Unlocking Cybersecurity Insights

76% of CIOs don't start with an IT partner for their cybersecurity solutions.*

Our recent research revealed a staggering statistic. Of the 500 CIOs we surveyed in partnership with Tech Research Asia, only 24% stated they start with an IT partner for cybersecurity solutions.

October signalled #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth, serving as a crucial reminder of the significant responsibility our channel community holds. In light of this, we recently spoke to our team to uncover what's top of mind in Cybersecurity.

Ted Skorskiis a Product Manager at Dicker Data and believes year-round awareness campaigns are crucial for keeping users on their toes, and when it comes to cybersecurity measures, less is NOT more.

"While Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a great time to highlight the importance of cybersecurity, threats don't take a break. Data shows that multiple layers of protection are far more effective than less comprehensive approaches. Simply put, the more layers of protection you apply, the fewer malware infections an organisation will experience. Stay safe and secure with a robust, multi-layered defense strategy."

To gain a clearer picture of your customers' current cybersecurity landscape, Tony Lam, Senior Business Manager, encourages partners to ask the below question, to help identify areas where cybersecurity can be improved.

"I would ask your customers, where do you believe your biggest area of growth is in the next 24 months? Once this is answered we need to protect that technology platform and workflow, so we can ensure the revenue stream is secured moving forward. Then retrospectively, let's augment that cybersecurity strategy to your existing BAU so we have a focused, effective strategy that is not just an overlay cost. Partners should first, identify customers' segment/needs when it comes to cybersecurity compliance, then understand your offerings in the technologies you already have and fill the gaps with technologies you don't have."

A cybersecurity framework is a good starting point and should be updated every three months. It should be simple, easy to communicate, and executable with customers. The model must fit each IT business and guide the building of a more secure and resilient IT infrastructure for customers. Edmund Ong, Product Account Manager, highlights why he agrees partners should start with a framework as an entry point to cybersecurity.

"From scoping the network topology, to pen testing their environment, we can exploit any vulnerabilities in a system. We then can build a better understanding of their criteria and requirements, and our team can support partners in creating a more secure and resilient IT infrastructure for their customers."

The evolving threat landscape demands proactive measures from partners. George Guirguis, Business Manager, Security and Presales - Cisco, has pinpointed two essential solutions to help partners keep their customers ahead of potential threats.

"Focus on cloud security and supply chain risks. With many businesses operating in hybrid or multi-cloud environments, partners should emphasise the importance of securing cloud configurations and maintaining compliance across platforms. Utilise comprehensive cyber resilience programs. Partners should not only deploy reactive measures but also help customers develop and implement comprehensive resilience plans. This includes strategies for data recovery, regular security audits, and ensuring backup systems are distributed and secure, reducing the impact of any potential breach."

Reflecting on the past 12-18 months, George says it's imperative for partners to adopt proactive threat detection and AI-driven solutions.

"With AI increasingly being used by attackers for advanced phishing and malware creation, partners need to help their customers implement AI-powered threat detection tools that can adapt and respond in real-time. This allows for early identification of anomalies and faster responses, preventing small incidents from escalating. Cisco has made numerous advancements and contributions in this area."

Threats can strike at any time, regardless of the business size. As David Vogt, Business Manager, explains, organisations of all sizes have made investments to secure and enhance their IT systems to safeguard their operations and clients.

"In recent years, we have seen a significant escalation in cybersecurity breaches impacting organisations of all sizes from small businesses to multi-nationals. This is driving the increasing demand for around the clock, 24/7 security monitoring of your clients' IT environments. To develop an in-house Security Operation Centre (SOC) requires significant investment and resources. An alternative solution for Resellers is to partner with a trusted provider. BlackBerry Cybersecurity offer a mSOC that provides seamless onboarding and enables Resellers the ability to "bring your own stack" to utilise existing tech and solutions where investments have already been made."

David also has stressed the importance of providing continuous cyber awareness education and training for employees.

"It has become evident that the primary cause of all cyber breaches relates to human error and now accounts for over 80% of all security breaches. Cyber Aware, an Australian based company, offers a complete solution to reduce the human risk. The Cyber Aware Security Awareness Training platform and Phishing Simulations program, focuses on educating and training employees on best practices and how to respond to scenarios and potential risks. The Cyber Aware Program becomes a powerful tool to mitigate cyber breaches that have the potential to cause severe financial loss, data theft and reputation damage to an organisation."

Pennie Stevens, General Manager - Software, has already observed a shift in partners wanting to pursue the cybersecurity opportunity.

"We are seeing tremendous growth here at Dicker Data with our Security vendors. Our partners are wanting to understand the opportunity in the market, and we are supporting them with building and implementing layered security solutions for their end-users. We can assist with presales technical support, scoping the opportunity, demos and proof of concept and setting up of MSP arrangements. We provide access to a wide variety of vendors addressing a cross section of security and cyber resilience requirements."

Our Dicker Data team is partnered with a dozen industry-leading cybersecurity vendors to help you build, implement, and secure compliant cybersecurity solutions for your end-customers. So, are you chatting to our team about these opportunities?

Reach out to your local Dicker Data representative, or email [email protected]

*Source - https://www.dickerdata.com.au/blog/four-strategic-moves-for-business-growth

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