EXPERT SPEAK
Adoption of cloud services has
exploded in recent years, and
the trend looks set to continue,
as organisations seek flexibility and
functionality to accommodate day-to-day
working practices. With pressure to maintain
a high level of integrity, coupled with lack
of internal skills, there is an opportunity for
managed security service providers to step
up and ensure organisations can make this
migration securely.
The relationship between cybersecurity
and business operations and between
cybersecurity and the business leadership
continues to be an area of evolution.
With security teams stretched,
organisations are looking for innovative
technology from providers who can offer
support, experience and knowledge to keep
systems running and data secure.
Channel partners need to be on the
lookout for technologies that will help them
align with these relationships and deliver on
the cybersecurity promise – secure by design.
Technology is stepping-up
Cybersecurity solutions are evolving to
help boost the visual representation of an
organisation’s attack surface, making it
easier for top executives to appreciate the
type of vulnerabilities that are distributed
across the whole environment. This visual
representation includes all forms of assets –
whether they are digital or industrial.
Another area that continues to see an
overhaul is data intelligence, particularly
for the security team. As an illustration, the
number of vulnerabilities, threat reports,
new malware variants and more that are
being identified daily, produce detailed
log reports and dashboards that most
security teams do not have time to digest.
Historically, the vital information about the
organisation’s risk posture is captured, but
the team is blinded by false positives and
theoretical rather than true risk.
Timely then, is the final element of
this complex puzzle – solutions that offer
Maher Jadallah, Regional Director – Middle East, Tenable
With security teams
stretched, organisations
are looking for
innovative technology
from providers who
can offer support,
experience and
knowledge to keep
systems running and
data secure.
intelligence to focus the business on what
it is doing and where – for technology
adoption is finally being realised.
Alluded to for years, solutions powered
by AI and Machine Learning algorithms are
coming to market that can instantaneously
digest feeds from thousands of sources.
These tools connect all the dots to build a
picture of the enterprise to focus in on the
business’ critical assets and the actual threat
they face, rather than the theoretical risks
that may be present.
The final stroke of innovation is the
ability to see assets represented, not just by
criticality of vulnerability but also by their
possible impact on business as security
technologies ingest data feeds from a
multitude of solutions. This holistic picture
does not just focus on asset types or where
they reside in the enterprise but considers
the criticality of the asset to the business
and the actual risks faced.
This intelligence finally allows the
business to make informed decisions based
on actual data that can demonstrate how
effective effort and investment will be
aligned to business objectives.
Organisations are looking for guidance
and support to capitalise on these
cybersecurity innovations.
Are you ready?
To be successful, the channel must work
hard to develop, foster and maintain strong
relationships – both with customers and the
vendors within their portfolio.
As a vendor, we look for partners that do
more than just sell products. We expect to see
commitment from channel partners since this
is what customers demand. Channel partners
need to be ready to invest and leverage
cybersecurity innovation, while building
services and value around complementary
technologies, to move to the next level of
engagement expected by their customers.
The truth remains – people buy
from people and those that forget to
put the customer’s needs first will find
2020 challenging. •
INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS
INTELLIGENT
TECH CHANNELS Issue 30
53