MSPs, Cybersecurity Companies Frequent the Latest Inc. 5000 List
MSPs, cybersecurity companies and consultants are all here, making waves in the channel with their growth.
![Telcos are undergoing a steady transformation as brands attempt to escape their commodity roles as voice and data providers Telcos are undergoing a steady transformation as brands attempt to escape their commodity roles as voice and data providers](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt10e444bce2d36aa8/bltafe99e87af9fda84/65245a740214edec92f0f295/rising_0.jpg?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Telcos are undergoing a steady transformation as brands attempt to escape their commodity roles as voice and data providers and become consumer-facing content and entertainment brands. This year saw major brands taking major steps to advance this goal and to position themselves for leadership in the Internet of Things. Verizon acquired Yahoo!, having purchased AOL two years ago, and AT&T agreed to buy media giant Time Warner, following its earlier acquisition of DirecTV. And just as every company is a tech company, every company also has mobility as part of their growth strategy. Channel takeaway: As more and more users turn to their mobile devices for tasks that used to be performed on desktop or laptop computers, telcos will continue to grow more powerful.Thinkstock
Tech Data built the Cyber Range at its Tempe, Arizona office. The Tempe location is one of six U.S. offices. Tech Data also operates a logistics center in the nearby city of Chandler.
Ryals and his team built the 4,500 square foot cyber range over the course of a year.
The layout features a security operations center (SOC), vendor kiosks, conference rooms and a computer lab.
Fortinet was one of the vendors that agreed to run one of the kiosks. Stephen Tallent, senior director of MSSP and service enablement, said the Cyber Range allows his company to illustrate its technology to partners and customers.
“It’s a win for Fortinet, but it also is a win for the partner, because the partner can then use the technology to accomplish the goal of stopping the attack and seeing what it’s like to actually be attacked in the real world, and use different technologies to mitigate the kind of attacks that businesses are facing today,” he said.
Kevin Kennedy, senior vice president of advanced solutions, told the crowd that the distributor is addressing a cybersecurity skills shortage. A recent State of Cybersecurity survey from ISACA found that 58% of companies have open cybersecurity positions.
“Why we decided to make this strategic investment is to fill that that skills gap that we see in the marketplace today,” Kennedy said.
Local and channel media professionals gathered to hear from Tech Data executives.
Francisco Criado, Tech Data’s vice president of global security solutions, said the Cyber Range helps teach a cybersecurity mindset, which differs from regular IT.
“[In] a lot of IT it’s linear thinking. You’re looking at your manual, and it’s a step-by-step process,” Criado said. “Security is a little bit different … it’s abstract-type thinking. When you look at the best security experts – they’re very creative.”
Ryals laid out four pillars for the Cyber Range: Train and educate partners, demonstrate vendor technology, provide engagement opportunities for vendors, partners and customers, and promote Tech Data’s cyber security services.
“The whole place is designed to help our channel drive additional sales and make margin,” Ryals said.
Ryals cut the ribbon to officially open the Cyber Range.
Brett Scott, Tech Data’s director of security training and enablement, explains how the Cyber Range can help companies test for security weaknesses, while cyber engineer Josh Harp (right) demonstrates.
Brett Scott, Tech Data’s director of security training and enablement, explains how the Cyber Range can help companies test for security weaknesses, while cyber engineer Josh Harp (right) demonstrates.
Pax8 and phData flexed their muscles in the latest Inc. 5000 rankings.
A smattering of MSPs, consultants, distributors and security vendors represented the channel in one of America’s most prestigious business leader boards. The Inc. 5000 measures the fastest growing private companies in the U.S. We compiled a list of nine companies on the list that utilize the indirect sales channel. The list is by no means comprehensive, but we’ve endeavored to show you a wide variety of organizations.
Our sister site Channel Partners tallied a list of 12 more telecom/agent-focused companies that made the Inc. 5000.
Click through our slideshow above.
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