Security Business Review
SCHEDULED REPORT | CYBER SECURITY
BACKGROUND
AUG 24 - JAN 25 | PRODUCT DESIGNER
Guardz is an all-in-one cybersecurity platform for MSPs, offering automated threat detection, response, and protection across endpoints, cloud apps, email, and identity — while enabling MSPs to monitor and manage multiple customers from a single dashboard.
The Security Business Review is a comprehensive, white-labeled report that provides a snapshot of a client's security posture over a specified period. It's tailored to facilitate meaningful discussions between MSPs and their clients, highlighting areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.
THE PROBLEM
The value of prevention is unseen
How can MSPs communicate their value to clients when much of what they do happens behind the scenes? MSPs need to clearly show the impact of their security measures and reassure clients that their investment is worthwhile, even when nothing has gone wrong.
OUR USERS
Understanding the People Behind the Problem
Jeremy - The MSP - managed service provider
An MSP is a third-party company that manages IT systems and security for other businesses, often small to mid-sized. They handle ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and protection, acting as the behind-the-scenes IT and security team for their clients.
OUR USERS' CUSTOMERS
Audrey - owns a boutique marketing agency
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Needs from MSP: Peace of mind that client data and creative assets are secure
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Persona vibe: Not technical, values clarity and professionalism
Leah - owns a multi-location private clinic
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Needs from MSP: HIPAA-compliant security, device monitoring, email protection
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Persona vibe: Detail-oriented, needs regular reassurance but no jargon
CONCLUSION
Jobs to be done
STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY
Empowering MSPs to build stronger client relationships
This case study reflects Guardz’s broader mission: empowering MSPs to protect SMBs while growing their own business. The Security Business Review strengthens MSP-client trust, turning silent protection into visible value.
COMPETITVE ANALYSIS
Designing for Impact,
Not Just Information
To design a report that genuinely supports MSPs in client conversations, we reviewed how others in the industry communicate value.
What I took:
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Emphasize business impact over technical stats - showing risk reduction in monetary terms or time saved.
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Use of periodic comparisons and trends to show progression over time.
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Provide white-labeled summaries, allowing MSPs to brand the value as their own.
Opportunities identified:
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Most reports are too technical - hard for SMBs to digest
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Few show progress over time or celebrate prevented threats
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No storytelling flow to drive conversation - just reporting.
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Reports built to empower MSPs in non-technical conversations.
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Positive framing of security as an enabler, not just a risk reducer.
OLD REPORT
From ROI to value conversations
The old ROI report aimed to show clients the value of Guardz through technical KPIs and static charts. While the intention was right, the output lacked storytelling, clear business framing, and relevance to the client's specific context.
UX APPROACH
Turning security into a story clients can understand
To help MSPs build trust with their clients, we approached the Security Business Review as a communication tool - not a technical report. Our design prioritized clarity, consistency, and a sense of progress, using visual storytelling to highlight the MSP’s impact
STORYLINE
From overview to insight
THE DESIGN
Clear, Human-Centric,
and Business-Aligned
The design of the SBR was driven by a core principle: make it easy for MSPs to tell a compelling story about security. That meant prioritizing visual hierarchy, familiar components, and meaningful groupings of information. We structured the report to guide a client conversation, not just deliver a status update.
Designed for Any Context
We created two full visual modes for the Security Business Review: a sleek dark mode for digital sharing and a clean light mode for easy printing. This ensures MSPs can confidently present the report in any setting, whether shared as a link or handed out in a meeting. Both versions maintain full functionality and clarity, with client branding and reporting dates always front and center.
Summary
The summary page offers a high-level snapshot of the client’s overall security posture for the selected timeframe. It combines key metrics—like secured assets, financial exposure, and detection handling - into a single, visually structured overview designed to spark client conversations and highlight the MSP’s value.
User posture
While technical terms like cloud protection or data leak prevention are core to cybersecurity, most SMB clients don’t fully grasp them. What they do understand is their employees — who’s risky, who’s improving, and where action is needed. That’s why we focused on user posture, highlighting tangible behaviors and trends tied to real people. This shift in framing helped MSPs have more relatable, actionable conversations with clients.
Consistent visual language for deeper insights
These drill-down pages apply a consistent visual structure to help users quickly interpret complex insights. By reusing familiar layouts and flow—from breakdowns to response funnels and trend indicators—the design minimizes effort, improves scanability, and encourages confident decision-making.
Helping clients understand cyber risks
To help MSPs communicate value and build trust, we included two educational sections. The Threats Overview breaks down common cyber risks in simple terms, while the Glossary explains technical concepts mentioned throughout the report. Together, they make it easier for clients to understand their
Creating & scheduling reports: a seamless flow
To support both proactive and reactive communication, we designed a flexible flow for creating reports directly within the platform. MSPs can generate on-demand reports for specific time frames when needed, or schedule recurring reports to be sent automatically on a monthly or quarterly basis. This empowers them to keep clients consistently informed with minimal effort, while reinforcing the value of their ongoing security efforts.
KPIS
Adoption highlights
Within just three months of launching ADR, we saw strong adoption and meaningful impact — from faster detection and response times to improved automation coverage and business results.
NEXT STEPS
Evolving the Security business review
As the Security Business Review continues to gain traction, we identified several opportunities to enhance its value and flexibility for MSPs and their clients:
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Customizable Content:
Allow MSPs to tailor the report by hiding specific sections or metrics, enabling them to focus the narrative and highlight what matters most to their audience.
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Localization & Language Support:
Adapt the report for international markets, including translation and formatting adjustments to meet regional norms and preferences.
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Benchmarking by Industry:
Add more contextual benchmarks based on company size or vertical, helping clients understand their standing relative to peers.