How MSP Cloud Live had the audience thinking about ”Securing Tomorrow”

In the UK’s rapidly evolving cyber security landscape, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are prime targets for cybercriminals. At MSP Cloud Live, Giacom, alongside industry experts, shared valuable insights and practical steps that Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can implement to mitigate risks and strengthen the security of their SMB customers.

During the event, Giacom’s Product Manager, Harriet Robbins, hosted a panel session titled “Securing Tomorrow” with Barracuda, Bitdefender and OpenText Cybersecurity. The session explored the latest trends and anticipated threats for 2025, providing valuable perspectives on the digital challenges ahead.

Key takeaways from the panel discussion included:

While the cyber security market can seem overwhelming, Giacom and its cyber security vendors aim to simplify messaging, establish a common language, and make security adoption straightforward and logical.

Implementing tools alone is no longer enough; a proactive and ongoing commitment to cyber defence is essential, as human error remains the greatest risk to any organisation.

“If cyber-crime was to be packaged as an economy, it would be the 3^rd largest globally”

Securing Tomorrow means different things to different people, but Giacom and its vendor partners are dedicated to supporting MSPs in protecting their SMB customers across the UK.

Giacom’s multi-layered channel approach leverages expertise from diverse sources, creating a bigger and more impactful response to cyber threats than tackling cyber criminals alone.

Cyber criminals are more sophisticated than ever, often breaching organisations and lying in wait to maximise impact. Their attacks are strategic and highly targeted, backed by thorough research and planning. For example, Paul Fuge from Barracuda shared a story about a Russian state-backed attack on a group of schools in Northern England, launched during Half Term for maximum disruption.

For SMBs starting out, cyber security can seem daunting and expensive, but there are cost-effective measures to begin the journey:

Jake Regan from OpenText Cybersecurity recommends aligning with established frameworks such as CIS or NIST, enforcing strong password policies, prioritising software patching, mandating multi-factor authentication (MFA), and scheduling regular user awareness training.

Partnering with MSPs can help SMBs build a clear roadmap and timeline for their cyber security journey, enabling effective budgeting and resource allocation.

Richard De La Torre from Bitdefender advises MSPs to stay up to date on the cyber security market, watch webinars, read blogs, and share information with customers in a digestible format. Staying on top of patches and product updates is critical for protecting customers.

Cyber Criminals Target SMBs Too

A common misconception is that cyber criminals only target large enterprises. In reality, SMBs are prime targets because their income and business revenues can be quickly assessed by hackers, making them ideal for ransom attacks.

Think of it like sales: while big wins are impressive, most successes come from smaller, consistent efforts. Hackers operate similarly, collecting smaller ransoms with occasional larger payouts.

Don’t make yourself an easy target. Building a strong defence requires not just investing in technology but also educating your customers and teams on the importance of cyber security.

Interestingly, many grammatical and spelling errors in phishing communications are intentional. Those who fail to notice them are more likely to hand over sensitive information, making them easy targets for attackers.

Final thoughts

The backbone of any effective cyber defence strategy lies in cultivating the right behaviours and mindset throughout an organisation, starting from senior leadership and cascading down through every level of the business.