03/07/23

IT Nation Secure 2023 – taking cyber security to the next level

Cyber security threats are increasing, and so are the efforts to tackle the problem – which is why we all need to keep up to date with the latest methods to breach our security and the best available solutions to counter them.

Having a global event specifically aimed at all things cyber security related is a major step in this ongoing fight, and today we would like to tell you about IT Nation Secure 2023. It was held in Florida in early June and brought together IT experts and other interested parties to discuss all aspects of the threats the digital world is facing and share ideas on how to deal with them.

We were there!

As a leading IT services provider and a company committed to issuing regular warnings and updates on cyber security, we were delighted to take part in IT Nation Secure 2023 and explore the new technologies and security tools as part of our efforts to remain up to date with the latest industry best practices. 

One of the most important things to come out of what was an extremely informative and useful event for us was the need for businesses and other organisations to have a comprehensive security strategy in place. This policy is key to understanding potential threats and vulnerabilities and implementing all necessary security controls. The appropriate strategy also identifies the benefits of regularly testing and updating security measures. 

In the spotlight at IT Nation

Other important topics under discussion at the event were:

  • The JCDC collaboration with government and cyber defenders to safeguard vital infrastructure from cyber threats – Abigail Thoennes and Brittany Johnson talked with Patrick Beggs, CISO of ConnectWise, about JCDC’s planning agenda and the partnership with ConnectWise and others. They also discussed the implications of this partnership for MSPs.
  • The hacker perspective – A group discussion focussing on a unique perspective on how to breach company security and protect against it.
  • Nightmare scenarios – Michael Reeves, Technical Director of Bitdefender’s Cloud and MSP, identified the three major areas of security and how Bitdefender’s GravityZone for MSPs can help prevent significant security breaches.
  • Incident response – A session providing an insider look on refining skills to successfully deal with any incident, illustrated by real events and challenges. It included quick recognition of incidents, preparation to head off potential major disruption, and tips for speedier incident resolution.
  • The layered approach – This session covered how to create a security stack in line with business objectives, focusing on the distinctions between SIEM and EDR and the importance of a well-designed stack for safeguarding digital assets. The ConnectWise cyber security stack was also explored.
  • A unique perspective – Professional thief Deviant Ollam shared his thoughts on cyber attack influences.
  • MSP regulation – An insight into how the CompTIA Cybersecurity Trustmark can aid MSPs in improving cyber security and comply with global legislation through industry best practices.
  • Benefits of the ConnectWise SIEM App – Robert DeBok discussed the key features and benefits of the app, including how to use sensors, set up log shippers, and port mirroring – an important aid to improving security management.
  • Combining network and endpoint detection – A look at how security protections have evolved to combine well-known sources of detections to identify and mitigate breaches efficiently.
  • Hacking demonstration – Threatlocker’s CEO, Danny Jenkins, provided a hacking demonstration and discussion on minimising data exfiltration risks beyond ransomware.
  • It’s good to talk – The CEO of JNR Networks, James Riley, shared his thoughts on the common trap of giving clients what they need without much definition, and emphasised the importance of client trust.

What does the future hold?

IT Nation Secure 2023 was the perfect opportunity to learn about the latest trends and predictions in the field of cyber security. It also allowed us to test a variety of products and services. 

An important product we focused on was Security Incident and Event Management, which is helping organisations to detect and respond to security threats in real-time by collecting and analysing security-related data from multiple sources. 

We also learned about Security Operations Centres, Endpoint Detection and Response, Managed Detection and Response, and backup software. It means that by offering these services and products, we are able to provide a much-needed additional layer of protection against cyber attacks in the ongoing battle to keep our customers and their businesses safe at all times.