ScottNET strengthens small business’ data security with SMBSecure offering

In a strategic move to protect its clients against escalating cyber threats, KwaZulu-Natal South Coast–based managed services provider (MSP) ScottNET has integrated SMBsecure™ into all its service level agreements for 2024.

With businesses across industries under increasing threats of cyberattacks and scams, ScottNET aims to empower its clients with robust data security measures.

“The SMBsecure™ solution bundles are built to be easy to implement and manage,” says Timothy Jee, technical operations manager at ScottNET. “Our customers will benefit immensely from SMBsecure™, with a quick return on investment as they fortify data security. The SMBsecure™ DIY POPI Toolkit will also assist our customers to easily and cost-effectively navigate their POPI compliance journey, enabling us to map relevant safeguards and measures to their IT systems and processes.”

ScottNET’s managing director Simon Cubitt emphasises the practicality of SMBsecure’s solution bundles: “Small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly vulnerable targets, often underestimating their susceptibility. With the SMBsecure™ solution – powered mostly by Beachhead Solutions’ BeachheadSecure® technology – we can address key risk points for our clients, including device security, business email compromise, phishing attacks, user awareness & education, lawful processing of personal information (POPI compliance), and more.”

The South African compliance landscape will intensify in 2024, and SMBsecure™ will help organisations navigate the regulatory environment. A proactive compliance strategy is more beneficial than reactive – and much more costly – approaches.

“More MSPs should be like ScottNET and offer compliance-as-a-service with technologies that can thoroughly check the regulatory boxes,” says Amit Parbhucharan, the EMEA general manager for Beachhead Solutions, whose BeachheadSecure® platform, email encryption software, RiskResponder® technology and compliance and security reporting all form the cornerstone of the SMBsecure™ bundle.

“Compliance-as-a-service is a vital MSP differentiator. It also enables MSPs to build out effective security plans for customers, as the SMBsecure™ solution is already capable of satisfying 75+ stringent technical cybersecurity compliance controls, including those for NIST CSF and ISO27001, among others.”

Furthermore, several key industries in South Africa have already updated or are reforming data security for consumer data and are insisting on improved data protection this year.

The Health Professions Council of South Africa and the medical aid schemes have both stipulated stringent safeguards for patient personal data by medical practices and any healthcare practitioner. It prescribes the use of encryption for stored and transmitted (emailed) patient personal data and health information.

The financial service industry is another that’s being forced to address information risk, cybersecurity and cyber resilience with the joint standard published by the Financial Service Conduct Authority and Prudential Authority. All financial services providers are required to comply by November 2024.

Attorneys and law firms also remain in the spotlight, with several cases receiving court judgments in 2023 – prompting the Law Society of South Africa to reinforce IT and data security best practices with its members.