Here's a sobering estimate: Of the 10,000 Ingram Micro channel partners that sell security solutions, only about five percent are fully addressing cybersecurity opportunities and associated customer needs, according to Eric Kohl, VP of the distributor's advanced solutions, networking & security business unit.
That estimate and plenty of managed security chatter emerged at this week's Ingram Micro TrustX Alliance gathering in Orlando, Fla. For some -- though not all -- attendees, security is rapidly moving up the priority list.
Aggressive movers in the cybersecurity and managed security market include:
- Guy Baroan, president of Baroan Technologies;
- James Wagner, president of TheITeam; and
- Steve Meek, CEO of The Fulcrum Group.
TrustX Alliance Security Think Tank
Those IT service providers, among others, attended a security think tank this week at Ingram Micro's TrustX conference in Orlando, Florida. Similar partner-led security conversations have been popping up across HTG Peer Groups, TruMethods and other peer-driven organizations.
In some ways, the IT channel and overall security market seem set to bifurcate.
- The Masses: No doubt, most partners are focused on traditional endpoint security, patch management and backup conversations.
- The Explorers and Experts: But at the other end of the spectrum, peer groups and gatherings like the TrustX Alliance Security Think Tank are tackling deeper, more intense cybersecurity conversations.
For instance, this week's think tank discussion covered such areas as:
1. The WannCry Ransomware Attack
- Vectors
- Mitigations
- Communication
- What's included in your MSP services
- Opportunities
2. The Shadow Brokers (TSB for short): Never heard of them? They're the mysterious hacker team allegedly behind WannaCry. Rumor has it they're preparing to release more tools and potential malware in June 2017. At least some of their work allegedly involves stealing and sharing hacker tools originally developed by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA).
3. President Trump's U.S. Executive Order on Cybersecurity: After a delay earlier this year, President Trump on May 11 issued an executive order cybersecurity. GovTech offered this rollup and news analysis around the order.
Doubling Down On Managed Security Services
All of those issues also remain on MSSP Alert's radar in a big way.
In the days ahead, we'll share more thoughts from Baroan Technologies, TheITeam and The Fulcrum Group. The trio sat down with ChannelEE and shared a range of views about the cybersecurity landscape, opportunities and challenges ahead.
We'll also explore how MSPs are rolling existing managed services (endpoint security, patch management, backup) into more comprehensive, dedicated MSSP practices.
