By Symantec Guest Blog 2

There are so many parts to IT infrastructure today that it can feel to businesses like trying to build a house without blueprints. Between physical and virtual servers, dozens of applications to support, and now mobile devices becoming more prevalent in the workplace, there is so much to do and so few resources — it is overwhelming. This is where MSPs come in, offering services and solutions that ease the burden on IT and help their customers create a plan that will keep the information moving and the company operational.

As an MSP, it is crucial that you have access to the best information available in order to help your customers make informed decisions. And if there’s one area requiring the most accurate intelligence, it is security. Many organizations, particularly small businesses, fail to realize how cybercriminals have been changing their tactics, and it’s up to the partner community to make sure they invest in the right protection. This is where the Symantec Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR) comes in.

The ISTR is a valuable resource based on millions of sensors around the world that can shed light on what cybercriminals are doing, and who is being targeted. This year’s report provides insight on how cybercriminals are shifting their focus, and what new attacks are contributing to the evolving threat landscape.

The Mobility Threat

One of the most significant trends in business today is mobility and — as a sinister corollary to that — this is a rapidly growing area of cybercrime. The ISTR reveals that mobile threats increased in 2012 by 58 percent, and 31 percent of those threats are specifically designed to steal information. Cybercriminals are particularly interested in the Android mobile operating system, given its open platform and the multiple distribution methods available to embed malware within applications. Meanwhile, Apple’s iOS – which had even more vulnerabilities discovered than Android but fewer actual threats – still remains a target.

The partner community needs to be aware of these and other emerging threats, to properly educate their customers and help them to implement an effective security strategy. Vendors also need to ensure they are addressing the issues brought about by this evolving threat landscape, and Symantec is in the right position to respond to this need. With 69 million attack sensors in a network of 157 countries, we know what the bad guys are up to and have the breadth of products and services to help defend against these targeted attacks. For example, we just announced updates to our Mobile Management Suite that will enable businesses to balance the need for security without hindering user experience.

Unifying Mobility Management

The most recent updates to the mobility suite include integrating mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM) into a single product. The updated suite delivers a secure email client that allows administrators to configure access according to policies such as Exchange logins, SSL requirements, copying restrictions and attachment limits. Available for both Apple iOS and Android devices, the client protects users’ email, calendar and address books. A new single sign-on feature, meanwhile, simplifies the user experience by providing access across business apps, while improving security by using sources including LDAP and SAML for authentication.

Symantec is committed to providing MSPs with the tools and expertise that will enable them to deliver peace of mind to their customers, keeping them ahead of developing threats. By leveraging the latest intelligence, we are delivering the framework for partners to help businesses develop a strong, secure foundation for productivity.

The Symantec ISTR provides insight into other developing areas of cybercrime as well, including social media and an increasing focus on targeted attacks against small businesses. For more information, the entire report can be found here.

Stephen Banbury is Vice President of Worldwide MSPs at Symantec Corp.