Channel, Networking

Now’s the Time to Abandon Islands of Security for a Synchronized Approach

In today’s increasingly interconnected world, IT infrastructure works as a cohesive system – and so should cybersecurity. A no-brainer, right?

Scott Barlow, VP, Global MSP, Sophos
Author: Scott Barlow, VP, Global MSP, Sophos

The challenge, however, is that when presented with a choice between disparate and integrated systems, some organizations still opt for disparate point security products as the cheaper option.

As trusted security advisors, MSPs and MSSPs need to educate organizations on the pros and cons of each, and encourage them to look beyond cost and instead focus on future proofing their security defenses.

Point Products as Isolated Islands

Think of point security products like isolated islands. Remote, isolated islands are able to function well for the most part, but when complex issues arise, they often don’t have the resources they need to respond.

A neighboring island might have those resources to share, but if there’s no communication or cooperation between those islands, they’re left to struggle on their own.

Similarly, point products work in isolation, with no way to share information between the products. Though each product may work well in its own right, they’re not well-equipped to work together to solve complex problems.

Each product has its own management console, and to make matters even more complicated, they’re all built separately by different engineering teams – or even different vendors. This makes it incredibly difficult to get the products to talk to each other and work together against complicated threats.

Build Bridges with Synchronized Security

Organizations need a layered approach to security where products connect and share actionable intelligence. While point security products act like islands, synchronized security builds bridges allowing products to work together stronger than they would on their own.

Instead of working in isolation, the products actively work together, using their combined capabilities to stop threats. They are constantly sharing information in real-time and improving communication and the end user’s ability to coordinate a powerful response to threats.

Security as a system can be managed through a single, centralized console, rather than multiple management consoles. This simple management system saves customers money by reducing the time needed to manage the product and the time it takes to respond to incidents.

And, because the products are all engineered from the start to work together, they are compatible by design. The less time customer security teams need to spend trying to manually integrate disparate products, the more they can focus on activity that protects and grows the overall business.

MSPs and MSSPs have tremendous opportunity to strengthen their customer’s defenses with a synchronized approach.

Not only that, but simpler IT security management is more effective, cost-efficient, streamlines security operations, and enables customer IT staff to do a better job, with less strain. As an added bonus, it gives MSPs an opportunity to upsell, creating more ways to grow revenue in the future.

At its core, selling cybersecurity as a system is all about partners practicing what they preach. As the security expert, you’d opt for a synchronized approach, and it’s up to you to educate your customer on why they should too.


Author Scott Barlow is VP of global MSP at Sophos. Read more Sophos blogs here.