Jesse Gilles joins Guardz to bolster A/NZ channel presence

Cybersecurity company Guardz is expanding its presence in Australia and New Zealand with the appointment of Jesse Gilles as channel partner manager for the region. Gilles, formerly a solutions consultant team lead at Pax8, will report to Danni Munro, Guardz's A/NZ director of channel sales, according to coverage from Arn Net.

Gilles will focus on supporting Guardz's channel partners, leveraging his background in cybersecurity for managed service providers (MSPs) and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). He brings experience in technical enablement and market trends, advocating for frameworks like Australia's Essential Eight. Gilles views his role as a hybrid of account management and solutions engineering, emphasizing technical support, onboarding, and partner relationship management. He notes an evolution in MSP cybersecurity strategies, moving from basic antivirus to incorporating EDR, XDR, and a greater focus on standards and frameworks.

The rise of AI has lowered the barrier to entry for attackers, increasing the volume of threats. Gilles believes foundational security controls, such as email security, endpoint protection, and identity protection, alongside adherence to standards like SMB1001, will remain critical for MSPs. His goal is to help MSPs implement effective protections and elevate security standards within the community, utilizing Guardz's holistic platform to facilitate these conversations.

Source: Arn Net