Gerald Beuchelt, CISO at Acronis, explains that the Acronis TRU Security Days is a series of global events kicking off in Dubai. These events aim to bring together service providers and partners to discuss cybersecurity and data protection, share updates, and explore business opportunities.
What is the Acronis TRU Security Days event, and what is its significance?
The Acronis TRU Security Days is a series of events that kicks off in Dubai. The event is designed to bring together Acronis’ service providers and alliance partners to discuss the latest developments in cybersecurity and data protection. The event serves as a platform to share recent updates from Acronis, explore business opportunities, and strengthen partnerships. It is significant because it marks the beginning of a year that Acronis believes will be highly successful, with over 20 events planned globally. The focus is on raising awareness about Acronis’ capabilities as a security company, emphasizing its expertise in endpoint protection, backup, and disaster recovery, which have been part of its offerings since 2014.
Who are the primary attendees of the Acronis TRU Security Days event?
The primary attendees of the Acronis True Security Days event are our service provider partners and alliance partners. These include managed service providers (MSPs) who use Acronis’ platform to deliver services to their customers, as well as alliance partners who support Acronis in various capacities, such as providing infrastructure or collaborating on joint initiatives. The event focuses on partners who are actively involved in delivering managed services.
How does Acronis differentiate itself in the cybersecurity market?
Acronis differentiates itself in the cybersecurity market by offering a comprehensive, integrated platform that covers various aspects of security, including availability, confidentiality, and integrity. Unlike traditional backup companies, Acronis positions itself as a security company with a strong focus on endpoint protection, malware detection, and proactive threat research. Its Threat Research Unit (TRU) plays a key role in identifying and mitigating emerging threats, which enhances its ability to deliver a world-class security program. Additionally, Acronis’ platform is designed to be modular, allowing partners to start with one service, such as endpoint protection, and easily add others, like backup or email security, without the need for multiple agents or complex deployments.
What role does the Acronis Threat Research Unit (TRU) play in the company’s strategy?
The Acronis Threat Research Unit (TRU) is a cornerstone of the company’s strategy, focusing on researching ongoing threats, updating information about known threats, and creating original work around new threat actors. TRU’s insights are integrated into Acronis’ security solutions, enabling the company to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats. By aligning its offerings with TRU’s research, Acronis ensures that its platform is not only reactive but also proactive in identifying and mitigating risks. This approach helps Acronis deliver a holistic security solution that protects data and systems across multiple dimensions.
How does Acronis support its MSP partners in growing their businesses?
Acronis supports its MSP partners by providing them with a robust platform that simplifies the delivery of managed services. The platform allows MSPs to manage multiple customer instances through a single user interface, offering remote management, backup, endpoint protection, and email security services. Acronis provides training and certification programs through its MSP Academy, helping partners enhance their technical expertise and deliver high-quality services. Acronis’ platform is also designed to enable cross-selling and upselling, allowing MSPs to expand their offerings and grow their revenue streams. The company’s recurring revenue model further supports MSPs in maintaining long-term customer relationships.
What are the key features of Acronis’ platform that attract MSPs?
Key features of Acronis’ platform that attract MSPs include its comprehensive offering, ease of use, and scalability. The platform integrates cybersecurity, data protection, and endpoint management into a single solution, reducing the complexity of managing multiple tools. It also offers preconfigured integrations with popular productivity solutions like Microsoft 365, enabling MSPs to deliver services such as email security and backup seamlessly. The platform’s modular design allows MSPs to start with one service and add others as needed, without requiring additional agents or complex deployments. Additionally, Acronis’ focus on local data residency and compliance with regional regulations, such as DESC in the UAE, helps MSPs meet their customers’ specific requirements.
How does Acronis address the unique cybersecurity challenges in the Middle East?
Acronis addresses the unique cybersecurity challenges in the Middle East by leveraging its Threat Research Unit (TRU) to understand the specific threat actors targeting industries such as finance, energy, and hospitality in the region. The company has observed a significant increase in ransomware and email-based attacks, particularly in the financial sector. To combat these threats, Acronis offers tailored solutions that focus on protecting critical data and systems. Additionally, the company’s partnership with local infrastructure providers, such as e& Enterprise in the UAE, ensures that its platform meets regional regulatory requirements and provides data residency options that build trust with customers.
What are Acronis’ plans for expanding its presence in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia?
Acronis is actively exploring opportunities to expand its presence in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia. While the company has already established a data center in the UAE, it is currently gathering information and evaluating the business case for launching a data center in Saudi Arabia. This move would align with the region’s growing adoption of cloud services and the increasing importance of data residency and compliance. Acronis recognizes the potential of the Saudi market, especially in industries such as energy and finance, and aims to provide tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of businesses in the region.
How does Acronis incorporate AI and machine learning into its cybersecurity solutions?
Acronis incorporates AI and machine learning into its cybersecurity solutions to enhance its ability to detect and respond to threats. The company uses these technologies to build better heuristics and models based on its telemetry data, enabling it to identify and mitigate risks more effectively. For example, Acronis’ endpoint protection solutions leverage machine learning to detect malware and other threats in real-time. Additionally, the company is exploring the use of AI to improve the usability and capabilities of its platform, ensuring that it remains competitive in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape. However, Acronis also acknowledges that AI is a tool that both defenders and attackers can use, and it continues to invest in staying ahead of the curve.
What is Acronis’ approach to sustainability in its technology and operations?
Acronis’ approach to sustainability focuses on minimizing its environmental impact through efficient use of resources and energy. As a cloud and software provider, the company’s overall footprint is relatively small compared to manufacturers. However, Acronis recognizes the importance of reducing energy consumption in its data centers and optimizing the performance of its software to minimize the compute resources required. The company’s single-agent architecture, which reduces the need for multiple agents on endpoints, contributes to lower power consumption at scale. Acronis is also exploring advanced encryption techniques and other technologies to enhance security while reducing energy usage. By taking a holistic view of sustainability, Acronis aims to align its operations with the broader goal of reducing the environmental impact of technology.
How well does Acronis’ technology gel with OT or industrial security?
We see the Operational Technology (OT) space as a critical focus area, particularly in industries like energy. We collaborate with large OT technology providers to seamlessly integrate their solutions with our offerings. We recognise the OT market as a significant growth opportunity, already gaining substantial traction and establishing a strong footprint with SCADA systems and other OT technology providers. Unlike the corporate/IT market, which is more about replacement, we view the OT market as a greenfield opportunity. We believe that existing OT platforms may not meet modern regulatory requirements, providing Acronis an opportunity to address this gap effectively.