How Partners Can Reduce Risk for Customers Offering Digital Experiences
Partners’ Role in Reducing Risk of Your Customers’ Modernization Efforts
Partners can play an active role in reducing SMB customers risk, while modernizing with digital engagement. This can be done by offering the tools needed to secure new technology deployments, and offering services and expertise in areas where SMBs lack resources. Furthermore, 47% of SMBs note information security as an investment priority in 2019; partners stand to earn a share by reducing the risk on the path to digital transformation.
Provide the Tools Necessary for Secure Digitization
SMBs need to secure their networks as they deploy cloud environments, integrate third party tools, and allow accessibility from mobile and IoT devices. Fortinet partners can offer unique coverage in each of these areas with integrated tools that offer protection spanning endpoints, LAN, cloud and more with single-pane of glass visibility.
For example, FortiGate Unified Threat Management can be installed on networks in 20 minutes to stop attacks before they can enter the network. FortiAP and FortiSwitch further enable the digitization of SMBs by extending security to the edge of the network, prioritizing applications for optimal traffic flow and adding extra switch ports for offices with more devices.
To speed up growth and digitization, many SMBs have turned to the cloud due to its fast deployment and low upfront costs. Partners can assist in the successful, secure deployment of cloud environments, such as productivity suites, by helping SMB customers to understand their exposure in the cloud and demonstrating the correct tools and processes for security. This should begin with a strong identity and access management process, and incorporate CASBs and web application firewalls (WAFs) where necessary. To enable mobility, FortiClient endpoint security secures the growth of IoT devices by maintaining visibility into various endpoints, protecting devices both on and off the network with high-impact threat prevention.
Offer Services and Expertise
In addition to providing tools, partners can assist SMBs in shifting to a service-oriented business model with enterprise-grade services and protections from FortiGuard labs. This includes customizable service offerings such as cloud sandboxing and mobile security, in addition to application control, anti-spam, intrusion prevention, and more.
Partners can also offer valuable insight and support to SMB customers around minimizing downtime in the event of a security incident to ensure they can maintain productivity, as well as guidance and actionable insights on remaining compliant.
To meet the specialized needs of SMB customers, partners can count on Fortinet to help craft correctly sized contracts, and offer support, expertise, and a range of resources including product training, technical support and more.
Final Thoughts
SMB organizations are expanding their networks with new tools to offer digital engagements to their customers. While this presents value to their businesses, taking shortcuts when it comes to deployment and security can create many risks. Through tools and services, partners can play a key role in allowing SMBs to modernize while reducing complexity and mitigating security and compliance challenges.
This guest blog is part of a Channel Futures sponsorship.
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