ConnectWise has launched a cybersecurity Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (ISAO) aimed at helping makers of RMM, PSA, and other solutions cooperate on efforts to ward off threats to MSPs.
The new organization, called the Technology Solution Provider Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (TSP-ISAO), will provide a forum in which members from the vendor community can exchange real-time threat information, analyze potential impacts, coordinate response efforts, promote security best practices, and educate end users.
In addition, members will have access to a threat intelligence platform from Perch Security at no additional fee. ConnectWise disclosed that it has an investment stake in Perch last November.
The TSP-ISAO arrives some eight months after the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning that hackers in search of privileged access rights to end user networks are increasingly targeting MSPs.
“Cyber-criminals have set their sights on technology solution providers, and it’s time the industry come together to do something about it. To that end, the TSP-ISAO will provide services that help vendors of all sizes accelerate the maturity of their cybersecurity and compliance programs,” said John Ford, ConnectWise’s chief information security officer, in a press statement. “This includes providing information, intelligence and benchmarking information relative to the technology solution provider community, including the effective use of self-assessment tools. And, leveraging Perch, we have the threat intelligence platform needed to support an ISAO ready to go today.”
ConnectWise, which is one of several managed services software makers to be victimized by cyberthieves in recent months, has been taking steps to build security more deeply into its product development processes, as have competitors such as Datto. The TSP-ISAO is designed to help vendors who serve MSPs prevent, detect, and respond to assaults on their software more rapidly and effectively through coordinated action.
“ConnectWise is launching the TSP-ISAO and leading the campaign to get companies collaboratively involved with us because we think it’s of the utmost importance for the entire industry,” said ConnectWise CEO Jason Magee in a media statement. “I’ve already reached out to several of my counterparts to begin these collaborative discussions and I invite interested vendors to reach out to ConnectWise and get involved as well.”
The federal government has been encouraging businesses in all industries to share security information via ISAOs since the Obama administration.
“In the five years since the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a statement clarifying that the aggregation and sharing of cyber threat information would not result in antitrust violations, the industry has been slow to respond to the opening that statement provided—in particular, to weaponize the vast trove of threat data technology solution providers amass on a daily basis against would be attackers,” said Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO of tech industry membership association CompTIA, in prepared remarks. “CompTIA applauds the goals of the TSP-ISAO to address the information shortfall by creating a real-time actionable platform. We look forward to supporting the work of this vital new group.”
ConnectWise formally announced a strategic effort to help MSPs better protect customers while collecting high-margin cybersecurity revenue at its IT Nation Connect event last November. The following monh it acquired Sienna Group LLC, a provider of security services and solutions based in Tampa, Fla., for an undisclosed sum.
Sienna employees will play a leading part in the creation of the ConnectWise cybersecurity center of excellence, a security education resource for MSPs set to open its doors in or near the first quarter of 2020. Ford was formerly CEO of Sienna.
In March, ConnectWise introduced a new cybersecurity risk assessment tool named ConnectWise Identify and announced an agreement to resell threat detection and response software from Perch.
ConnectWise plans to disclose further details about the TSP-ISAO at the 2019 edition of IT Nation Connect, which opens in Orlando on October 30th. Earlier this week, the company announced an agreement with managed services consultancy Service Leadership to give all registered IT Nation Connect attendees a confidential, individualized benchmark report comparing their business performance versus peers in the top quartile of MSPs. Such studies normally retail for $2,190.
