Cyber Security: A Top Priority for SMBs and an Opportunity for Channel Companies

Recent research reveals that cyber security and data protection have emerged as the foremost priorities for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) striving to enhance their digital agility. As these businesses increasingly adopt new technologies, including artificial intelligence, they recognize the critical importance of safeguarding their digital assets. However, the complexity of cyber security poses significant challenges, leaving many SMBs feeling overwhelmed. This scenario presents a unique opportunity for channel companies to transform cyber security from a perceived burden into a competitive advantage.

Building Trust Through Proactive Cyber Security Support

Cyber security can be daunting, especially for SMBs that often lack the resources and expertise to navigate its complexities. As a result, these businesses are actively seeking tech solutions and expert advice to manage their cyber risks effectively. This creates a substantial growth opportunity for technology providers and resellers who can assist in various aspects of cyber security, from design and integration to ongoing maintenance and support.

Channel companies can mitigate risks by positioning themselves as trusted advisors. By promoting safe solutions, advising on best practices, and shifting security burdens to larger, better-resourced tech vendors, they can build trust and foster stronger relationships with their customers. This proactive approach not only enhances security but also empowers SMBs to take ownership of their cyber security resilience.

Back to Basics: Maintaining Good Security Hygiene

Often, cyber incidents and breaches occur because fundamental security practices have been overlooked. These seemingly simple yet crucial steps can significantly lower risks, yet many SMBs struggle to implement them effectively. By helping clients establish these basics, channel companies can provide immense value.

For instance, many SMBs lack the knowledge or experience to conduct effective third-party assessments and select vendors that meet their security needs. Channel companies can alleviate this burden by helping customers understand their unique cyber security risks and recommending vendors who prioritize security.

Moreover, vulnerabilities frequently arise from poor implementation or integration of systems. It is far more efficient to incorporate security measures at the point of deployment for new technologies rather than retrofitting them later. Ensuring that security patching processes are in place for new software or integrating user access into existing Single Sign-On solutions with multi-factor authentication enabled by default can prevent potential breaches.

In the event of a cyber-attack, channel companies play a crucial role in ensuring that customers can recover their data and systems. By implementing and testing appropriate data backups and recovery tools, they can help ensure that these systems function correctly when needed most.

Use Cloud for Economies of Scale

Cyber security can be a heavy lift for SMBs, which often lack the capacity or expertise to monitor security logs, identify anomalies, or respond to potential attacks. Channel companies can assist customers in adopting a highly effective cyber security approach by prioritizing a cloud-first strategy. Modern cloud services offer significant economies of scale and enhanced security capabilities that are typically out of reach for SMBs.

By leveraging the cloud, customers can outsource many cyber security tasks, such as patching, security updates, monitoring, and data backups. The cloud represents the fastest and most efficient way to shift the burden of cyber security away from SMBs. Most software-as-a-service (SaaS) products benefit from 24/7 security provided by reputable hyperscale cloud providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google, which invest heavily in security and employ some of the largest and most skilled security teams.

Channel companies can help deploy these solutions securely, ensuring they are configured correctly from the outset and assisting SMBs in maximizing available security features. In the cloud’s shared security model, this could mean that SMBs only need to manage user accounts and permissions, while the rest is handled by their vendors.

Give Tailored Training

Another area where channel companies can add value is in cyber security training and awareness. Research indicates that this tops the list of consulting services SMBs seek from their technology providers. Fortunately, channel companies are uniquely positioned at the intersection of their customers’ needs and the technology they provide, allowing them to offer actionable guidance tailored to various roles and use cases.

Cybersecurity training can encompass a wide range of topics, including technical training for IT administrators, general training for employees on recognizing phishing emails and other common threats, and specialized training for leaders on crisis management and cybersecurity risk management. Additionally, customers can be trained to securely implement and manage software solutions. By leveraging their deep insights into customer needs, channel companies can identify or develop training materials that resonate with their clients’ organizational cultures.

A Perennial Challenge

Cybersecurity remains a significant challenge for SMBs as they strive to boost their digital agility and adopt new technologies that introduce different cyber security risks. While these businesses understand the necessity of improving their security measures and adhering to best practices, they often lack the time, expertise, and resources to focus on cyber security.

This is where channel companies can step in and transform their role from mere tech resellers to trusted advisors. They can play a vital role in demystifying cyber security for their customers, making it more accessible and understandable, and helping them translate that understanding into practical steps.

By doing so, channel partners enable SMBs to take ownership of their security, enhancing their resilience in the digital economy while simultaneously building stronger, more reliable relationships.

In conclusion, as cyber security continues to be a top priority for SMBs, channel companies have a unique opportunity to lead the charge in promoting ‘security-first’ strategies. By providing proactive support, maintaining good security hygiene, leveraging cloud solutions, and offering tailored training, they can empower SMBs to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

By Ben Aung, Chief Risk Officer, Sage