Jan-Feb 2020 - ChannelVision Magazine

CYBER PATROL GTT Communications has expanded its SD-WAN service offering by adding Fortinet Secure SD-WAN as a technology option. GTT delivers Fortinet Secure SD-WAN as a managed service and supports any last-mile access solution to meet specific client requirements for advanced security, application performance and cost efficiency, said the company. The solution includes integrated next generation firewall and unified threat management functionality combined with an SD-WAN edge device and router. It’s particularly suitable for distributed enterprises and branch networking applications in industries such as retail, quick service restaurants, hospitality and financial services. “Fortinet Secure SD-WAN allows GTT to build a smart con- nectivity platform that delivers additional value to customers through security, analytics and cloud-acceleration services,” stated John Maddison, Fortinet senior vice president of prod- ucts and CMO. “By adding Fortinet as another vendor platform, GTT has enhanced and broadened its SD-WAN service to offer enter- prises even greater networking agility and integrated security capabilities,” commented Mike Sapien, vice president & chief analyst US for enterprise services at Ovum. “The integration of SD-WAN technology with GTT’s Tier 1 IP network offers performance and efficiency advantages when leveraging the core network for internet traffic destined for the cloud.” Masergy Integrated SD-WAN, Shadow IT Solution Looking to make security intrinsic to its SD- WAN platform and to offer the most robust real- time visibility and control, Masergy is empowering enterprises to immediately identify and appropri- ately address unauthorized SaaS applications via a shadow IT discovery solution. The proliferation of SaaS applications contin- ues to compound each year, the company said, exposing businesses to ever-increasing cloud threats and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. According to Gartner, the average enterprise has more than 800 unauthorized SaaS applications running unbe- knownst to IT departments. Furthermore, Gartner clients indicate that “shadow IT” investments can exceed 40 percent of formal IT spend. Masergy Shadow IT Discovery immediately scans and identifies all applications, providing cli- ents visibility through the SD-WAN management portal. Until now, IT departments have had to rely on a variety of endpoint security solutions and guesswork to access this information. The time savings and decreased threat exposure will help IT organizations increase their security posture and keep up with the blind spots created by un- sanctioned usage. Gardner Brings Cybersecurity, Channel Expertise to SaaSMAX SaaSMAX announced that Chris Gardner, vet- eran enterprise cybersecurity and AI sales leader, will advise SaaSMAX on driving sales and go- to-market strategy for the company’s data-driven partner discovery solutions, partner grading and segmentation solutions and partner activation and enablement solutions, branded PartnerOptimizer. Gardner has been a successful sales and mar- keting leader for growth-stage enterprise technolo- gy companies in the cybersecurity software and AI space since 2003.  His experience building chan- nel partner programs started back in 2003 with Ivanti (formerly Lumension), after which he led the channel for BakBone Software (acquired by Dell). He also has served as head of sales for multiple cybersecurity software and solution companies including EdgeWave, Wontok SafeCental, Sendio, Proficio and AttackIQ. GTT Adds Fortinet Secure to SD-WAN Portfolio Security Leadership Lacking Leadership among SMBs in determining IT security priorities is seriously lacking, suggest findings from Ponemon Institute. A full third of SMB respondents said no one person is responsible for determining IT security priorities, an increase from 30 percent of respondents in 2017. According to the findings, responsibility for companies’ IT security strategy is dispersed throughout the company. Who Determines IT Security Priorities Among SMBs No one function determines priorities 34% Chief executive officer 32% Chief information officer 31% Head of operations 28% Business owners 22% Line of business 14% Chief information security officer 13% Board of directors 9% Chief technology officer 8% General counsel 5% Compliance officer 4% Other 1% Source: Ponemon Institute 12 CHANNEL VISION | January - February, 2020