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Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) Market News: 22 February 2023

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Each business day, MSSP Alert delivers this quick lineup of news, analysis and chatter from across the managed security services provider ecosystem.

  • The Content: Written for MSSPs and MSPs; threat hunters; security operations center as a service (SOCaaS), managed detection and response (MDR), and eXtended detection and response (XDR) providers — and those who partner with such companies.
  • Frequency and Format: Every business morning. Typically, one or two sentences for each item below.
  • Reaching Our Inbox: Send news, tips and rumors to Managing Editor Jim Masters: [email protected].

A. Today’s MSSP, MDR, XDR and Cybersecurity Market News

1. Ransomware Attack: Applied Materials, which provides technology for the semiconductor industry, said during an earnings call this week that a ransomware attack on one of its suppliers would cost it $250 million in the next quarter.  The company did not say which supplier it was referencing, but several industry analysts said it was technology and engineering company MKS Instruments. MKS announced February 20 that it was forced to reschedule its own earnings call due to a ransomware attack that it discovered on February 3. (Source: The Record)

2. Leadership Moves: SentinelOne has announced two key executive appointmenys, with Jane Wong appointed senior vice president of Product Management and Lana Knop appointed vice president of Product Management. The appointments are intended to enhance the company's product and technology leadership team to support the growth and execution of its Singularity platform. (Source: Seeking Alpha)

3. Cybersecurity Research: Cynet has released its “Implications of Stress on CISOs 2023 Report.” Cynet found 94% of chief information security officers (CISOs) report being stressed at work, with 65% admitting work-related stress issues are compromising their ability to protect their organization. Among the CISOs surveyed, 100% said they needed additional resources to adequately cope with current IT security challenges.

4. Product Launch: CyberGRX, a global risk exchange provider, has debuted its Portfolio Risk Findings capability. Customers can now gain visibility into their organization's specific control coverages gapped by the riskiest third parties through the lens of any framework or threat profile.

5. Industry Recognition: CyberArk, an identity security specialist, was named an Overall Leader in the KuppingerCole Analysts AG 2023 “Leadership Compass: Privileged Access Management.” CyberArk’s leadership position is based on consistently demonstrated excellence across product, innovation and market leadership categories, the company said.

6. Product Launch: Bitdefender has unveiled Bitdefender Premium Security Plus. The new security suite provides threat prevention and detection, a password manager, secure virtual private network (VPN) for online privacy, and 24/7 digital identity protection monitoring.

7. Cyber Partnership: Deloitte EMEA-LATAM Cybersphere Center (ECC), which provides security operations services for the EMEA region, and Cyberbit, a cybersecurity skills development and readiness platform provider, have announced a strategic partnership that will drive cyber readiness across industries by focusing on the human element of cybersecurity.

8. AT&T Selling Cyber Division?: AT&T is reportedly exploring a sale of its cybersecurity division, potentially undoing an acquisition it completed five years ago. The sale of the cybersecurity business would add to a string of divestments AT&T has turned to in order to pay down debt following its $108.7 billion acquisition of Time Warner Inc in 2018, a deal it has since also unwound. (Source: Reuters)

9. Leadership Moves: Intel 471, a provider of cyber threat intelligence solutions, announced that Mark Arena will transition from his role as CEO to strategic advisor and will retain his role on the board of directors. Jason Passwaters, co-founder and chief operating officer, will become the new CEO effective March 1.

10. Cybersecurity Research: Network Assured has shared the results of a recent data study on cybersecurity, which examined which U.S. states had suffered the most data breaches in 2022. The study looked at data breaches from all industries to rank the states where businesses faced the highest risk of cyberattack to the lowest. The study also reports the number of data breaches relative to each state government's investment in cybersecurity initiatives.

B. Annual In-Person MSSP and Cybersecurity Conferences

Jim Masters

Jim Masters is Managing Editor of MSSP Alert, and holds a B.A. degree in Journalism from Northern Illinois University. His career has spanned governmental and investigative reporting for daily newspapers in the Northwest Indiana Region and 16 years in a global internal communications role for a Fortune 500 professional services company. Additionally, he is co-owner of the Lake County Corn Dogs minor league baseball franchise, located in Crown Point, Indiana. In his spare time, he enjoys writing and recording his own music, oil painting, biking, volleyball, golf and cheering on the Corn Dogs.