DLP Catching On With MSPs

MSPs looking to broaden their security services lineup have another option to consider: managed data loss prevention. Palisade Systems , which makes DLP appliances, this week unveiled its first product geared toward MSPs: PacketSure Managed DLP. The move comes shortly after Sophos introduced free DLP to its endpoint security customers. Here’s a bit more on DLP trends.

In the case of Palisade Systems, MSPs can host the appliance, offering DLP as a service to customers. Palisade Systems has been focusing on the SMB market with its on-premise gear, which it sells through VARs. Now the company views MSPs as a channel for providing DLP as hosted service to the SBM customer set.

While Palisade Systems gains a new marketing arm, MSPs acquire an additional service to sell.

“They can put [managed DLP] on their line cards in addition to firewall and anti-spam and sell it on a per-seat basis as a $2 or $3 dollar up-charge per customer,” noted Christian Renaud, chief executive officer and president of Palisade Systems.

Renaud said his company is working out revenue sharing arrangements with individual MSPs, rather than using a one-size-fits-all pricing model.

DLP aims to prevent sensitive data and intellectual property from straying off corporate networks via e-mail, instant messaging and other means. Breach notification directives contained in laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) have helped generate interest in the technology.

As for managed DLP, Renaud said he expects to see a good deal of traction around hosted Exchange. He said MSPs may use DLP for Exchange as an appetizer in preparation for a full-service offering. He noted that his company’s appliances can provide DLP functions across HTTP, FTP, and IM in addition to SMTP.

MSPs can expand their security business along product lines as well. Service providers working with Cisco’s IronPort appliance can take advantage of recently announced interoperability between that product and the latest version of Palisade Systems’ PacketSure appliance, Renaud said.

So that’s what Palisade Systems has to offer. Here are a few more managed DLP moves to consider:

No doubt, more DLP moves are coming.

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