Managed Endpoint Security Services: Careful With the Hype

Add Datacastle to the list of endpoint security specialists targeting managed service providers. The Seattle-based company has announced an endpoint data protection platform that MSPs can offer to their customers.

Datacastle enters a growing — but crowded — market. Just about every traditional security software company is moving into managed endpoint security. And the 800 pound gorilla — Symantec — should be moving in soon by expanding its own Symantec Protection Network (SPN). Symantec insiders have told me to watch for security-related announcements with SPN later this year.

Nearly 90 percent of MSPs already offer some type of managed security service, according to our MSPmentor 100 report. Still, there may be room for Datacastle to differentiate its services, since many MSPs focus on point solutions (such as anti-spam or anti-virus) rather than true, comprehensive endpoint security.

As it seeks attention, Datacastle needs to be careful with its product claims. The company says its endpoint solution offers “continuous data protection, unbreakable security and privacy and data vulnerability mitigation.”

That term, “unbreakable security,” could be a bit too aggressive. It reminds me of Oracle’s old “Unbreakable” marketing campaign — which Oracle insiders came to regret. During a CIO conference I hosted in 2006, Mary Ann Davidson, Oracle’s chief security officer, told attendees that she warned Oracle marketing against making such aggressive statements because lofty security claims tempt fate.

Translation: When you say you offer perfect or unbreakable security, you’re basically challenging the hacker community to attack your system and prove you wrong.

Sorry for picking on Datacastle. They certainly aren’t the only software company out there making aggressive claims. If you’d like to learn more about their service, which starts at $19.95 per user per month, check out Datacastle’s site.