More cybersecurity vendors and providers need to step up and help.

Edward Gately, Senior News Editor

March 4, 2022

8 Slides

Cybersecurity providers like Check Point Software Technologies, Sophos, Trend Micro and more are on high alert as the Ukraine crisis intensifies.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been accompanied by a barrage of cyberattacks on computer networks and internet-based disinformation campaigns.

Eric Parizo is managing principal analyst of Omdia Cybersecurity. (Omdia and Channel Futures share a parent company, Informa.)

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Omdia’s Eric Parizo

“First and foremost, customers, partners and employees located in or with ties to Ukraine have to be the priority, simply from a safety and security standpoint,” he said. “There is obviously great concern for companies like KeepSolid, which has most of its workforce based in Ukraine.”

More Cybersecurity Vendors and Providers Need to Step Up

Parizo hopes more cybersecurity vendors and providers will step up and make their products and services available to people and businesses in Ukraine for the duration of the conflict.

“This would essentially be following Elon Musk’s lead after he recently made free Starlink satellite connectivity available to Ukraine,” he said.

It’s likely demand is increasing for cybersecurity providers’ solutions and services due to the conflict and associated cyberattacks, Parizo said.

Adversaries of all kinds rarely let an opportunity go to waste, he said.

“Hence, it’s no surprise that we’re already seeing reported phishing attacks leveraging the conflict,” Parizo said. “Organizations should ensure their employees are aware that adversaries are likely to try to exploit strong emotions about the conflict to manipulate their targets.”

Generally, people don’t want to be marketed to during a crisis, Parizo said. That’s especially true when the pitch involves something about the crisis.

Organization should review their go-to-market messaging and marketing campaigns, he said. They need to take into account the right tone and level of sensitivity.

Scroll through our slideshow above for cybersecurity providers’ response to the crisis.

Want to contact the author directly about this story? Have ideas for a follow-up article? Email Edward Gately or connect with him on LinkedIn.

About the Author(s)

Edward Gately

Senior News Editor, Channel Futures

As news editor, Edward Gately covers cybersecurity, new channel programs and program changes, M&A and other IT channel trends. Prior to Informa, he spent 26 years as a newspaper journalist in Texas, Louisiana and Arizona.

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