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The Shift to Proactive Security: An Opportunity for Enhanced Cybersecurity
The growing sophistication of cyber threats and stringent regulatory requirements present opportunities for channel partners to add value.
5 Min Read
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In today’s rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape, businesses are shifting their strategies to focus on proactive security measures rather than relying on traditional reactive and/or preventive approaches. This shift, driven by the growing sophistication of cyber threats and stringent regulatory requirements like NIS 2 and the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), presents significant opportunities for channel partners to add value. By supporting clients in their journey toward more resilient and preemptive security, channel partners can position themselves as key enablers of cybersecurity transformation.
Proactive Security: A New Best Practice
As cyber threats continue to evolve, organizations are developing their longstanding “assume breach” mindset by also embracing proactive security. This involves a smarter, risk-prioritized approach that focuses on understanding the attack surface, mapping out potential attack paths, and addressing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Proactive security isn’t just another layer of defense — it’s a fundamental shift in how organizations approach their cybersecurity.
In fact, according to recent research, Emerging Best Practice in the Use of Proactive Security Solutions, 70% of organizations have increased their investments in proactive security solutions, surpassing spending on preventative and reactive solutions. This highlights the growing recognition that proactive measures, such as continuous configuration monitoring, network segmentation assurance and risk-based vulnerability management, are essential for reducing the attack surface and enhancing operational resilience.
For channel partners, this shift is an opportunity to engage with clients in assessing whether their current tech stacks can meet the demands of a proactive security approach. With solutions that provide real-time visibility into exploitable vulnerabilities, attack surface posture and potential misconfigurations, partners can help businesses stay ahead of cyber threats and maintain compliance with evolving regulations.
Drivers Behind the Proactive Security Surge
The rapid adoption of proactive security is fueled by several key drivers. One of the most significant is the need to get ahead of cyber threats by focusing on the most vulnerable areas of an organization’s network. As attacks become more sophisticated, particularly with the rise of advanced persistent threats (APTs), businesses are recognizing that they need to focus on strengthening their defenses where they are most exposed, and where an attacker could cause the most disruption.
Moreover, the regulatory landscape is adding pressure to adopt proactive measures. NIS 2, DORA and frameworks like CORA emphasize the need for continuous monitoring and operational readiness and resilience. These regulations mandate that organizations not only secure their networks but also demonstrate ongoing compliance through risk-based metrics and regular assessments. This is where channel partners can step in, offering expertise and solutions that help clients stay compliant while improving and maintaining their overall security posture.
The financial services sector, along with other critical infrastructure industries, has been at the forefront of this shift. With cyberattacks targeting these sectors more frequently, organizations have been forced to invest heavily in proactive security to minimize the disruption caused by ransomware and other attacks. Channel partners with expertise in these industries are well-positioned to help clients navigate the complexities of compliance and security enhancement.
The Role of the Channel in Proactive Security
The channel ecosystem can play a pivotal role in helping businesses transition to proactive security. As companies increasingly adopt solutions that provide real-time visibility and continuous monitoring, channel partners can offer tailored solutions that align with their clients’ unique security needs. There are three key areas where channel partners can add value:
Network Segmentation and Least Privilege Access: With NIS 2 and DORA emphasizing the importance of segmenting networks and enforcing least privilege access, channel partners can assist clients in effectively segmenting their networks at both a macro and micro level, deploying technologies that restrict lateral movement within networks and limit access to essential functions and important business systems. These foundational capabilities are crucial for preventing unauthorized access and mitigating the impact of potential breaches.
Automating Compliance Assessments: Many organizations struggle to maintain visibility into the security posture of their network devices, such as firewalls, switches and routers. Channel partners can introduce scalable automation solutions designed to continuously monitor and assess these devices for misconfigurations and vulnerabilities. This not only helps clients demonstrate compliance with regulations like NIS 2 but also enhances their ability to detect and address network risks before they can be exploited.
Proactive Threat Detection and Mitigation: Proactive security solutions provide real-time insights into attack surface exposure, providing visibility of potential vulnerabilities introduced by every network change along with potential indicators of compromise. Channel partners can also guide clients in implementing solutions that map risks across different attack frameworks, such as MITRE ATT&CK, and solutions that recommend immediate mitigations to reduce the likelihood of successful attacks will be of particular interest to clients.
By leveraging their expertise in security automation and regulatory compliance, channel partners can offer tailored solutions that help clients transition from a reactive security strategy to a proactive one. This not only helps organizations stay ahead of cyber threats but also ensures that they meet regulatory requirements.
Market Opportunities for Channel Partners
Channel partners who can showcase expertise in deploying automation for analyzing vulnerability and exposure risks, continuous monitoring, and ensuring networks are properly segmented to reduce the attack surface, will strengthen client relationships, particularly with businesses that need help protecting flat networks or multiple critical systems. Providing solutions that automate compliance and offer real-time visibility will also allow partners to add significant value.
With DORA’s reach expanding to over 22,000 financial entities across the EU, the demand for compliance solutions will only grow. Channel partners with knowledge of risk management frameworks (RMFs) can capitalize on this need, positioning themselves as key players in helping clients achieve operational resilience.
As cyber threats become more complex and regulatory demands grow, channel partners who help implement proactive security will play a critical role in the future of cybersecurity. By staying ahead of industry trends and addressing key security challenges, they can build strong, lasting client relationships and position themselves as trusted partners and industry leaders.
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