For years, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) have leaned heavily on CSV exports to meet audit and compliance demands. Run a PowerShell script, wrangle the output, download a log, manually parse permissions — repeat for every client, every month. It’s how things have always been done. (No wonder so many MSPs still believe that compliance is a cost center, not a revenue stream!)
As you can imagine, sticking with this legacy approach is becoming a liability, not just for efficiency, but for security and quality of service.
Traditional CSV-based audit reporting is slow, error-prone, and disconnected from the realities of modern, cloud-based environments.
Traditional CSV-based audit reporting is slow, error-prone, and disconnected from the realities of modern, cloud-based environments. Office 365 audit log exports, for example, are limited by retention windows (as short as 90 days on standard licenses), rate caps, and a maximum page size of 5,000 records per request unless using advanced APIs like Graph or aggregation tools like Kusto Query Language (KQL). Even with those in hand, MSPs often need to manually piece together log fragments, correlate permission sets, and track changes over time across multiple tenants — usually in dreaded spreadsheets.
These manual processes are more than a hassle — they introduce risk. Human error creeps into complex CSV reconciliations, especially when pulling data from disparate sources. Cumbersome workflows slow down incident response and make it easy to miss signs of compromise or accidental overprovisioning. In the end, MSPs spend more energy managing audit artifacts than actually improving client security posture.
The answer isn’t more sophisticated CSVs or heavier scripting. It’s smarter, UI/UX-driven audit tools.
The answer isn’t more sophisticated CSVs or heavier scripting. It’s smarter, UI/UX-driven audit tools that centralize access reviews, present actionable insights, and automate reporting across platforms. Platforms that ditch the CSV in favor of dashboards, real-time alerts, and business-friendly exports are helping MSPs identify issues in hours — not days — and communicate results to clients and auditors without translation or technical friction.
A new generation of compliance solutions is moving in this direction. For example, Blacksmith InfoSec allows MSPs to streamline user audits and produce clear, approval-ready reports — without ever touching a CSV. Centralized data and modern interfaces replace siloed exports and manual reviews, letting teams focus on closing security gaps instead of chasing spreadsheet errors.
Leaving CSVs behind isn’t just about saving time. It’s about reclaiming the high ground: ensuring nothing falls through the cracks, improving communication with clients, and showing regulators you’re serious about real, ongoing security programs. In 2025, that’s not just efficient — it’s a real advantage.
