MSSP News Alert: 27 March 2017 -

Each morning MSSP Alert offers readers a quick lineup of news, analysis and chatter from across the MSSP (managed security services provider) ecosystem.

Here’s the lineup for Monday, March 27, 2017:

10. IoT Device Hacking Lawsuit: ADT LLC has agreed to pay $16 million to end five separate proposed class actions alleging the home security company deceived consumers about the efficiency of its devices and their vulnerability to hacking, according to Law 360.

9. Encryption & Terrorism: Technology companies must cooperate more with law enforcement agencies and should stop offering a "secret place for terrorists to communicate" using encrypted messages, British interior minister Amber Rudd said on Sunday, according to Reuters. The statement comes after a terrorist sent an encrypted message moments before last week's attack in London. Technology companies, citing privacy concerns, have hesitated to provide governments with back-doors into secure applications.

8. Closing the Security Talent Gap: SNAPI Guard has launched an MSSP partner program. It's designed to help MSPs and end-customers to close the security talent gap, the company claims. SNAPI Guard offers fully managed Secure Internet Link, Always-On Protection, Hybrid and DDoS scrubbing solutions to MSPs, the company adds. We'll share more details soon.

7. Google Loses Faith In Symantec: Google is warning customers about Symantec Corp.'s alleged failures to properly validate security certificates. In fact, Google says it has concerns with at least 30,000 certificates that Symantec has issued over the past several years...

6. Managed Security Services: Idappcom, a network security assessment tools and services specialist, has launched a business-strength cyber-protection service designed for home and small business Internet users in the UK. The service adds an extra layer of security to users’ AV and firewall software, Idappcom asserts.

5. IAM Comparison: Where can you find identity and access management (IAM) solutions? MarketsandMarkets' latest IAM report examines the following companies, solutions and services: Avatier Corp., Beta Systems, Bitium, CA Technologies, Centrify, Covisint, Crossmatch, Dell, ForgeRock, Gemalto, Hitachi ID Systems, IBM, Ilantus Technologies, iWelcome, Microsoft, Micro Focus, Okta, Omada A/S, OneLogin, Oracle, Ping Identity, SailPoint, Simeio Solutions, Salesforce, and UXP Systems...

4. Identity Patent: SailPoint, which specializes in identity management, has earned a patent for the way the company manages network access credentials, even when users are located remotely and locked out of the corporate network.

3. Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection: Keep an eye on two bills designed to protect consumers on the go. The Security and Privacy in Your Car (SPY Car) Act would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Trade Commission to develop automotive cybersecurity and privacy standards, according to The Hill. Also, the Cybersecurity Standards for Aircraft to Improve Resilience (Cyber AIR) Act would introduce a bevy of new baseline standards for airlines to safeguard WiFi access on airplanes,. the report said.

2. HIPAA Regulations & Wearables: What do HIPAA regulations have to do with wearable computing? Here are some clues from Health IT Security...

1. Countdown to Launch: Yup. We wrote this blog on Monday, March 27 — quite a bit before MSSP Alert’s anticipated launch day in mid-2017.