Monday Morning Impact – February 27

Check Point Software’s 2023 Security Report Highlights Rise in Cyberattacks and Malware

Check Point Research has published its 2023 Security Report reflecting on a chaotic year in cybersecurity. The report looks back on a tumultuous 2022, which saw cyberattacks reach an all-time high in response to the Russo-Ukrainian war. Education and Research remains the most targeted sector, but attacks on the healthcare sector registered a 74% increase year-on-year.

According to the report, cyberattacks have risen by 38% in 2022 compared to the previous year, with an average of 1,168 weekly attacks per organization being recorded. The report also highlights the role played by smaller and more agile hackers and ransomware groups in exploiting legitimate collaboration tools used in the hybrid workplace.

Among the findings, the boundaries between state-sponsored cyber operations and hacktivism have become increasingly blurred, as nation-states act with anonymity and impunity. Non-state affiliated hacktivist groups have become more organized and effective than ever before. The number of attacks on cloud-based networks per organization has skyrocketed, with a 48% rise in 2022 compared to 2021.

The report also offers insights specifically for CISOs, aimed at drawing attention to critical security actions for the coming year. These insights include reducing complexity to bridge the cyber-skills gap, limiting the cost of cloud misconfigurations, and increasing the use of automation and AI to detect network risks that may go unnoticed by the human eye.

“The increase in the volume of cyberattacks in the next twelve months is a cause for concern,” says Maya Horowitz, VP Research at Check Point Software. “The migration to the cloud has expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals, and the legitimate tools used by organizations will continue to be manipulated. The widening cyber-skills gap and the growing complexity of distributed networks make it a perfect storm for cybercriminals.”

The Security Report´s findings are based on data drawn from the Check Point ThreatCloud Cyber-Threat Map, which looks at the key tactics’ cybercriminals are using to carry out their attacks.

Channel Impact^®
A number of factors are coming together to accelerate the threat. Channel partners can take a lead role in mitigating the risks.

Kaseya Expands its Global Partner Program

Kaseya, which offers unified IT management and security software for MSPs, SMBs, and mid-market enterprises, has announced its expansion of the Kaseya + Datto Global Partner Program, including doubled marketing development funds (MDF) and additional hiring for channel support.

The program is a tiered system with partners moving up depending on their annual spend – Silver ($1K), Gold ($25K), Platinum ($100K) and Blue Diamond ($250K). Partners can now combine their Datto and Kaseya spend, meaning that many of them will qualify at higher levels. Depending on their level, customers get free services such as enablement team support, live technical webinars, 24/7/365 customer support, and free passes to industry events.

The MSP Enablement has grown from a three-person team under Datto to a 60-person team at Kaseya. This team is a mix of Kaseya and Datto leadership, including Matt Scully, channel veteran and former Datto employee, who has returned to the organization as a senior channel development manager. The company has also promoted three vice presidents of business development for three different regions – Michael DePalma (North America), Greg Jones (Europe) and Shaun Witherden (APAC). This team is exclusively dedicated to helping Kaseya’s MSP partners succeed.

Additionally, the company is now offering Virtual MSP Partner Days so that MSP partners can continue learning about the ever-evolving market. These one-day events will feature different learning tracks so MSPs can invest their time in what will help their business the most as well as can’t-miss keynote presentations and cash prizes.

Channel Impact^®
The company reports it has increased its program resources by 300 percent. A channel tier higher than Blue Diamond is also envisioned.

Ingram Micro Adds Azure Usage and Billing Tools

Ingram Micro has announced a series of enhancements to its Cloud Marketplaces globally around Microsoft Azure and New Commerce Experience (NCE). The centerpiece of the roll-out provides real-time visibility into Microsoft Azure billing, plus new Microsoft NCE billing configurations to help simplify and speed subscription management.

“With these new and expanding Microsoft-centric capabilities and integrations, we are giving our channel partners what they asked for—solving for complexity by enabling them to work within the Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace to land, manage, and expand their Microsoft business faster and easier,” said Victor Baez, senior vice president, Cloud, at Ingram Micro.

The new enhancements are designed to enable partners to more easily reconcile billing with accurate cost visibility, self-run periodic reports, and real-time billing projection. Forthcoming announcements are expected to make it easier for channel partners to schedule, co-term, and automate their subscription commitments.

Ingram Micro is a global Microsoft distribution partner, serving almost 25,000 partners in more than 30 countries.

Channel Impact^®
The upgrade is expected to bring real-time, on-demand visibility to NCE promotions so channel partners can activate new business faster, streamline purchasing, and deliver a better experience to their teams and customers.