Focus on IT Security: AVG Technologies
The AVG Technologies (AVG) Managed Workplace remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform is integrated with the AVG CloudCare cloud security platform to give managed service providers (MSPs) the ability to remotely monitor their customers’ device security measures from within a single dashboard.
AVG offers antivirus support, along with Internet security, performance optimization, personal privacy and identity protection, to partners across the globe. And over the past two decades, AVG also has taken steps to broaden its security portfolio and become an RMM platform provider, too.
The company’s roots in the RMM space are linked to its acquisition of Managed Workplace and CloudCare provider Level Platforms in June 2013.
AVG’s Level Platforms acquisition put the antivirus software company “in a position to deliver the most comprehensive, innovative, high-quality and high-performance platform for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and their MSPs in the market,” Level Platforms founder Peter Sandiford said when the deal was announced.
Marco La Vecchia, AVG’s vice president of channel sales, recently told MSPmentor that his company wants to make security “as easy as possible for resellers, managed service providers and the customers they serve.”
To accomplish this goal, AVG has incorporated numerous security features into its RMM and cloud security platforms.
La Vecchia said his company provides both its partners and their customers with insight that they can use to manage AVG’s security services.
Managed Workplace, for example, allows users to be proactive and features a “vendor-agnostic, open ecosystem” that gives MSPs the freedom to work with any management services applications, according to La Vecchia.
“AVG’s RMM solution generates automated alerts when threats or out-of-date virus definitions are detected and scans devices for possible infections,” La Vecchia said. “In addition, links to the AVG CloudCare dashboard for reports make it easier for partners to perform advanced AVG CloudCare management activities.”
AVG wants to deliver streamlined data protection
La Vecchia pointed out that AVG wants its Managed Workplace and CloudCare platforms together to provide “streamlined delivery of data protection services via a single, integrated management console.”
So how is AVG working to achieve this goal?
The Amsterdam-based RMM platform provider’s Managed Workplace offering is designed to help AVG’s partners and their customers safeguard sensitive data, and its features include:
- Automation capabilities
- Built-in network audits
- Real-time access to information
CloudCare also provides users with:
- Antivirus support
- Content filtering
- Cloud backup
- Email security
- Remote IT
AVG recently has made several moves that could help it bolster its security services as well.
AVG works with MSPs to understand security challenges
La Vecchia said AVG is prepared to help its partners and their customers deal with new security challenges as they arise, which is reflected in some of its recent announcements.
AVG provided insight into its short- and long-term security goals during its Cloud Partner Summit in October and announced:
- Managed Workplace 9.0, a new version of its RMM platform that includes improved patch management, increased automation and new alerting and reporting capabilities
- CloudCare 3.3, a new version of its cloud security platform that will feature centralized master controls and an HTML 5 interface
- A partnership with identity management software provider Centrify to deliver identity-as-a-service (IDaaS) to MSP partners
“Big industry events, such as Shellshock and Gameover Zeus, have shocked businesses into realizing that there are still substantial security risks in IT and that, despite technology becoming easier to use, it is still best to leave things in the hands of experts. Businesses will call upon our MSP partners to resolve issues around protection of devices, data and employees,” La Vecchia said.
AVG recorded $92.3 million in total revenue in the third quarter of 2014 and has more than 188 million active users, and this company will continue to work with its partners to ensure that they can keep their data secure.
Managed Workplace and CloudCare both were developed in close cooperation with resellers and MSPs, La Vecchia said, to help them provide their customers with IT security functions.
La Vecchia added AVG is “committed to supporting our partners in every step of their journey from start-up IT providers to mature, fully-fledged managed services businesses” and will continue to explore ways to further expand its security services.
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