Managed vs. In-House Cybersecurity for iGaming: The Real Decision Framework
The question isn't "can we do this ourselves?" It's "what would it actually cost to do this ourselves at the level regulators and attackers demand?" Most iGaming operators who ask this question honestly choose a managed partner — not because they can't build a team, but because the economics of doing so are brutal and the skills market is unforgiving.
The average annual cost of a qualified cybersecurity analyst in Malta/UK: £65,000–£90,000.
What "In-House Security" Actually Requires
- At minimum: one qualified security analyst (CISSP or equivalent — £65K–£90K salary)
- Security tools budget: typically £30K–£80K/year for enterprise-grade stack
- On-call coverage: attackers don't work 9–5; incident response requires 24/7 capability
- Compliance expertise: MGA, GDPR, DORA, PCI DSS require specialist knowledge that changes annually
- Total realistic cost for a credible in-house function: £150K–£250K/year
What Managed Security Actually Provides
A managed security partner like Kyanite Blue provides the full stack — product licences, configuration, monitoring, compliance documentation, incident response — at a fraction of the cost of equivalent in-house capability. More importantly: the team managing your security has seen hundreds of iGaming environments. They know what an MGA auditor will ask for. They know what attacks look like before they manifest.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what company size does in-house security make sense?
Generally above 500 employees with a dedicated IT department. Below that, the economics of managed security are almost always better — and the skills availability is almost always worse.
Compare the cost of managed vs. in-house for your operation
Kyanite Blue specialises in cybersecurity for iGaming operators. MGA-licensed operators across Malta trust our stack.
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MGA-licensed operators across Malta trust Kyanite Blue.