https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • SDN/SD-WAN
    • Cloud
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Telephony/UC/Collaboration
    • Cable
    • Mobility & Wireless
    • Fiber/Ethernet
    • Data Centers
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • IoT
    • Desktop
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Analytics
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Channel Research
    • Business Models
    • Distribution
    • Technology Solutions Brokerages
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Best Practices
    • Vertical Markets
    • Regulation & Compliance
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2022 NextGen 101 Rankings
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • From the Industry
    • Reports/Digital Issues
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • Channel Futures TV
  • EMEA
  • Channel Chatter
    • Back
    • People on the Move
    • New/Changing Channel Programs
    • New Products & Services
    • Industry Honors
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Advisory Boards
    • Industry Organizations
    • Our Sponsors
    • Advertise
    • 2023 Editorial Calendar
  • Awards
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501
    • Channel Influencers
    • Circle of Excellence
    • DE&I 101
    • Technology Advisor 101 (TA 101)
  • Events
    • Back
    • 2023 Call for Speakers
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • MSP Summit
    • Channel Partners Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
    • Industry Events
  • About Us
  • DE&I
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • SDN/SD-WAN
    • Cloud
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Telephony/UC/Collaboration
    • Cable
    • Mobility & Wireless
    • Fiber/Ethernet
    • Data Centers
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • IoT
    • Desktop
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Analytics
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Channel Research
    • Business Models
    • Distribution
    • Technology Solutions Brokerages
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Best Practices
    • Vertical Markets
    • Regulation & Compliance
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2022 NextGen 101 Rankings
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • From the Industry
    • Reports/Digital Issues
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • Channel Futures TV
  • EMEA
  • Channel Chatter
    • Back
    • People on the Move
    • New/Changing Channel Programs
    • New Products & Services
    • Industry Honors
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Advisory Boards
    • Industry Organizations
    • Our Sponsors
    • Advertise
    • 2023 Editorial Calendar
  • Awards
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501
    • Channel Influencers
    • Circle of Excellence
    • DE&I 101
    • Technology Advisor 101 (TA 101)
  • Events
    • Back
    • 2023 Call for Speakers
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • MSP Summit
    • Channel Partners Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
    • Industry Events
  • About Us
  • DE&I
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Agents
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • Channel Partners Events
 Channel Futures

Best Practices


Shutterstock

Data insights

Growth of Corporate Data Provides New Business Opportunities for Channel Partners

  • Written by Christina Walker
  • September 23, 2022
Companies providing range of data classification services, planning help customers better control IT costs.
Blancco's Christina Walker

Christina Walker

By 2025, more than 200 zettabytes of data will be in cloud storage around the globe, up from 2019’s 4.4 ZB and 2020’s 44 ZB, according to Cybercrime Magazine. This global proliferation of corporate data, both in the cloud and on-premises, can provide channel partners with new revenue streams.

Indeed, channel partners with knowledge and expertise in data classification that understand it’s not just about controlling corporate data, but also the role it plays in business intelligence, business continuity, disaster recovery and security, can expand the potential for new business opportunities. By providing a wider range of data-classification services, partners will be able to help their customers leverage public cloud consumption-based pricing and better control IT costs through better optimization and more strategic storage planning.

In 2006, British mathematician Clive Humby said, “Data is the new oil.” With data powering the operations of entire organizations (and industries), this phrase is more relevant today than ever. However, like oil, data must be refined to be of value — this is where data classification best practices come in. One of the most important steps a business can take from a data management standpoint is prioritizing data classification, or the process of categorizing data for the purpose of its storage, sorting and retrieval for future use.

While data classification is a rich area of opportunity for the channel, it does require a deep understanding of the customer’s industry-specific requirements, workflow and IT operations, which partners can address through consultation and technology integration.

Classification Best Practices

Data classification best practices should first verify the data that should be included in classification and access definitions based on industry or country-specific regulations, standards, and compliance mandates — including GDPR, PCI-DSS, CCPA, etc.

Once the important issue of regulatory compliance is resolved, companies can move on to the “nuts and bolts” of data classification, with partner consultation and support, in the following five areas:

  • Identifying and defining sensitive and highly valued data.
  • Discovering where the data resides and who has access to it.
  • Classifying and defining data based on its value to the customer’s organisation and assigning classification levels.
  • Aligning the right security controls and measures to ensure integrity.
  • Monitoring regularly as a component of security controls for data management best practices.

Building a Successful Data Classification Service Offering

Enterprises have many competing priorities, but partners can play an important role in helping to elevate the importance of data classification, which can become problematic if not maintained regularly.

Channel partners and service providers looking to create data classification program offerings should prioritize value-added packages that combine education, guidance and counsel, in addition to helping to develop processes that keep pace with today’s agile and mobile work ecosystems.

Partners should also educate their customers on the consequences of poorly executed programs, which could include fines levied, or worse.

Effective data classification programs should include the following four components:

  • Advise customers to be proactive and standardize the process early on so they don’t find their business in a compromised position later where resources are wasted on putting out fires or on extra expenditures.
  • Encourage enterprise customers to involve all major stakeholders to identify and assist with creating a policy (if one does not exist) that provides a road map for how data should be classified and managed, stipulating ownership, enforcement and accountability for the process.
  • Use the latest and greatest technologies to help companies comply with internal policies, automating the process as much as possible. This is where a call for request for proposals (RFPs) and proof of concepts (POCs) comes into play, steps which will require additional resources.
  • Educate customers about avoiding the accumulation of redundant, obsolete and trivial (ROT) and unclassified data indefinitely. Not only does ROT data take up valuable server space and increase related energy costs, it threatens enterprise security posture and results in the negative impact of cyber waste on the environment.

There is no better time for channel partners and service providers to expand their offerings to accommodate their customers as they struggle to keep up with the massive amounts of data collected daily.

The ability for businesses to drive more value from information through data mining and analytics is critical to making strategic business decisions, which makes data classification best practices even more important. Not only are service providers well-positioned to help their customers make essential data easily accessible, they also can be trusted partners in the effort to manage and mitigate risk in an increasingly complex data and privacy regulatory landscape.

Christina Walker is the global director of channel sales and programs at Blancco. She manages Blancco’s channel sales team and overall partner strategy and ensures the program evolves to support the needs of the company’s growing list of active partners. Follow her on LinkedIn and the company at @BlanccoTech on Twitter.

Tags: MSPs VARs/SIs Analytics Best Practices Cloud Data Centers Strategy

Most Recent


  • Rob Rae
    Pax8 Lands Well-Known Channel Leader, Influencer Rob Rae
    The former senior VP of business development at Datto has a new title at a new company.
  • how to break through the growth ceiling
    How to Break Through the Growth Ceiling
    Part of breaking through the growth ceiling is shifting from doing to delegating within your organization.
  • money
    AppDirect Buys TBI, Vows to Protect Partner Relationships
    In the meantime, dozens of layoffs have already taken place at TBI, with many occurring earlier this week.
  • Opti9's Katlyn Taylor
    Channel People on the Move: Lumen, HPE, Fortinet, Five9, Comcast, More
    Plus, moves at Sangoma, Cato Networks, Avant Communications and many more.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Three numeral neon
    Three Ways to Optimize Marketing Strategy for Application Security
  • Hurricane Ian
    Tampa Bay Channel Businesses Prepare for Hurricane Ian Onslaught
  • ransomware attack on laptop
    Hornetsecurity Survey Proves Accelerating Pace of Ransomware Attacks in 2022
  • Gassing Up
    The Gately Report: MSP, MSSP Partners Fueling Blueshift Cybersecurity Growth, CrowdStrike M&A

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

May 1, 2023 - May 4, 2023

Channel Partners Europe

June 13, 2023 - June 14, 2023

Channel Futures Leadership Summit

October 30, 2023 - November 2, 2023

Galleries

View all

Pax8 Lands Well-Known Channel Leader, Influencer Rob Rae

February 1, 2023

AppDirect Buys TBI, Vows to Protect Partner Relationships

February 1, 2023

Channel People on the Move: Lumen, HPE, Fortinet, Five9, Comcast, More

January 31, 2023

Industry Perspectives

View all

How to Break Through the Growth Ceiling

February 1, 2023

5 Things to Look for in a UC Partner

January 31, 2023

The Benefits of Hiring an Investment Bank

January 30, 2023

Webinars

View all

Next-Generation MSP Platform: The Building Blocks for Your Business

February 15, 2023

How To Boost Your Business With White-Label UCaaS

February 28, 2023

Security Secrets of the MSP 501: How to Be a Cyber Leader in 2023

December 15, 2022
  • 1

White Papers

View all

Overcoming Your Endpoint Security Limitations with a Skeleton Crew

October 25, 2022

Embracing the Zero Trust Mindset For Endpoints

October 24, 2022

Endpoints are the Destination

October 24, 2022

Channel Futures TV

View all

Coffee with Craig and James Episode 117: Cato Networks, Video Killed the Podcast Stars

Retired Astronaut Capt. Scott Kelly Previews His CP Expo Keynote

December 21, 2022

Fusion Connect Eyes Future with Intrado UC, Managed Network Customers

September 23, 2022

RingCentral Focused on Hybrid Work, Microsoft Teams, Other Integrations

September 23, 2022

Twitter

ChannelFutures

.@RobTRae sits down for a 1:1 on his new gig at @Pax8 and reflects on his 9+ years at #Datto.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

February 1, 2023
ChannelFutures

The channel has buzzed with rumors for months about TBI's final destination. Now we finally know.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

February 1, 2023
ChannelFutures

.@NetApp to lay off 8% of its workforce dlvr.it/ShlM8g https://t.co/hEQxHleCIk

January 31, 2023
ChannelFutures

.@radware rolls out enhanced partner program. #cloudsecurity dlvr.it/ShlLdC https://t.co/D2nGNUP8Q4

January 31, 2023
ChannelFutures

Channel #PeopleOnTheMove at @Avant_CCC @HPE_News @CatoNetworks @Sangoma @ooma @Fortinet and more.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 31, 2023
ChannelFutures

The $5.8 billion deal between @OpenText and @MicroFocus will result in layoffs. OpenText did not say when they will… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 31, 2023
ChannelFutures

Have you checked out the #CPExpo & #MSPSummit Digital #EventBrochure yet? Learn everything you need to know about t… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 31, 2023
ChannelFutures

.@observeAI launches Real-Time AI for agents. When implemented, the #AI can reduce customer frustration by up to 82… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 31, 2023

MSP 501

The industry's largest and most comprehensive partner awards program.

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Galleries

Educational slide shows and images from live events.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Events
  • Telecoms.com
  • MSP 501
  • Black Hat
  • IoT World Today
  • Omdia

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X