CSPs, MSP, Networking, Small business

BlackStratus CyberShark, armadillo Ink MSP Security Deal

Mark Newns
Mark Newns
Dale Cline

armadillo Managed Services has confirmed plans to offer BlackStratus CYBERShark, a popular SIEM security service, to SMB customers in the United Kingdom.

SIEM (security, information and event management) has caught on with MSPs that are seeking to push beyond traditional anti-virus and endpoint security systems.

Mark Newns, armadillo's CEO, said the BlackStratus partnership addresses the cyber security needs of small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the UK.

BlackStratus CEO Dale Cline said the armadillo partnership will enable his company to grow its base of SMB customers. "SMBs are at even greater risk today to cyber-attacks than large enterprises, so we engineered CYBERShark to provide them with the same level of protection that larger firms enjoy—but at a price point they can finally afford," he noted.

What Is CYBERShark?

CYBERShark is a white-label SIEM service designed to monitor and remediate cyber security threats and compliance violations. The service is compatible with over 1,000 network devices, operating systems, servers and other appliances. Its features include:

  • Real-time cyber-attack visualization.
  • Multi-tenancy support.
  • Reporting tools for ISO, PCI, HIPAA, SOX and other compliance standards.
  • Pay-as-you-go pricing.

MSPs can sell CYBERShark as a cloud-based SECaaS offering, and BlackStratus indicated MSPs can use CYBERShark to help their customers:

  • Reduce risk.
  • Respond to cyber threats faster than ever before.
  • Maintain compliance.
  • Ensure business continuity.

BlackStratus also pointed out CYBERShark enables MSPs to "build a sustainable security management services business without the need to invest in expensive infrastructure, buy expensive hardware appliances and recruit expensive security analysts."

BlackStratus: A Decade-Plus in the Making

At first glance, BlackStratus seemingly is an overnight hit with MSPs. But during a lengthy walk at the recent RSA Conference in San Francisco, BlackStratus CEO Dale Cline told ChannelE2E about the company's business journey -- which involved multiple pivots.

Originally known as netForensics, the company's roots stretch back to around 1999. NetForensics had a reasonable start but never quite became an industry leader. During the 2008 U.S. financial crisis, the organization hunkered down, cut some headcount and considered its options. Cline pointed toward the SaaS market -- coupled with heavy automation -- to leapfrog rivals.

By 2012, netForensics reemerged as BlackStratus. The core focus: SIEM and logging solutions for MSPs and customers worldwide that detect, prevent, and defend network IT assets from real time cybersecurity breaches. Amid continued software enhancements, BlackStatus's breakout moment arrived in April 2016, when the company launched CYBERShark -- empowering MSPs to offer white-label SIEM services into the SMB sector.

Fast forward to present day, and armadillo Managed Services is the latest MSP to embrace the BlackStratus strategy.

Managed Security Services Market Expected to Grow

CYBERShark could provide a valuable opportunity for MSPs that want to enter the managed security services market, a segment this is projected to grow over the next several years.

Research firm Markets and Markets has predicted the managed security services market will be worth $33.68 billion by 2021. Comparatively, Allied Market Research has estimated this market will expand at a compound annual growth rate of 16.6 percent between 2016 and 2022.

Additional reporting by Joe Panettieri.

Dan Kobialka

Dan Kobialka is senior contributing editor, MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E. He covers IT security, IT service provider business strategies and partner programs. Dan holds a M.A. in Print and Multimedia Journalism from Emerson College and a B.A. in English from Bridgewater State University. In his free time, Dan enjoys jogging, traveling, playing sports, touring breweries and watching football.