By Peter Brecl - Director, Global Security Services at Lumen Technologies

Keeping up with the latest cybersecurity trends is a continuous journey—because no matter how vigilant a company is or how well they orchestrate their cyber defenses, bad actors are highly motivated to evolve their methods, find new vulnerabilities, and exploit them.

2021 was a busy year for cybersecurity, showcasing how quickly attack-method preferences can change, the seasonality of attack volume, and the continuing trend of increased threat complexity. Several high-profile cyberattacks even made front-page news, which is perhaps no surprise considering global weekly attacks per organization increased by 50% compared with 2020.*

Considering these trends, it’s crucial for companies to be well-informed of the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, so they can better prepare to identify and mitigate their vulnerabilities. Luckily, Lumen and its threat-intelligence arm Black Lotus Labs constantly monitor the cyber threat space to help protect businesses and keep the Internet clean. Check out some of our key cybersecurity takeaways from 2021 and our predictions for how attacks may evolve in the year ahead.

As companies are massively shifting to the hybrid working environment, IT Service Providers need to adjust their security strategies and service offerings to fit their clients’ infrastructure needs, help them effectively fight ransomware, and maintain business continuity.

We can help partners safeguard their clients’ business continuity and disaster preparedness by providing secure cloud and IaaS services. Read more to see how the security landscape is changing and what you need to keep your business competitive.

SolarWinds, the Colonial Pipeline, JBS. . . cyberattacks continue to make headlines, bringing greater threat to businesses, your customers and you. When a breach happens, it can be devastating to any organization, big or small. So, what responsibility do you have as a partner to help keep your customers protected? Some might say a great deal, given that businesses depend on you to help and advise them.

Along with focusing on your customers’ growing IT needs and challenges, it will serve you well to be talking security throughout your conversations, even if it is not your focus or primary business.

The Partnership Brings ArmorPoint’s Managed Cybersecurity Solutions to the TBI Portfolio.

CHICAGO, IL – June 2, 2021— TBI, the nation’s leading technology brokerage firm, announces the addition of ArmorPoint to their provider portfolio. ArmorPoint, a Phoenix-based managed cybersecurity provider, combines the three pillars of a robust cybersecurity program – people, processes, and security – into a single solution to help businesses across the U.S. simplify their cybersecurity management.

Do you want fries with that? It’s a cross sell that we’re all familiar with. You placed your order and now you’re being asked if you want a side of something else. There is a reason that major corporations use this popular tactic – it works. You’re already a customer, they have you there, and when ask if you want something else, you realize that you just might.  

Tech Gurus, John Romeo and Jim Bowers, explore how security plays into your customers’ contact center solutions.

LogMeIn provides Yelp a password management solution, LastPass, that allows them to protect the credentials of all applications and tools.

By Amber Steel

Remote work is on the rise, with 74% of professionals expecting remote work to become standard after the pandemic. As a result, many businesses have shifted their cybersecurity strategy as IT faces more challenges protecting their information from cyberattacks and data breaches with a distributed workforce.

Technologies advancing remote work

2021 will be a year for the enterprise (large and small) to build out or course correct what they implemented in haste due to COVID-19. We see how much technology helped and continues to help us navigate the pandemic, an example being Zoom as the default “Kleenex” type reference for all video conferencing now. There is a reason why the CCaaS business is booming – many deploying it for analytics and reporting relating to workforce optimization and remote work. And why companies like Twilio have surging stock pricing due to APIs syncing communication platforms with business applications – think remote restaurant ordering, pickup and end-to-end customer/business communications.

• Scalability
• Cost savings
• Ease of management
• Coupling of services

Computing has been moving to the edge as companies recognize the benefits of processing closer to where data is generated. The number of connected devices is more than we have ever seen, propelled by remote workforces with mini computers aka smartphones on themselves at all times, demanding instant data transfers. Edge computing brings better performance capabilities, reduced network latency and bandwidth usage. In some instances, for example when involving autonomous vehicles or critical medical devices, latency can prove very dangerous, perhaps a difference in life or death, making edge computing necessary for localized data processing, allowing for faster response times and only relevant data sent back to the cloud for storage.

As edge computing becomes more necessary due to increased IoT consumption, so does the need for security. So, how do businesses address security when it comes to edge computing?

Security operations center as a service (SOCaaS) and managed detection and response (MDR) are managed cybersecurity services that provide intrusion detection of ransomware/malware and malicious activity in the network and assist in rapid incident response to eliminate those threats with concise remediation actions. Typically, SOCaaS and MDR combine with technology solutions that have outsourced security analysts to extend security technologies and team.

We hear it all the time – it’s not if a business will fall victim to a cyber attack but when. As the working world has moved from the controlled office environment to remote models, security is a major IT topic, bringing major opportunity for partners. Customers are looking for effective cybersecurity that they can quickly and easily deploy while still providing air-tight protection. A recent study found that 7 in 10 organizations are looking to increase their investments in security technologies.

To meet growing business needs and demand, providers continue to develop more desirable security solutions, offering cloud-based services and utilizing advanced technologies, incorporating AI and zero trust capabilities. Keeping up with all that is happening in cybersecurity can be daunting and in some cases, nearly impossible.

Download TBI’s security eBook to get everything you need to know now about what is happening now and how to thrive in the new world of cybersecurity. The eBook includes -

• 2020 Forecasting
• Top Data Breaches
• Impact of COVID-19
• Remote Work Risk Factors & Recommendations
• Trending Solutions & Spending
• Security Must-Haves
• Industry Targets
• Discovery Questions
• Recommended Providers
• Security Resources Cheat Sheet

5 Days, 5 Takeaways – Recap of TBI’s BIG Event 2020

TBI hosted our fifth annual BIG Event on August 17^th through 21^st. Not only was this year bigger than ever – 5 days, 30+ sessions, 40+ providers – it was completely virtual! Taking place for a couple hours each day throughout the week, we addressed some of the biggest IT topics concerning businesses right now. Each day focused on a different subject – Emerging Tech & Mobility, Cybersecurity, Cloud, Cloud Communications and Collaboration, and Next Gen Networking. Partners were able to maximize their time by attending the sessions of their choice and booking 1on1 meetings directly with providers. In case you were not able to attend or missed a session, we’ve made replays available here. If you want the opportunity to connect with a specific provider, reach out to your Channel Manager to facilitate a meeting.

Reflecting on this year’s BIG Event, we put together five key takeaways, one for each day of the event.

Let’s be very clear - hackers do not discriminate. They’re after any and every opportunity to snatch data, make money, disrupt business and cause chaos. In case you missed it at TBI’s BIG Event 2020, a white hat hacker showed us exactly how easy it is to hack into a device during Hold My Beer While I Hack This Smartphone – watch here. Businesses big and small can fall prey, and you and your customers need to be aware. So far this year, we’ve seen some big-name companies, with presumable top-notch security, become victims. The pandemic seems to be a catalyst for many of the biggest breaches that have taken place in 2020. Check out some of the most headline grabbing examples of the reality and severity of cyberattacks.

COVID-19 has led to an onslaught of cyber security incidents, forcing organizations to act swiftly to protect themselves. As the threat landscape evolves, so do the security solutions. Are you up to date on the latest?

Security solutions are seeing an upgrade, incorporating cutting edge technologies. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are now being baked into security services, helping to identify and respond to threats faster than humanly possible. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) services now offer greater monitoring through extensions from network to the cloud, and managed detection and response (MDR) offerings are available as SaaS options for even quicker deployment. Authentication technology has also seen advancements, using new user identification methods to verify secure access. Many businesses are embracing the zero trust model leading providers to create stricter controls and micro-segmentation features.

Download this free white label doc to inform your customers about what is available now and how these solutions can keep their business secure. Brand with your own logo and contact information.

SSG Construction, a company renovating facilities on a remote Southern California military base, needed high-speed internet to communicate with its field teams and share real-time data.

With up to 20 employees and 30 subcontractors, SSG needed to keep its teams connected and informed. Often working at sites with no permanent address and outside the cable, fiber, and cell zones, internet connectivity proved tough to find at the speeds SSG needed to operate.

Businesses across all industries are dealing with cybersecurity concerns right now as the threat landscape continues to increase and hackers only become more aggressive. Three of the most targeted sectors are finance, healthcare and retail, due to their handling of valuable personal data. With cybersecurity being a top priority for customers and prospects within these industries, there is opportunity for you as a selling agent – if you can speak their language.

It is important to understand the unique challenges and requirements businesses within these industries are facing, such as PCI DSS in retail or HIPAA in healthcare, to show that you are familiar with their needs and can present the right solutions.

Download now three free vendor-agnostic, white label documents specific to finance, healthcare and retail, with each piece providing industry insights and top solutions. Easily customize this turnkey sales collateral by simply adding your own logo and contact information

A huge cybersecurity problem facing many businesses, even large corporations, is the lack of a strong cybersecurity workforce. A report shared by Security Magazine found that 76% of cybersecurity leaders believe their company is lacking cybersecurity skills, and there are over 314,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the US according to Cyber Seek. In an alarming prediction from Cybersecurity Ventures, unfilled cybersecurity jobs around the world are only expected to increase, reaching 3.5 million by 2021, up from 1.5 million in 2015.