Have you ever jumped out of an airplane?

For most people, the answer is hell no. But for the few who do, there’s one thing they always have to do first: Sign a waiver.

That waiver says, Hey, you know this is dangerous, right? You understand that if your parachute doesn’t open, you’re a human pancake? You get that no one is responsible for your choices but you?

And if you still want to jump? Well, that’s on you.

Your MSP Is Giving You a Cyber Parachute—Are You Refusing to Wear It?

Every time your MSP makes a security recommendation, they’re handing you a parachute.

  • A password manager.
  • Multi-factor authentication.
  • A proper backup system.
  • Endpoint security.

If they’re doing their job right, they’re explaining the risks and how to mitigate them.

But here’s where it gets dangerous—what happens when you say no?

Maybe the cost doesn’t fit your budget.

Maybe it slows things down.

Maybe it’s just one more thing on your already full plate.

You have every right to take the risk. But if your MSP isn’t documenting that decision, you have a much bigger problem.

Risk Acceptance Documents Aren’t Just Paperwork—They’re Your Warning Sign

Here’s the thing—you don’t sign a waiver when you step onto a city bus. But you do when you skydive. Why?

Because one has a little risk. The other has holy-crap-you-might-die risk.

A Risk Acceptance Document does the same thing for cybersecurity. It forces you to stop and think.

  • Is this risk worth it?
  • What’s the real impact?
  • Am I making a business decision—or just gambling?

When your MSP makes you sign off on a risk, it’s not just to cover their own ass. It’s to protect yours.

If Your MSP Isn’t Documenting Risk, What Else Are They Cutting Corners On?

A reputable MSP will make you sign a Risk Acceptance Document when you refuse a security recommendation.

Think of it as your cybersecurity waiver—it outlines:

  • What they recommended
  • Why you declined it
  • What risks you’re accepting
  • What it’s going to cost when something goes wrong

Because here’s the brutal truth—it’s not if, it’s when.

Cyber risk is measured in likelihood vs. impact.

  • Skipping MFA? That’s like refusing a seatbelt.
  • No endpoint security? That’s leaving your front door wide open.
  • No offsite backups? That’s Russian roulette with your company’s future.

When a breach happens, and you’re scrambling to explain why you didn’t take basic precautions, you’ll wish you had that documentation.

Without Documentation, You’re Holding the Bag

If your MSP isn’t tracking risk acceptance, ask yourself:

  • What else are they neglecting?
  • Do they even have Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance? (Because if they do, their insurer expects them to document these conversations.)
  • How many other things are they leaving exposed?
  • How will you prove you were informed of the risk when the lawyers start circling?

The last thing you want is to find yourself on the wrong side of a “Why didn’t you do this?” conversation with your cyber insurance provider or, worse, in court.

Don’t Jump Without a Parachute

Risk is unavoidable. But reckless risk—the kind that isn’t documented, planned for, or accounted for—is a disaster waiting to happen.

A solid MSP will make sure every decision, every risk, every declined security measure is in writing.

If your MSP isn’t having these conversations with you—or worse, they’re not documenting them—it’s time to rethink who you trust with your business.

If you have solid reasoning for your decision to take the risk, then you aren’t being reckless. You are making the right decisions for your organization to grow, scale, and be successful.

The Risk Acceptance Document facilitates this discussion, ensures you’re fully informed, and documents your reasoning for accepting the risk.

Because when disaster strikes, the last thing you want is to be blindsided by a decision you forgot you even made.