The arrival of computer virtualization almost 20 years ago has shaped our world for the better. Servers function much more efficiently. Over- and under-worked computers are a thing of the past. On-demand resources are available instantly. Operating systems can run seamlessly side by side, allowing computers to solve multiple problems simultaneously. And let’s not forget that virtualization has also improved security functions and overall computer reliability while substantially reducing costs, making computing resources available to the masses.

To put it plainly, technology virtualization allows one computer to perform the same functions as multiple computers. It has given us a free ride into the future. Looking back 20 years, it’s hard to imagine how we did it any other way.

And it’s a model that is already changing the world of cybersecurity — we just haven’t quite noticed yet.

It’s called cybersecurity virtualization, and it’s the practice of using many cybersecurity experts (only when you need them) under a single, highly orchestrated management function.

From one lens, you could say the threat landscape looks pretty bleak, right? There’s an ever-growing skills gap. New malware pops up every 4.2 seconds. More than 4,000 ransomware attacks occurred every day in 2016. ID theft is more common than anyone could have predicted. And, for some reason, millions of people simply cannot resist the temptation of using “1234567” as their passwords or deny themselves the joy of clicking on those fun phishing emails.

However, the industry is on the brink of major change. Artificial intelligence is allowing companies to spot and defend against malware in unprecedented ways. Awareness campaigns are growing. Companies worldwide are embracing cybersecurity cultures. And the virtualization of the cybersecurity function is emerging as a leading strategy to protect organizations from the world’s ever-growing security threats.

Companies worldwide are switching to this virtualized approach at a rapid pace. In fact, the managed security services (MSS) market is expected to reach $56.4 billion by 2024 — up from $16.6 billion in 2016.

But why the sudden shift in strategy? Here are a couple factors fueling the MSS trend and leading companies to outsource their cybersecurity duties: