r/msp Launch Post — DRAFT v1

Last updated: 2026-03-09

Post Title Options (pick one):

Option A (problem-focused):

I built a tool that generates external security reports for client cyber insurance audits — looking for feedback from MSPs

Option B (show-don't-tell):

Scanned 50 MSP client domains to test external attack surface — here's what I found (and the tool I built)

Option C (direct value):

Free tool: Generate a client-ready external security report in 60 seconds — no agent, no install

Recommendation: Option A or B. Option C feels too salesy for r/msp's culture.

Post Body — Draft

Hey r/msp,

I've been lurking here for a while and noticed the same pain point coming up over and over: cyber insurance audits are getting brutal, and clients expect you to produce evidence of their external security posture — not just check boxes on a questionnaire.

The enterprise tools (BitSight, SecurityScorecard, UpGuard) cost $20K+/year. The internal scanners (ConnectSecure, Galactic) require agents or a sales call. And manually checking DNS, SSL, headers, email auth for every client? Nobody has time for that.

So I built something.

What it does:

You enter a domain. It scans:

DNS health — DNSSEC, nameserver config, zone issues
SSL/TLS — cert validity, chain issues, weak ciphers
HTTP security headers — CSP, HSTS, X-Frame-Options, etc.
Email security — SPF, DKIM, DMARC configuration
Open ports — what's exposed to the internet
Subdomain discovery — forgotten assets, shadow IT

60 seconds later, you get a PDF report with a security score and specific remediation steps — written in plain English your client (or their insurance auditor) can understand.

No agent install. No sales call. No per-seat licensing. Just pay per scan.

Why I built it:

I kept hearing from MSP friends that the insurance conversation was getting harder. Insurers want proof — screenshots, reports, evidence. Not "trust me, we've got it covered."

But every tool that does external scanning is either:

Enterprise-priced (UpGuard = $79/vendor/month, BitSight = "call us")
Internal-only (ConnectSecure is great but it's looking at the inside, not what's exposed externally)
Requires a sales call (Galactic Advisors)

I wanted something I could point at a domain and get a professional report in under a minute.

Pricing:

5 free scans — no credit card, just try it
$99/month for 100 scans (~$0.99/scan)
Scales from there if you need more

For context: scanning 50 clients once costs you $49.50 with us. UpGuard would charge ~$3,950/month for the same coverage.

What I'm looking for:

Honest feedback. I'm not here to pitch — I want to know:

Is the report actually useful? Does it surface things you didn't already know? Is it clear enough to hand to a client?
What's missing? Any scans you wish it did that it doesn't?
Would you actually use this? For onboarding? QBRs? Insurance prep?

Drop a comment if you want to try it — I'll DM you a link to run 5 free scans on your clients' domains.

Screenshots:

[INSERT: Screenshot of sample report cover page]

[INSERT: Screenshot of DNS findings section]

[INSERT: Screenshot of email security (SPF/DKIM/DMARC) section]

[INSERT: Screenshot of overall score breakdown]

Thanks for reading. Happy to answer any questions.

— [Your name / handle]

Post Notes:

Tone:

Humble, not salesy
"I built this" not "we're launching"
Asking for feedback, not announcing a product
Show real value (screenshots) before asking for anything

What to prepare before posting:

Screenshots — Scan a real domain (maybe a well-known company or your own test domain), capture the report sections
Landing page — Make sure it's polished, loads fast, explains value in 5 seconds
Free scan flow — Must work flawlessly. No credit card. No friction.
Be ready to reply — First 2 hours are critical. Respond to every comment personally.

Timing:

Best days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Best time: 9–11 AM EST (MSPs checking Reddit before client calls)
Avoid: Monday (too busy), Friday (checked out), weekends (dead)

Expected responses to prepare for:

"How is this different from [X]?"

Great question. [X] focuses on [internal/requires agents/enterprise pricing]. We're specifically built for external attack surface at MSP-friendly pricing. No agents, no install, pay per scan.

"What about false positives?"

We tune for signal over noise. The report shows what's actually exposed and why it matters — not a panic list of everything that could theoretically be a problem.

"Can I white-label this?"

Yes — you can add your MSP branding to the PDF reports. [If not ready yet: "Coming in the next few weeks."]

"Is there an API?"

Yes, fully API-first. You can integrate scans into your own workflows or PSA.

"$99/month seems cheap, what's the catch?"

No catch. We charge per scan, not per seat or per vendor. If you only scan 50 clients once a month, you're paying for 50 scans. Simple.

Alternate Angle: "I scanned 50 domains, here's what I found"

This version leads with data, not product:

Title: I scanned 50 random SMB domains for external security issues — here's what I found

Body:

Ran an external attack surface scan on 50 SMB domains (mix of clients, prospects, random companies) to see what's actually exposed. Some findings:

72% had SPF records but no DMARC enforcement (p=none or missing entirely)
34% had SSL cert issues (expiring <30 days, weak ciphers, chain problems)
28% were missing basic security headers (no HSTS, no CSP)
18% had unexpected open ports (RDP, old SSH, random high ports)
12% had DNSSEC disabled on domains that should have it

The scariest part? Most of these companies would pass a checkbox insurance questionnaire.

I built the scanner myself — happy to share it if anyone wants to run their own clients through it. Takes about 60 seconds per domain, outputs a PDF you can hand to a client or use for insurance documentation.

Anyone else seeing similar patterns in their client base?

Why this works:

Leads with interesting data, not a pitch
Positions you as someone who discovered something, not someone selling something
Invites discussion before revealing the tool
"Happy to share" is softer than "check out my product"