MSP, MSSP and IT Notes Industry March 29th 2021

There are two IT FREE leads including in this weeks notes!

Arcoa Group

Why partnering with ARCOA makes sense
Electronics Recycling is an important and profitable part of the IT asset lifecycle, but it can be overwhelming with all you already do, varying state regulations, and the limited resources at hand. That’s where ARCOA comes in. When you partner with ARCOA, you get all the benefits of a big company without any of the capital investment. We’ve been doing this since 1989 and have the expertise, certifications, and nationwide resources to get the most for all your clients’ retired IT assets. Plus, positioning your clients as environmental stewards not only elevates their appeal to consumers, it meets government requirements and avoids fines.

What partnering with ARCOA looks like
Our role is to make it easy for you to bring more value to your clients. We work with you to help stretch your clients’ IT budget by reducing the total cost of ownership of their electronics. We’re experts at identifying and implementing the solutions your clients need for the end-of-use remarketing, recovery, and recycling of their technology assets. The sooner you involve ARCOA, the sooner you and your clients will see better results.

Corsica Technologies Earns Coveted SOC 2 Certification for Cybersecurity and Managed Services

• Announced that the company has successfully achieved the Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type 1 certification for both its cybersecurity and managed IT services
• Audit conducted by Cherry Bekaert, LLP, a CPA and advisory firm
• SOC 2 is one of the most stringent auditing standards for service companies, set forth by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)

BCM One Named to 2021 Redmond Channel Partner Magazine RCP 350 List

• Named by Redmond Channel Partner magazine to RCP 350
• RCP 350 is a list of the top 350 Microsoft partners in the US
• Companies in RCP 350 range from huge partners and thousands of consultants to boutique companies with specialized experience
• Complete list is available on RCPmag.com

Splashtop Announces the Members of its MSP Advisory Council

• Group of advisors helps keep Splashtop up-to-date with the latest IT challenges faced by MSPs
• Members of the Splashtop MSP Advisory Council include
• • Ralph Joedicke, co-founder and CEO, goCloudOffice—Joedicke founded goCloudOffice in 2003
  • Evan Jones, CEO, Jones IT—A leading IT support specialist in San Francisco
  • Ramin Keyvan, president and CEO, Rhino Network Solutions
  • Sarah Tenisi, CEO, TenisiTech
  • Steven Walker, president and founder, Fast Break Tech

Adsero Security and Ballast Services Announce Partnership to Provide Comprehensive IT Cyber ...

• Announce their integrated partnership to provide comprehensive IT security compliance and managed services
• "This proven partnership allows us to leverage and advance our comprehensive security solutions for customers of all sizes and security needs," said Jason Martino, Managing Partner with Adsero Security
• Based in Tampa FL, Ballast Services is a leading security focused IT solutions provider
• Adsero Security has over 46 years of experience in the IT industry working hands on with the software, hardware and regulations

VENZA® Acquires CyberTek to Deliver Holistic Cybersecurity and Managed IT Services

• Acquired privately-owned CyberTek Engineering, an award-winning MSP (Managed Service Provider)
• CyberTek offers technical consulting support, network architecture, systems procurement, and complete implementation services along with managed IT services
• CyberTek MSSP will become a solely owned subsidiary of VENZA
• VENZA is a data protection company that can help organizations mitigate their vulnerabilities and ensure compliance
• Terms not disclosed

Parascript Earns KMWorld Recognition for Knowledge Management

• Parascript rovides document analysis software processing
• automation includes document classification, data location, extraction and verification—and adds additional unique capabilities including full-page handwriting transcription, signature detection and verification, and presence detection of stamps and initials
• Recognized from KMWorld for the sixth consecutive year in the 100 Companies That Matter in Knowledge Management

Managed Print Service providers must reposition to support transition to hybrid working as businesses plan to reduce office footprint

• Quocirca published the tenth edition of its comprehensive insight into the Managed Print Service competitive market landscape
• Primary research conducted among IT decision makers (ITDMs) in organisations with over 500 employees, in the UK, France, Germany and the US
• findings include
• • 79% say they will reduce their office footprint in some form
  • 44% plan to reduce capacity in existing offices
  • 23% plan to consolidate offices
  • 11% will close some locations permanently
  • 1% will switch fully to remote working
  • 47% of employees are now working remotely
  • 50% of respondents say their office print volumes reduced during the pandemic
  • 33% expecting print volumes to be lower when offices reopen
  • 40% expect home print volumes to increase over the next year
  • 46% have provided approved home printers for selected remote workers
  • 53% of ITDMs expect MPS spending to increase over the next year
  • Top three additional services that most influence MPS supplier selection are workplace services; cloud print services and sustainability services
  • 9% of respondents said they have already implemented a cloud print management platform; 37% plan to do so

• Quocirca Director Louella Fernandes said: “There will be no rapid return to pre-covid-19 print volumes
• • Hybrid working is here to stay

CRN Names Atmosera To Its 2021 MSP 500 List for the 5th Year in a Row

• Named Atmosera to its 2021 Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the security category
• CRN's 2021 MSP 500 list identifies the market's key managed services players
• The MSP 500 list is divided into three sections
• • MSP Pioneer 250
  • MSP Elite 150
  • Managed Security 100

Bluff Point Associates Acquires RIA Technology Solutions Provider True North Networks

• Private equity firm Bluff Point Associates has acquired True North Networks
• True North Networks provides SEC-compliant information technology solutions, network security and support to independent registered investment advisors (RIAs)
• True North Networks founded in 2002 and headquartered in Swanzey, New Hampshire, True North Networks is a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) offering managed IT services

Net Friends Receives SOC 2 Type II Attestation for Second Year in A Row

• Announced that it has maintained for another year its SOC 2 Type II audit, performed by KirkpatrickPrice
• A SOC 2 audit provides an independent, third-party validation that a service organization's information security practices meet industry standards stipulated by the AICPA

Fully Managed Releases GrandCentral 4.0

• Announced the release of GrandCentral Managed 4.0 on the NOW Platform®, the latest version of its pre-configured, managed ServiceNow® workflow automation solution
• GrandCentral Managed is designed for organizations looking to adopt the operational efficiencies of the Now Platform
• Version 4.0 introduces ServiceNow Professional licensing to both the Managed and Dedicated GrandCentral platform options

MRE Consulting, Ltd., Ranked Among the Most Elite Managed Services Providers in North America

• Announced it has been recognized by CRN as one of the top 500 Managed Services Providers (MSP) in North America
• CRN's 2021 MSP 500 list identifies the market's key managed services players
• The MSP 500 list is divided into three sections
  • MSP Pioneer 250
  • MSP Elite 150
  • Managed Security 100

Lead for IT Services in Pennsylvania

• The Commission is seeking a network cabling firm who has the comprehensive skills, resources and certifications to maintain and install the voice, data, radio and auxiliary communication systems and cabling infrastructure throughout the Pennsylvania Turnpike facilities. The RFP can be viewed/responded to on the Commissions Vendor Portal. https://www.ptcvendorportal.com

Lead for IT Services in Arkansas

• Rogers Water Utilities ("RWU") of Rogers, Arkansas is seeking qualified firms to provide networking and systems security services and related Information Technology (IT) services for RWU's IT section. More information about the requested professional services is contained in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

Udacity Launches School of Cybersecurity to Ready the Next Generation of Digital Defenders ...

• Launched its School of Cybersecurity to help address the growing need for skilled cybersecurity professionals
• An (ISC)² study of diversity in the cybersecurity workforce revealed that while minority representation in the field sits at 26%, most hold non-managerial positions
• Has seen a 94% increase in job postings
• Udacity is a global, online learning platform powering digital transformation and accelerated time-to-market initiatives for Fortune 500 and Global 2000 enterprises

Lexmark Recognized for IT and Manufacturing Leadership Enabled by Its Innovative IoT Platform

• Lexmark receives consecutive wins for both the CIO 100 Awards and Manufacturing Leadership Awards
• Honored with a 2021 CIO 100 Award by IDG Communications for the second consecutive year, and a Manufacturing Leadership Award by the Manufacturing Leadership Council for the 10th year in a row.

Konica Minolta Announces Status as a Microsoft Global Managed Partner

• announces its new status as a Global Managed Partner
• “We are delighted to partner with Konica Minolta on a global level to accompany their growth in IT and to unlock the opportunities of digital transformation for their customers," said Casey McGee, Vice President, ISV Sales at Microsoft

Cybersecurity Notes

• FBI published results of research:
• Total losses from internet crime exceeded $4.2 billion in 2020
• In 2019, losses were only $3.5 billion
• FBI published warning to school systems in the U.S., that they are being targeted by PYSA ransomware, aka Mespinoza.
• Jean Francois Eap, CEO of Sky Global, was indicted for allegedly participating in a hacking and illegal narcotic distribution ring
• • Sky Global is a provider of custom handsets and a subscription-based end-to- end encrypted messaging app
• Check Point Research is reporting that Microsoft Exchange Server hacks are doubling every 2 hours.
• A hacker in Switzerland was able to hack into live security camera feeds of customers using Verkada solutions. Hospitals how notified patients of possible HIPAA breach include:
• • Halifax Health of Daytona Beach, FL
  • Wadley Regional Medical Center of Texarkana, TX
  • Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital of Arizona

• Centene Corp., an insurance firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, filed a lawsuit against Accellion Inc. of Delaware, in regards to a breach of PHI.
• Leon County School District of Tallahassee, FL notified an unknown number of students that their info may have been exposed after cybersecurity incident.
• Atascadero State Hospital of California notified 1,415 patients that their PHI was illegally accessed by an employee.
• Arizona Complete Health notified 27,390 patients that their PHI was exposed after cybersecurity incident.
• Spectrum Health of Grand Rapids, MI notified an unknown number of patients that their identities may have been exposed after a group of doctors posted operating room photos on Instagram.
• Tate High School of Pensacola, FL notified an unknown number of students that their info may have been exposed after an employee illegally hacked into network.
• Colorado Retina Associates notified 26,600 patients that their PHI was exposed after email phishing attack.
• The FBI published a warning about how hackers are using email phishing attacks to insert Trickbot malware into networks.
• • When unsuspecting employees open email and click on a photo, they download a Javascript file that downloads Trickbot onto their system
  • Hackers can then steal valuable information and insert ransomware

• UP Health System – Marquette in Michigan notified an unknown number of patients that a third party is calling its patients attempting to trick them into providing personal information.
• Douglas County government of Washington notified an unknown number of citizens that their info may have been exposed after cyberattack originating in China

• Wali Muhammad of Branford, CT pleaded guilty to one count of healthcare fraud as a result defrauding Medicaid using stolen PHI while working for Happy Family Clinical Services LLC of East Haven, CT.
• • Faces a maximum of 10 years in prison
• Timothy Young of Moorefield, Nebraska was sentenced to 21 months in prison after illegally accessing confidential information while working for a data analytics and risk assessment firm in New Jersey.
• Graham Ivan Clark of Tampa, Florida was sentenced to 3 years in prison for role in hacking well known Twitter accounts.
• Newberry County Memorial Hospital of South Carolina notified an unknown number of patients that their PHI may have been exposed after ransomware attack.
• Protenus Research published results of survey of healthcare organizations
• • Hacking incidents up 42% YoY
  • 20% of breaches causing by insiders exposing PHI of 8 million patients
  • 87% involved PHI inside EHRs
  • 13% involved PHI on paper documents
  • 187 days is average amount of time before breach is discovered
• Palo Alto Networks published results of research:
• • Average ransom paid to hackers by ransomware victims is $312,493
  • 171% increase YoY
  • Highest demand made was $30 million
  • Highest ransom paid was $10 million
• Tri County Public Safety Network of New York notified an unknown number of citizens that their info may have been exposed after ransomware attack.