Innovative technologies including passwordless solutions, artificial intelligence and even quantum computing are changing the way MSPs and other tech companies can stay ahead of the latest cybersecurity threats. But wading through it all can be a challenging, complex process.
Daniela Fernandez, head of information security at PayPal Australia, will offer her insights and advice on how getting started and being successful during a keynote session at a GTIA – ANZ meeting, 18 September, in Sydney.
Fernandez recently talked about the process of adopting these technologies into current offerings and what MSPs should expect. Here’s what she had to say:
What is the biggest challenge MSPs face today regarding cybersecurity?
The biggest challenge is being cyber resilient against increasingly sophisticated threats and protecting clients from evolving cyberattacks across diverse IT environments.
How do passwordless solutions work and how can they help MSPs better serve their customers?
Passwordless solutions leverage alternative authentication methods that are, of themselves, more secure than passwords. At PayPal we have implemented passkeys as a form of passwordless authentication for our customers. They reduce the risks associated with phishing and credential stuffing attacks, while offering a simplified user experience which allows us to balance convenience and security. Particularly, for MSPs, they could reduce the time of resolving password related issues due to clients forgetting their password and getting locked out. Passwordless solutions can also allow MSPs to have better compliance and more secure authentication, which make them prepared for evolving security demands.
How can MSPs leverage or add AI into their current offerings?
As with many organisations, including PayPal, MSPs can improve their cybersecurity capabilities by using AI to enhance and automate processes such as threat detection, incident management, third party risk management, cloud resource management, IT support and risk assessments. As part of their offerings MSPs could leverage AI to deliver more tailored services offering greater value to their clients, and even offer secure AI enabled solutions gaining a competitive edge in the market.
How are companies using quantum computing to better protect their data/networks?
At this stage most companies are exploring different ways to use quantum computing with a strong focus on strengthening their current security capabilities and preparing companies to swiftly transition from current cryptographic techniques to quantum-safe algorithms without having an impact in operational activities. Additionally, organisations are exploring the use of quantum computing to improve blockchain security and payments efficiency.
Where is the best place for MSPs to get started?
Partnering with industry associations, community forums and investing in specific training for the internal teams are some of the ways MSPs can start building expertise. Some of those associations may provide the opportunity to collaborate and run small pilot projects that can help organisations demonstrate value and build strong foundations in these emerging technologies.
Anything else MSPs should know about your session?
PayPal along with HSBC, Australia Payment Plus and IBM are the founders of the Emerging Payments Associations Asia (EPAA) working group that aims to encourage the adoption of quantum safe cryptography in the banking industry. At some point all data and monies that are not protected with quantum-safe security will be at risk from “harvest now decrypt later” threats, so it’s important to stay informed and keep skills relevant.
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