certification is typically completed within 3 to 5 business days from receipt of your documentation.

Do I need to start at Level 1?

No: enter at whichever level your current stack supports. Approved is required first, and MSPs are expected to reach Level 1 within 12 months.

What if my client’s cyber insurance quote is time-sensitive?

Referrals for certified MSPs typically return a quote in 2 to 3 business days.

Does SPECTRA require specific vendors or products?

No. SPECTRA is stack-agnostic: we verify that the controls you’ve deployed perform to standard, regardless of vendor.

Is certification a one-time check?

No. Certification and SpectraCare warranties are both reviewed and renewed annually.

See where your MSP stands

Get Approved free in about 20 minutes, then certify at your level when you’re ready. No credit card, no commitment.

Get SPECTRA Approved
Talk to us first