ASCII Atlantic City 2014: How MSPs Can Prevent Security Breaches
A week doesn’t go by without some kind of security breach story hitting the headlines, but that doesn’t mean MSPs can’t protect customers from the evolving security threat landscape.
“I believe in the inevitable,” said Billy Austin, co-founder and President of iScan Online, a Dallas-based data breach prevention platform provider. “These attacks are going to happen. You don’t have to be a target anymore.”
Austin — who is responsible for the company’s worldwide sales, marketing, partner programs and product strategy — made these remarks at ASCII Atlantic City 2014, an event being held this week by The ASCII Group that was designed to bring marketing and sales tips to the doorsteps of MSPs. Nuvotera, a company that distributes iScan Online’s software and other Web-based security solutions, sponsored the segment.
According to Austin, who has more than 20 years in the security industry, iScan Online wanted to give back to the MSP community by educating them on how to prevent data breaches. And to do this, the company came up with a short list of ways MSPs can protect themselves and customers.
Data discovery. Identify vulnerable sensitive data from the start. “If we can discover the data, we can now identify what’s putting your business as risk,” Austin said. What kind of sensitive data should you look for? Credit card data, personal identifiable information, trade secrets and intellectual property.
Detect vulnerabilities. Find vulnerabilities in customer devices storing sensitive data. Take the time to analyze applications, operating systems, applications, configurations and running servers. You’re bound to find something.
Data breach risk. Find out how liable you and your customers are when a breach occurs. Again, it’s not if an attack will occur, it’s when. And when a breach does occur, you want to be able to prepare for any liability ramifications.
Compliance. Are your customers following regulatory requirements? Find out and learn how you can educate them further on how to be compliant with regulations. There are many channel-based vendors who can assist MSPs with this.
Austin concluded by noting that financial incentives are what drive hackers to break into networks and steal sensitive data.
Keep checking back to MSPmentor for updates, insights and rumors coming out of ASCII Atlantic City 2014. Email Senior Editor CJ Arlotta at cj.arlotta”at”penton.com with tips.
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