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Manuj Aggarwal, Founder of TetraNoodle Technologies, talked about the integration of AI within Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and the opportunities it presents for enhancing customer engagement and productivity. He emphasized the necessity for MSPs to deepen their understanding of AI to better serve their clients. He also highlighted that while MSPs are currently in a co-pilot phase, there is a significant opportunity to develop personalized AI solutions that yield positive returns on investment, thus the importance of collaboration and expert partnerships to navigate the complexities of AI implementation.

He outlined a systematic approach to diagnosing business issues, likening it to a medical examination where identifying root causes is crucial. He noted that a significant portion of revenue often comes from a small percentage of activities, urging businesses to analyze their clients’ time and resource investments. By addressing repetitive tasks and customer complaints, even minor adjustments can lead to substantial returns.

See other interviews with TetraNoodle here

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Julian sat down with an ECN regular, Eric Herzog, CMO of Infinidat, a data storage company that provides high-performance, enterprise-class data storage solutions

The discussion centered on the advancements in Infinidat’s G4 platform, particularly the integration of an S3 object store that simplifies storage management for channel partners and end users. Eric highlighted the platform’s capacity to support up to 33 petabytes of memory in a single rack, allowing for flexible configurations of block, file, and object storage. The enhancements not only streamline installation processes but also address pricing concerns, resulting in a 29% reduction in entry price for end users. Performance improvements include bandwidth capabilities that are up to two times faster and overall metrics showing at least a 32% enhancement, making Infinidat’s offerings more competitive in the high-end storage market.

Eric also acknowledged the IT skills gap, emphasizing the need for solutions that simplify operations. Additionally, the G4 platform’s power efficiency improvements, which can reach up to 690%, were presented as a means to reduce costs or increase capacity for AI workloads.

For more information, check out Infinidat’s press release: https://www.infinidat.com/en/news/press-releases/infinidat-enhances-infinibox-g4-family-make-high-end-enterprise-storage

To learn more about the business value of Infinidat’s enterprise storage solutions, check out Eric’s blog:  https://www.infinidat.com/en/blog/finding-common-ground-cfo-enterprise-storage

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Presenters: Evgeniy Kharam, Cybersecurity Architect | Evangelist | Consultant | Advisor | Podcaster | Visionary | Speaker |
Nim Nadarajah, C.CISO, Cyber Security, Compliance & Transformation Expert | Executive Board Member | Keynote Speaker
Julian Lee, Publisher, Community Builder, Speaker, Channel Ecosystem Developer with a focus on cybersecurity, AI and Digital Transformation
Adam Bennett, Co-Founder & CEO at SureStack CEO at Crosshair Cyber

The Cybersecurity Defense Ecosystem aims to assist Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in becoming more cybersecurity-oriented amidst industry disruptions caused by AI and regulatory changes.

In this discussion, we focused on the challenges posed by shadow IT and shadow AI within organizations. Evgeniy shared insights on how employees often resort to unauthorized applications due to strict IT policies, indicating a disconnect between user needs and IT support. Nim emphasized the importance of IT leaders understanding these needs rather than simply denying requests, while Adam highlighted the necessity of identifying user goals and exploring secure alternatives. The group recognized the critical need for improved communication between IT departments and employees to effectively address these challenges.

The discussion also delved into the risks associated with AI usage among employees, with Julian noting that many companies lack clear AI policies, leading to unregulated use of various applications. Evgeniy suggested that organizations should focus on classifying and securing sensitive information while allowing knowledge workers to leverage AI for efficiency. Adam emphasized the importance of aligning AI strategies with business goals and reviewing the privacy policies of AI platforms. The group acknowledged the challenges of building secure AI environments and the associated costs, recognizing that not all companies may find this feasible.

Click here to watch previous episodes on Cybersecurity Defense Ecosystem

Dont miss our Cybersecurity Defense Ecosystem Summit on Nov. 26th in Toronto, aimed at fostering collaboration among managed service providers, chief information security officers, and other stakeholders. The event will feature a unique “Shark Tank” format for vendor presentations and expert-led discussions on various topics.

To learn more on Cybersecurity Defense Ecosystem, visit: https://cybersecuritydefenseecosystem.com/

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Speaker: Omry Farajun, President, Storage Guardian

Omry and Julian delved into the significance of incident response planning in cybersecurity. Omry stressed the necessity of a structured incident response plan that includes alternative communication methods during breaches, while underscoring the importance of preparedness and collaboration among stakeholders.

See more from Storage Guardian here.

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Special Guest: Kristen Costagliola, CTO, Syncro

Kristen talked about the company’s initiatives to support managed service providers (MSPs), while emphasizing the importance of effective patch management for SOC 2 compliance. She highlighted the challenges posed by the increasing complexity of SaaS solutions and the necessity for MSPs to maintain visibility into endpoint compliance. She also addressed the issue of tool sprawl, as the proliferation of specialized tools complicates workflows and can lead to inefficiencies and mental stress for technicians.

Kristen provided insights into how Syncro’s solutions have improved operational efficiency, citing a nearly 40% reduction in ticket response times, which allows technicians to focus on critical tasks and enhance customer engagement. She also touched on the need for MSPs to automate processes to alleviate pressure on technicians and improve service quality. Kristen encouraged MSPs to evaluate their current processes and tool stacks, particularly in light of the rapid advancements in AI technology, which can enhance security and operational efficiency.

Click here for previous interviews with Syncro.

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Presenters: Evgeniy Kharam, Cybersecurity Architect | Evangelist | Consultant | Advisor | Podcaster | Visionary | Speaker |
Nim Nadarajah, C.CISO, Cyber Security, Compliance & Transformation Expert | Executive Board Member | Keynote Speaker
Julian Lee, Publisher, Community Builder, Speaker, Channel Ecosystem Developer with a focus on cybersecurity, AI and Digital Transformation

The Cybersecurity Defense Ecosystem aims to assist Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in becoming more cybersecurity-oriented amidst industry disruptions caused by AI and regulatory changes.

In this discussion, Evgeniy shared insights from the recent Black Hat event, highlighting the event’s focus on vulnerability research, contrasting it with the leadership-oriented discussions at RSA. The group acknowledged the need for strategic planning to maximize networking opportunities and the value of face-to-face interactions, despite the rise of remote communication.

The focus of the discussion was on the dangers of AI poisoning, with Nim warning about the sophistication of cyber threats and the potential for silent viruses to infiltrate systems undetected. Evgeniy added that new AI developments could introduce vulnerabilities, referencing a recent exploit that allowed manipulation of AI tools. The group discussed the implications of AI systems communicating autonomously and the importance of asset management for proprietary AI models. They also noted the lack of regulatory frameworks in Canada regarding ethical AI use, emphasizing the responsibility of organizations to ensure the integrity of their AI systems.

Click here to watch previous episodes on Cybersecurity Defense Ecosystem

Dont miss our Cybersecurity Defense Ecosystem Summit on Nov. 26th in Toronto, aimed at fostering collaboration among managed service providers, chief information security officers, and other stakeholders. The event will feature a unique “Shark Tank” format for vendor presentations and expert-led discussions on various topics.

To learn more on Cybersecurity Defense Ecosystem, visit: https://cybersecuritydefenseecosystem.com/

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Chris Savio, Senior Director, Product Marketing at GoTo (fka LogMeIn), talked about GoTo’s suite of solutions, particularly the Resolve product, which provides a unified endpoint management system designed to assist managed service providers (MSPs) in transitioning from legacy systems. Chris highlighted the product’s features, including remote monitoring, mobile device management, and integrated ticketing, emphasizing its potential to enhance service offerings and revenue streams for MSPs. He also touched on the importance of secure communication channels in the context of cybersecurity, with a focus on the zero trust architecture implemented in Resolve to mitigate risks associated with supply chain attacks.

Innovations in remote support were also a key topic, including the introduction of a camera share support feature that allows users to visually demonstrate device issues, thereby improving communication during remote assistance. He also described the benefits of consolidating tools for MSPs, which can lead to significant cost savings and increased productivity through automation.

Finally, Chris addressed the complexities of patch management, emphasizing the need for customized policies and proactive monitoring to enhance security and performance.

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Doug Houghton, Director of Channels at Alkira (means “happy place” or “bright and sunny” in Australian Aboriginal), talked about his company’s offerings as a network infrastructure as a service provider. He emphasized the advantages of Alkira’s cloud exchange point, which simplifies cross-border connectivity, which can significantly lower total costs and operational complexity compared to traditional networking methods.

The conversation also addressed the competitive landscape among cloud providers, highlighting the operational challenges of securing communications across different cloud environments and the importance of decoupled control and data planes for maintaining service continuity.

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Brendan Conlon, Global Director of Supply Chain Defense at BlueVoyant, presented the company’s multifaceted approach to cybersecurity, highlighting the critical importance of supply chain security in an era where organizations increasingly depend on third-party vendors. He noted that many companies struggle to manage these dependencies effectively, often relying on spreadsheets, which can impede their security efforts. He emphasized BlueVoyant’s role in helping organizations develop both strategic and tactical solutions to enhance their security posture and manage third-party risks, particularly in light of potential service disruptions that can significantly impact business operations.

He also covered the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, with a focus on critical infrastructure and the implications of software dependencies. Finally, he discussed the importance of Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) for regulatory compliance and vulnerability management, and acknowledged the challenges posed by cyber threats, including the need for proactive risk monitoring and the innovative use of AI in cybersecurity practices.

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Speaker: Omry Farajun, President, Storage Guardian

Omry spoke about the critical cybersecurity strategies for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), emphasizing the necessity of documentation and incident response plans. He highlighted the creation of incident response runbooks aligned with the NIST 2.0 framework to ensure effective incident management. The importance of conducting tabletop exercises was stressed, particularly to identify communication gaps in scenarios involving compromised systems like M365. He also noted that cyber insurance companies now mandate documented incident response plans to prevent policy denials, reinforcing the need for MSPs to prioritize these strategies.

Omry also touched on funding opportunities, mentioning the Ontario Innovation Centre’s initiative offering up to $200,000 in grants to enhance cybersecurity awareness among Ontario-based MSPs.