Latest news with #Sophos
TECHx
7 hours ago
- Business
- TECHx
Why Your Business Needs To Level Up Its Defense Life Cycle
Home » Expert opinion » Why Your Business Needs To Level Up Its Defense Life Cycle Defense Life Cycle management is critical for cyber resilience. Raja Patel of Sophos shares four ways to modernize your approach and strengthen your security posture. New cyber threats emerge every day as malicious actors refine and escalate their attacks. Although it's impossible to predict exactly how the threat landscape will evolve, we can count on the fact that it won't remain static. Consequently, IT and security leaders need to rethink how they manage the entire defense life cycle and evolve their approach to planning, implementing and maintaining cyber defenses. While siloed, stand-alone point solutions once offered effective protection, sophisticated threats require security solutions that can work together and proactively exchange data. By striking a balance between proactive and reactive defenses, organizations can maintain a robust security posture in a constantly changing threat landscape. The Cybersecurity Cat-And-Mouse Game: How To Stay Ahead Security professionals and bad actors continue to play a game of cat-and-mouse as adversaries adapt their strategies in response to evolving defenses. That's nothing new. What's changing is the ingenuity and velocity of attacks. The current ransomware landscape illustrates this trend. In a typical ransomware event, adversaries release malicious software directly to the machine they encrypt—an attack that most endpoint security tools can detect and block. However, as defenses grow more sophisticated, adversaries are turning to malicious remote encryption. This technique (now used in roughly 60% of human-led attacks) enables attackers to deliver malicious software to an unmanaged or under protected device, bypassing traditional anti-ransomware solutions to encrypt data on other devices in the network. Cyberattacks are inevitable. The appropriate response from defenders is to maintain a healthy balance between proactive and reactive defenses. Strong always-on foundational defenses are a must—together with the ability to quickly identify and respond when you need to dial up your protection. Proactive measures like training employees in security best practices, risk-based vulnerability management and the use of multifactor authentication (MFA) are low-hanging fruit that can make a significant difference in your security posture. IT and cybersecurity leaders cited security tool misconfiguration as the top perceived security risk in our 2023 'State of Cybersecurity' survey, so it's also important to regularly check that your investments are properly deployed and delivering optimal protection. Prioritizing these measures establishes a first line of defense that stops the vast majority of attacks. However, no matter how robust your protection is, sophisticated, persistent and well-funded adversaries will find a way to circumvent it—and you need the ability to dial up your protections to stop them from achieving their end goals. Four Ways To Optimize Your Defense Life Cycle Management Maintaining robust defenses in today's threat landscape is challenging enough. When you add the shortage of qualified security professionals to the equation, it becomes much more daunting. Effective defense life cycle management helps streamline your security efforts and ensure comprehensive protection without overburdening your team. By investing in security tools that work together and prioritizing collaboration, you can optimize your defenses independent of resource availability. 1. Consolidation It's crucial to have a diverse portfolio of security tools that can thwart threats at multiple points in the attack chain. However, the effort required to manage disparate tools and vendor relationships takes time and can hinder your ability to identify and respond to attacks. Consolidating on fewer management platforms and vendors centralizes your security controls, reducing management overhead costs and enabling you to respond more effectively to active threats. Evaluate your current landscape and vendors to identify opportunities to focus on a tighter range of providers without compromising your defenses. 2. Open Ecosystems An open security architecture uses application programming interfaces (APIs) to connect and enhance interoperability among disparate solutions. This setup facilitates seamless data sharing among your security tools, helping enforce policies and protocols in a consistent and cohesive manner. The more you see, the faster you can respond. Bringing together vendor-agnostic telemetry from across your environment in an open, connected ecosystem enables you to accelerate threat detection, investigation and response while also increasing return on your security investments. 3. Adaptive Protections It's unsustainable to constantly remain on high alert. Fortunately, you don't have to. Instead, you can take advantage of adaptive protections that automatically deploy a heightened level of security when an attack is detected. For instance, endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools continuously monitor your environment for suspicious activity. If the tool detects an anomaly that indicates a potential cyberattack, it can automatically isolate the affected endpoint and trigger an alert for a team of experts to investigate the incident. 4. Collaboration Effective communication and collaboration among IT and security teams are essential for maintaining a strong security posture and avoiding redundant efforts. Whether your teams are internal, outsourced or a combination of the two, optimizing their ability to work together and streamline engagements helps achieve superior outcomes. Consider the structure of your current organization to determine areas for improvement when it comes to cross-team collaboration. When selecting third-party specialists to elevate and extend your cyber defenses, ensure that they will complement and collaborate with your existing team. Cyber Resilience: The Key To Future-Proofing Your Business Stand-alone point solutions are no longer enough to protect against evolving security threats. As attackers develop increasingly sophisticated techniques and tactics, you need tools that can work together and proactively share threat intelligence. By optimizing your defense life cycle management through collaboration and informed investments, you can unlock real-time visibility across your entire digital environment and achieve a more comprehensive and cohesive security posture. As a result, you'll be prepared no matter what new threats are on the horizon. By Raja Patel, Chief Product Officer, Sophos
Zawya
12 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Sophos launches new partner program
Builds on Longstanding, Award-Winning Program with New Certifications and Enhanced Support, Offering Partners a Flexible Framework to Accelerate Success Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Sophos, a global leader of innovative security solutions for defeating cyberattacks, today launched a new Sophos Partner Program, unlocking multiple opportunities for partners to accelerate growth, deliver industry-leading cybersecurity solutions and stand out in an increasingly competitive market. The new program brings together Sophos' and Secureworks' global partners into one integrated, high-performance ecosystem and builds on Sophos' award-winning program that is trusted by more than 25,000 partners globally. "The new Sophos Partner Program is designed to reflect the way partners want to build and scale their business today,' said Chris Bell, Senior Vice President of Global Channel, Alliances and Corporate Development. 'It offers a flexible and profitable path to growth, whether partners are expanding their managed services, launching cybersecurity advisory offerings or scaling existing practices. With this program, we're doubling down on our commitment to deliver the tools, incentives and support that help our partners lead in a rapidly evolving cybersecurity market.' This launch marks a significant expansion in the services and support available to partners. By combining the strengths of Sophos and Secureworks, the new program makes it easier for partners to deliver next-generation security outcomes faster, more profitably and at scale. Research from Canalys shows that for every $1 spent on cybersecurity products, customers invest an additional $2 on services delivered by partners – highlighting the growing demand for partner-led services and the opportunity to generate new revenue streams through high-value expertise and support. With complex threats on the rise and vendor consolidation becoming more common, partners are more essential than ever in helping customers navigate cybersecurity decisions. With the new Sophos Partner Program, partners can develop programs and services that align with their unique business models and go-to-market strategies – whether they are a managed services provider, reseller, cyber insurance partner, systems integrator or another partner in the ecosystem. The new Sophos Partner Program helps partners to build their cybersecurity business, grow their revenue and retain their customers through: A unified portfolio for market advantage: Following Sophos' acquisition of Secureworks, the new program unifies two world-class partner ecosystems into a single, streamlined platform – unlocking seamless selling across the full portfolio. Partners benefit from expanded opportunities to boost profitability and drive revenue, with access to a comprehensive portfolio spanning industry-leading endpoint, network, email, cloud security, XDR/MDR, Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) and next-gen SIEM – all centrally managed through the Sophos Central platform and complemented by premier advisory and consulting services. A future-focused growth framework: Built for scale and profitability, empowering partners to grow faster and more efficiently through revenue multipliers, volume discounts and flexible billing. Partners gain access to high-value incentives, integrated sales and marketing resources, and advanced enablement through Sophos Academy's new MDR Guided Onboarding and sales quick-start certifications. Enhanced customer and partner success: Access to new resources designed to help partners deepen customer relationships, accelerate solution adoption and improve retention, while delivering superior cybersecurity outcomes for their customers. The program also provides expanded access to Partner Care, Renewal, and Customer Success teams, as well as free certification training for the entire partner community. Simplified, faster ways to win business: Partners gain access to additional tools that make it easy to sell and grow their business, including an innovative AI Sales Assistant that provides real-time guidance on portal navigation, resource location and sales insights. The partner portal experience is further enhanced with improved guided quoting, device and license management, opportunity management, and compliance dashboards. 'Sophos' new Partner Program is designed to incentivize partners to grow,' continues Bell. 'It offers partners everything they need to succeed, drive bottom-line revenue, fuel excellence for mutual customers and stand out in a crowded, competitive market. It's a way to continue to deliver on our promise to partners and build the best cybersecurity products, services and processes with our partners in mind.' What Sophos Partners Are Saying 'Sophos' acquisition of Secureworks and the ability to sell across both legacy portfolios is a significant opportunity for our business. We're excited to be able to offer next-generation SIEM through a partner we trust. This will enable us to differentiate and win more deals on day one, especially with healthcare and manufacturing customers. The ability to offer cybersecurity services provided through Secureworks will also save us significant time and energy that would have gone into expanding our in-house services. Coupled with portal changes that accelerate quoting and deliver in-depth snapshots of customer information, the new program will be a critical enabler for our sales and operations teams to meet our aggressive growth goals.' - Dave Peck, President and CEO at Trebron IT and Cybersecurity "As a longtime Sophos partner, the company's security solutions continue to be foundational to how we protect our customers. Sophos has consistently demonstrated that they are committed to helping us grow, which shows in its new Partner Program. The combined Sophos and Secureworks portfolios will further strengthen our defenses, uncover new business opportunities and help us stand out in the market. We're also encouraged by continued innovation in Sophos Central – especially enhancements like the AI Sales Assistant and the updated portal, which simplify self-service and accelerate how Softchoice and our customers do business.' - Andrew Campbell, Director of Security Category at Softchoice About the Sophos Partner Program Trusted by more than 25,000 partners around the world, the Sophos Partner Program and its leaders have been recognized by some of the most influential in the industry. Among other awards, recognitions include: 'Champion' in Canalys' 2025 Cybersecurity Leadership Matrix 5-Star rating in the 2025 CRN Partner Program Guide for 12 consecutive years Best MSP Solution by SE Labs CRN Women of the Channel for 14 consecutive years CRN Top 100 Executives for 12 consecutive years, including top 25 recognition this year for Sophos CEO Joe Levy and SVP Global Channel Sales Chris Bell These awards signify Sophos' channel excellence, strong market performance and dedication to advancing the cybersecurity partner ecosystem through best-in-class partner programs that are designed to foster lasting, profitable and successful partnerships. About Sophos Sophos is a cybersecurity leader defending 600,000 organizations globally with an AI-driven platform and expert-led services. Sophos meets organizations wherever they are in their security maturity and grows with them to defeat cyberattacks. Its solutions combine machine learning, automation, and real-time threat intelligence with frontline human expertise from Sophos X-Ops to deliver advanced, 24/7 threat monitoring, detection, and response. Sophos offers industry-leading managed detection and response (MDR) alongside a comprehensive portfolio of cybersecurity technologies — including endpoint, network, email, and cloud security, extended detection and response (XDR), identity threat detection and response (ITDR), and next-gen SIEM. Together with expert advisory services, these capabilities help organizations proactively reduce risk and respond faster, with the visibility and scalability needed to stay ahead of evolving threats. Sophos goes to market with a global partner ecosystem, including Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs), resellers and distributors, marketplace integrations, and cyber risk partners, giving organizations the flexibility to choose trusted relationships when securing their business. Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, U.K.
Focus Malaysia
12 hours ago
- Business
- Focus Malaysia
Cyber resilience in Malaysia: Why compliance isn't enough
IN today's hyperconnected world, compliance is often seen as the gold standard for cybersecurity. Across Malaysia, financial institutions, critical infrastructure providers, and businesses have made significant strides aligning with frameworks such as Bank Negara Malaysia's Risk Management in Technology (RMiT) guidelines, the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), and various sector-specific regulations. Yet breaches continue to make headlines, affecting even the most 'compliant' organisations. Why? The reality is compliance is only the starting line, not the finish line. In a rapidly evolving threat landscape, true cyber resilience demands much more. Compliance alone can't keep pace with threats While regulatory frameworks are a crucial foundation, they represent only the minimum baseline. Threat actors are not bound by minimum standards, they are innovating faster than regulations can evolve. Sophisticated ransomware gangs, state-sponsored groups, and cybercriminal syndicates are constantly refining their tactics. According to CyberSecurity Malaysia, local organisations faced over 19 million cyber threats in the first half of 2024, resulting in financial losses exceeding RM1.2 bil. Regional findings from Sophos indicate that 83% of APJ organisations report increased operational complexity due to cybersecurity regulations, with 36% citing employee stress and burnout as a direct result. Yet, 56% still recognise that these frameworks improve both cybersecurity and business resilience, highlighting the need to balance compliance with practical, scalable implementation. Clearly, businesses must go beyond regulatory checklists and adopt proactive, intelligence-driven security measures. At Sophos, our 2024 Threat Report highlights emerging tactics such as data extortion without encryption, AI-powered phishing campaigns, and the exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities, all occurring faster than typical regulatory update cycles. In Malaysia, sectors like education, healthcare, SMEs, and financial services are increasingly targeted by multi-extortion ransomware attacks. For business leaders, compliance should be seen as a foundation, not a complete strategy. Cyber resilience demands real-time threat monitoring, AI-driven automation for faster incident response, and comprehensive recovery frameworks. In today's environment, 'checking the box' is no longer enough; security must be responsive, intelligence-led, and fully embedded across operations. The growing problem of framework fatigue At the same time, organisations are grappling with an ever-expanding maze of cybersecurity frameworks; international, industry-specific, and national. This burden is particularly acute for SMEs, which often lack the resources and expertise needed for robust cybersecurity implementation. This complexity can lead to framework fatigue: confusion, burnout, and decision paralysis that prevent effective action. While frameworks aim to provide clarity, without the right support, they risk overwhelming the very organisations they are meant to protect. Malaysia's evolving regulatory environment holds promise for streamlining this complexity. However, businesses must be equipped with practical guidance, scalable technologies, and actionable strategies to bridge the gap between compliance and true resilience. From compliance to resilience: A strategic imperative It's no longer enough to ask, 'Are we compliant?' Organisations must ask: Are our cybersecurity strategies aligned with real-world threats? Do we have the visibility, control, and speed necessary to detect and respond to incidents? Cyber resilience must be a board-level priority, recognised as a critical enabler of trust, operational continuity, and competitive advantage. Organisations that treat cybersecurity as a strategic business imperative today will be the ones that thrive in Malaysia's increasingly digital economy. ‒ July 31, 2025 Aaron Bugal is the Field CTO of Sophos. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Tech Wire Asia
Channel Post MEA
15 hours ago
- Business
- Channel Post MEA
Sophos Launches New Partner Program
Sophos has launched a new Sophos Partner Program, unlocking multiple opportunities for partners to accelerate growth, deliver industry-leading cybersecurity solutions and stand out in an increasingly competitive market. The new program brings together Sophos' and Secureworks' global partners into one integrated, high-performance ecosystem and builds on Sophos' award-winning program that is trusted by more than 25,000 partners globally. 'The new Sophos Partner Program is designed to reflect the way partners want to build and scale their business today,' said Chris Bell, Senior Vice President of Global Channel, Alliances and Corporate Development. 'It offers a flexible and profitable path to growth, whether partners are expanding their managed services, launching cybersecurity advisory offerings or scaling existing practices. With this program, we're doubling down on our commitment to deliver the tools, incentives and support that help our partners lead in a rapidly evolving cybersecurity market.' This launch marks a significant expansion in the services and support available to partners. By combining the strengths of Sophos and Secureworks, the new program makes it easier for partners to deliver next-generation security outcomes faster, more profitably and at scale. Research from Canalys shows that for every $1 spent on cybersecurity products, customers invest an additional $2 on services delivered by partners – highlighting the growing demand for partner-led services and the opportunity to generate new revenue streams through high-value expertise and support. With complex threats on the rise and vendor consolidation becoming more common, partners are more essential than ever in helping customers navigate cybersecurity decisions. With the new Sophos Partner Program, partners can develop programs and services that align with their unique business models and go-to-market strategies – whether they are a managed services provider, reseller, cyber insurance partner, systems integrator or another partner in the ecosystem. The new Sophos Partner Program helps partners to build their cybersecurity business, grow their revenue and retain their customers through: A unified portfolio for market advantage: Following Sophos' acquisition of Secureworks, the new program unifies two world-class partner ecosystems into a single, streamlined platform – unlocking seamless selling across the full portfolio. Partners benefit from expanded opportunities to boost profitability and drive revenue, with access to a comprehensive portfolio spanning industry-leading endpoint, network, email, cloud security, XDR/MDR, Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) and next-gen SIEM – all centrally managed through the Sophos Central platform and complemented by premier advisory and consulting services. Following Sophos' acquisition of Secureworks, the new program unifies two world-class partner ecosystems into a single, streamlined platform – unlocking seamless selling across the full portfolio. Partners benefit from expanded opportunities to boost profitability and drive revenue, with access to a comprehensive portfolio spanning industry-leading endpoint, network, email, cloud security, XDR/MDR, Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) and next-gen SIEM – all centrally managed through the Sophos Central platform and complemented by premier advisory and consulting services. A future-focused growth framework: Built for scale and profitability, empowering partners to grow faster and more efficiently through revenue multipliers, volume discounts and flexible billing. Partners gain access to high-value incentives, integrated sales and marketing resources, and advanced enablement through Sophos Academy's new MDR Guided Onboarding and sales quick-start certifications. Built for scale and profitability, empowering partners to grow faster and more efficiently through revenue multipliers, volume discounts and flexible billing. Partners gain access to high-value incentives, integrated sales and marketing resources, and advanced enablement through Sophos Academy's new MDR Guided Onboarding and sales quick-start certifications. Enhanced customer and partner success: Access to new resources designed to help partners deepen customer relationships, accelerate solution adoption and improve retention, while delivering superior cybersecurity outcomes for their customers. The program also provides expanded access to Partner Care, Renewal, and Customer Success teams, as well as free certification training for the entire partner community. Access to new resources designed to help partners deepen customer relationships, accelerate solution adoption and improve retention, while delivering superior cybersecurity outcomes for their customers. The program also provides expanded access to Partner Care, Renewal, and Customer Success teams, as well as free certification training for the entire partner community. Simplified, faster ways to win business: Partners gain access to additional tools that make it easy to sell and grow their business, including an innovative AI Sales Assistant that provides real-time guidance on portal navigation, resource location and sales insights. The partner portal experience is further enhanced with improved guided quoting, device and license management, opportunity management, and compliance dashboards. 'Sophos' new Partner Program is designed to incentivize partners to grow,' continues Bell. 'It offers partners everything they need to succeed, drive bottom-line revenue, fuel excellence for mutual customers and stand out in a crowded, competitive market. It's a way to continue to deliver on our promise to partners and build the best cybersecurity products, services and processes with our partners in mind.'
Al Bawaba
18 hours ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Sophos Launches New Partner Program to Drive Enhanced Growth, Profitability and Market Advantage for Partners
Sophos, a global leader of innovative security solutions for defeating cyberattacks, today launched a new Sophos Partner Program, unlocking multiple opportunities for partners to accelerate growth, deliver industry-leading cybersecurity solutions and stand out in an increasingly competitive market. The new program brings together Sophos' and Secureworks' global partners into one integrated, high-performance ecosystem and builds on Sophos' award-winning program that is trusted by more than 25,000 partners globally. "The new Sophos Partner Program is designed to reflect the way partners want to build and scale their business today,' said Chris Bell, Senior Vice President of Global Channel, Alliances and Corporate Development. 'It offers a flexible and profitable path to growth, whether partners are expanding their managed services, launching cybersecurity advisory offerings or scaling existing practices. With this program, we're doubling down on our commitment to deliver the tools, incentives and support that help our partners lead in a rapidly evolving cybersecurity market.' This launch marks a significant expansion in the services and support available to partners. By combining the strengths of Sophos and Secureworks, the new program makes it easier for partners to deliver next-generation security outcomes faster, more profitably and at from Canalys shows that for every $1 spent on cybersecurity products, customers invest an additional $2 on services delivered by partners – highlighting the growing demand for partner-led services and the opportunity to generate new revenue streams through high-value expertise and support. With complex threats on the rise and vendor consolidation becoming more common, partners are more essential than ever in helping customers navigate cybersecurity decisions. With the new Sophos Partner Program, partners can develop programs and services that align with their unique business models and go-to-market strategies – whether they are a managed services provider, reseller, cyber insurance partner, systems integrator or another partner in the ecosystem. The new Sophos Partner Program helps partners to build their cybersecurity business, grow their revenue and retain their customers through: • A unified portfolio for market advantage: Following Sophos' acquisition of Secureworks, the new program unifies two world-class partner ecosystems into a single, streamlined platform – unlocking seamless selling across the full portfolio. Partners benefit from expanded opportunities to boost profitability and drive revenue, with access to a comprehensive portfolio spanning industry-leading endpoint, network, email, cloud security, XDR/MDR, Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) and next-gen SIEM – all centrally managed through the Sophos Central platform and complemented by premier advisory and consulting services. • A future-focused growth framework: Built for scale and profitability, empowering partners to grow faster and more efficiently through revenue multipliers, volume discounts and flexible billing. Partners gain access to high-value incentives, integrated sales and marketing resources, and advanced enablement through Sophos Academy's new MDR Guided Onboarding and sales quick-start certifications. • Enhanced customer and partner success: Access to new resources designed to help partners deepen customer relationships, accelerate solution adoption and improve retention, while delivering superior cybersecurity outcomes for their customers. The program also provides expanded access to Partner Care, Renewal, and Customer Success teams, as well as free certification training for the entire partner community. • Simplified, faster ways to win business: Partners gain access to additional tools that make it easy to sell and grow their business, including an innovative AI Sales Assistant that provides real-time guidance on portal navigation, resource location and sales insights. The partner portal experience is further enhanced with improved guided quoting, device and license management, opportunity management, and compliance dashboards. 'Sophos' new Partner Program is designed to incentivize partners to grow,' continues Bell. 'It offers partners everything they need to succeed, drive bottom-line revenue, fuel excellence for mutual customers and stand out in a crowded, competitive market. It's a way to continue to deliver on our promise to partners and build the best cybersecurity products, services and processes with our partners in mind.' What Sophos Partners Are Saying 'Sophos' acquisition of Secureworks and the ability to sell across both legacy portfolios is a significant opportunity for our business. We're excited to be able to offer next-generation SIEM through a partner we trust. This will enable us to differentiate and win more deals on day one, especially with healthcare and manufacturing customers. The ability to offer cybersecurity services provided through Secureworks will also save us significant time and energy that would have gone into expanding our in-house services. Coupled with portal changes that accelerate quoting and deliver in-depth snapshots of customer information, the new program will be a critical enabler for our sales and operations teams to meet our aggressive growth goals.' - Dave Peck, President and CEO at Trebron IT and Cybersecurity "As a longtime Sophos partner, the company's security solutions continue to be foundational to how we protect our customers. Sophos has consistently demonstrated that they are committed to helping us grow, which shows in its new Partner Program. The combined Sophos and Secureworks portfolios will further strengthen our defenses, uncover new business opportunities and help us stand out in the market. We're also encouraged by continued innovation in Sophos Central – especially enhancements like the AI Sales Assistant and the updated portal, which simplify self-service and accelerate how Softchoice and our customers do business.' - Andrew Campbell, Director of Security Category at Softchoice
