Security Program Controls/Technologies, Channel partners, Content

ConnectWise Introduces Identify Risk Assessment Tool for MSPs

ConnectWise has announced ConnectWise Identify, a risk assessment tool designed to help its managed service provider (MSP) partners protect their customers against cyber threats. The offering is based on  ConnectWise's Sienna Group acquisition from late 2018.

Author: ConnectWise CISO CEO John Ford
ConnectWise's John Ford
Jason Magee

ConnectWise Identify aligns with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework to help organizations assess security risks, ConnectWise indicated. It also provides risk reports that highlight an organization's security strengths and weaknesses and threat remediation options.

Partners can access two free ConnectWise Identify risk assessments starting in April 2019: one for themselves and one for an end user. After a ConnectWise MSP partner performs the initial two assessments, it can purchase ConnectWise Identify for $99 per month for unlimited risk assessments.

ConnectWise to Resell Perch Threat Detection & Response

On a related note, ConnectWise also will resell the Perch Co-Managed Threat Detection & Response Platform starting in April 2019. The news comes after ConnectWise in October 2018 participated in Perch's $9 million Series A funding round.

The Perch Co-Managed Threat Detection & Response Platform provides MSPs with an intrusion detection system, threat intelligence platform and security information and event management (SIEM) capabilities, ConnectWise said. Furthermore, it can be managed via Perch's security operations center (SOC).

ConnectWise and the Security Services Market: What MSPs Need to Know

The ConnectWise Identify and Perch Co-Managed Threat Detection & Response Platform releases highlight ConnectWise's commitment to help its MSP partners integrate security offerings into their portfolios, along with simplify technology services and pricing models.

Former ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini described roughly two dozen technology services across three tiers during his ConnectWise IT Nation Connect 2018 keynote presentation. Service tier pricing ranged from $125 to $250+ per user, per month, with security levels increasing based on price.

Bellini stepped down when Thoma Bravo acquired the company in February 2019, but new CEO Jason Magee also is firmly committed to managed security services and risk mitigation strategies. And Sienna Group veteran John Ford is driving many of ConnectWise's security initiatives.

As ConnectWise searches for ways to help MSPs offer security services without significant upfront costs, the company likely will continue to make cybersecurity moves.

ConnectWise plans to foster strategic technology relationships that address security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR), the company noted. It also could integrate third-party security tools with ConnectWise Manage and ConnectWise Automate.

Dan Kobialka

Dan Kobialka is senior contributing editor, MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E. He covers IT security, IT service provider business strategies and partner programs. Dan holds a M.A. in Print and Multimedia Journalism from Emerson College and a B.A. in English from Bridgewater State University. In his free time, Dan enjoys jogging, traveling, playing sports, touring breweries and watching football.