technologyreseller.co.uk 35 PREDICTIONS 2022 Predictions It’s that time of year again when the great and the good from the ICT industry gaze into their crystal balls and pick out the trends and technologies they think will be making waves in 2022. I’m seeing a tall dark stranger bearing a ransom demand, but what do the experts think? Read on to find out When it comes to defending against ransomware, the question I always ask is, if the security controls that a customer has in place are effective and working, why are ransomware attacks so successful? The answer is that traditional security controls are insufficient when it comes to combating evolving modern threats. The role of the channel in recommending more mature security programs will become pivotal, especially given end users’ misconceptions about the complexity of technologies that are in fact easy and simple to implement. Next year, the channel won’t only be responsible for recommending what technologies to use; they’ll also have the important role of designing, implementing and operating those things in a successful way. Zero Trust Back in 2019, when we were looking at the year ahead, Zero Trust was treated solely as a buzzword, and in 2020 we questioned whether it was just the same as least privilege. This year, with the rise in cyber attacks, everyone finally began to pay real attention to it. Now, moving into 2022, I strongly believe that if an organisation is not thinking about adopting a Zero Trust security strategy, or is not already in the implementation phase, a rapid program associated with taking their business on this journey is essential. By reducing the mean time to detection, Zero Trust enables a faster and more effective response, facilitating a far stronger security posture within an organisation. With all the varied attacks we’ve seen this year, this couldn’t be more important. It's time Zero Trust became ingrained in security, and the role of the channel in realising this is critical. Channel partners now have an established, or at very least evolving, Zero Trust program to proactively use in 2022 to help customers understand where the biggest risk to them is and how to begin bettering their security posture with Zero Trust. As we move into next year, the channel should be prioritising this as a defining principle for their customers. Narrowing the skills gap The current acceleration of security in organisations is quite frightening and clearly has the potential to worsen the skills gap in the industry. To combat this, it is paramount that we harness the power of the channel as a mediator. Highly skilled individuals within the channel, who see the industry and its shortcomings from all angles, are the key to providing system integrators, enablement programs and graduate programs to promote the generation of skilled individuals who can implement technology, offer strategy, provide consultancy services and recommend software to organisations in the future. Tackling the skills gap and keeping up with the ever changing cyber security landscape will be a real requirement for the channel in the near future. Mike Walkey, SVP Global Channels & Alliances, Veritas Solving ransomware threat gives resellers access to the boardroom Ransomware attacks have increased 185% year-to-date, with costs expected to surpass $20 billion by the end of this year. As governments step in and propose new laws requiring companies to disclose ransomware payments, business leaders will no longer be able to hide their attacks and are expected to take a much more active role in data protection. Resellers will be able to use this opportunity not only to protect their customers and demonstrate their value, but also to build closer relationships at the executive level. Everyone will want ‘cloud-like pricing’ Businesses have fallen so in love with the simplicity and manageability of cloud pricing that they’re now demanding it everywhere, from desk space that you lease by the hour to uniform rental. For those old enough to remember the days Cybersecurity: the role of the channel Scott Walker, Senior Director, Channel and Alliances EMEA, Illumio Security and Resilience In 2022, it is vital that security and resilience become one and the same strategy. We can no longer afford to think only in terms of how to secure infrastructure but must also consider how to build a resilient infrastructure by design. This way, when a cyberattack does happen, organisations have an established foundation that will allow them proactively to protect themselves from an attack, mitigate risk and respond in the most effective way. The channel has the expertise to know what a blueprint design for secure architecture looks like and is best placed to recommend the right option for their customers, from a security and resilience perspective. As we move into 2022, this will be an invaluable part of the channel’s role. Ransomware and Extortion Ransomware will continue to rise, with larger scale attacks and an exponential increase in the ransoms demanded. As attacks become ever more sophisticated, extortion is becoming the default. In 2022, as well as demanding money to decrypt data, cyber criminals will increasingly also threaten to expose said data if they do not receive additional payment. continued... Mike Walkey Scott Walker
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