Louisville Geek Partner Innovations A Continual Cascade Benefitting SMBs
To properly service small and medium business (SMB) information technology (IT) needs, IT providers—whether simple consulting firms, outsourced technology departments, value-added resellers (VARs) or managed service providers (MSPs)—must develop strong vendor relationships with compelling partners providing reliable solutions. From trusted hardware manufacturers to innovative software developers, IT services firms require capable partners if they are to prove productive and useful to their customers.
Louisville Geek is no exception. It’s why the organization consciously invests in building collaborative and constructive relationships with a variety of solutions providers to ensure customer needs are addressed appropriately and effectively. Here are just a few examples of ways partners are assisting Louisville Geek to best support and fulfill SMB client needs with compelling innovations, creative technologies and industry-leading products and services.
Arctic Wolf
With more than a decade of cybersecurity experience, Arctic Wolf specializes in providing Managed Detection and Response (MDR), Cloud Detection and Response (CDR), Managed Risk, Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), Managed Security Awareness (MSA) and Incident Response services. Because the company’s solutions incorporate data from a vast range of endpoints and networks, its automated detection and response technologies prove particularly effective. It’s just one of the reasons Arctic Wolf won accolades from CNBC (2023 CNBC Disruptor 50), G2 (Top MDR Solution) and Gartner (MDR growth), among others.
The company’s recently updated Incident Response and corresponding IR JumpStart Retainer program assist IT services firms and their SMB customers in cybersecurity preparation, resolution and recovery. With potent cybersecurity defense systems and effective remediation capabilities, Arctic Wolf is an important partner when it comes to protecting SMBs from cyberthreats.
Further, the company built and maintains its own research lab that helps the firm stay ahead of the ever-changing IT landscape. The lab’s 2022 launch improves Arctic Wolf’s security operations while also eliminating dependencies on third parties. With its first-hand research, and the corresponding ability to track exposure and trends in real time, the cybersecurity services partner is well positioned to protect SMBs with a wide range of cybersecurity offerings that are continually updated and improved.
Cisco Meraki
Long known for its industry-leading enterprise-grade network gear, Cisco also services SMBs and others through its Cisco Meraki product line. The brand’s cloud-managed network equipment—which includes wireless access points (WAPs), network switches and routers—strives to improve performance and security by continuously learning and automating adjustments.
Several new Cisco Meraki wireless access points (WAPs)—including CW and MR indoor and outdoor models—provide organizations with high-performing WiFi 6E technology needed to enable dependable, fast and secure wireless connectivity increasingly being used to connect everything from security cameras and building management systems to guest and user laptops, tablets and smartphones. The vendor also offers supporting network switches—such as the MS series—that simplify network management and administration while excelling at cost-effectively providing corresponding underlying backend connections needed to enable reliable WiFi service and power other networking needs.
Cisco Meraki recently released new dashboards, too, to help SMBs and supporting technology partners more effectively monitor and administer networks. In February 2023, the company highlighted the continuously evolving AI-powered dashboard, noting the platform’s effectiveness monitoring network availability and performance, analyzing root causes for potential issues and providing detailed reporting information.
Datto
Specializing in security and cloud-based technologies designed for MSPs to provide SMBs, Datto covers a wide range of small business needs. From backup and recovery products to file protection and business continuity services, the company services a wide range of critical responsibilities.
Datto works aggressively to provide SMBs with cost-effective, high-performing EDR and MDR solutions, too. Via its acquisition of the Infocyte threat detection and response firm, Datto expanded its endpoint protection capabilities. In addition to continually recording and analyzing endpoint information to identify potential new threats, systems are monitored by a security team working within a proper Security Operations Center (SOC) to assist rapidly responding to cybersecurity events.
The move further bolsters Datto’s efforts to protect, surface and resolve cyber threats, including via automated cybersecurity detection and response services, a growing need for any firm but particularly important for smaller companies. Working with MSPs, Datto’s approach permits integrating these important cybersecurity services within other MSP-provided technology services, including to smaller entities.
The company’s product lineup also includes important hardware components. Datto’s next generation network switches offer cloud-based management and administration to ease administration and support. Featuring Datto Secure Edge, which assists accommodating and securing remote workers among other advantages, the gear adds to the company’s equipment offerings that also include WiFi 6 and routers.
In 2022, the company also introduced SIRIS 5, an update to its popular SIRIS backup and recovery solution. As with previous versions, the upgraded business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) product works by safeguarding data locally while also offering secure cloud-based protection and recovery features. New cloud-based endpoint backups, file protections and enterprise-grade file synchronization and sharing help SMBs better protect against data loss whether due to natural disasters, accidental deletion, malicious behavior or ransomware infections.
Dell
Dell is no stranger to innovation. The manufacturer of cost-effective, business-grade and long-reliable laptops, workstations, servers, network switches and data storage equipment has long proven a favorite of SMBs, and for good reason. With extendable three-year hardware warranties on many products and competitive pricing you’ll frequently see Dell equipment throughout scores of industries.
In early 2023, the company announced updates to its workhorse line of Dell PowerEdge servers. Whether rack-mount or tower model, new PowerEdge servers boast fourth-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors that provide advanced performance—including up to 2.9-times greater artificial intelligence (AI)-processing capabilities—while a new Smart Flow design assists and improves cooling, a major consideration and performance factor within server environments.
If AMD CPUs are your organization’s preference, Dell has you covered there, too. New server advancements announced in late 2022 include PowerEdge systems featuring AMD’s fourth-generation EPYC processors delivering up to 55-percent better performance versus previous models.
SonicWall
SonicWall, formerly a Dell-owned entity but now an independent firm again, is a firewall, VPN and Unified Threat Management (UTM) equipment manufacturer. The company also provides endpoint and cloud cybersecurity services. The cybersecurity company continually advances the security capabilities of its products. The commitment is particularly poignant for SMBs, as SonicWall’s technologies often serve as a front-line in defending small business networks from unauthorized access, malicious payloads and other technology-related threats.
The company’s cyber threat reporting surfaces important trends and analysis others within the industry are coming to rely upon for key threat intelligence information. The data—gleaned from the company’s technologies, SonicWall Capture Labs network and more than one million security sensors from 215 countries, nations and territories—assists the organization’s threat researchers and others in better understanding cyber threat trends, hardening defenses and safeguarding networks and data.
Wireless connectivity, of course, continues growing in importance for SMBs. In 2022, the company also introduced upgraded WAPs. The SonicWave 600 series pairs with SonicWall’s cloud-based Wireless Network Manager (WNM) to better secure wireless communications, improve performance and simplify deployment and management.
Sophos
A well-rounded cybersecurity strategy requires multiple layers of protection. Potent hardware-based firewalls are just the first line of defense. Organizations also require protection for their endpoints, email and cloud services. Some, too, opt for managed detection and response as a service for 24/7 help battling malicious actors, ransomware and unauthorized access.
Sophos offers all those options. The cybersecurity company continually updates it firewall appliance, as evidenced by a May 2023 firmware update that hardens web administration access and encourages safer WAN settings to help guard customers from accidentally leaving insecure configurations permanently in place.
Sophos also recently introduced 5G support for its desktop firewall appliances. Because customers sometimes operate offices with limited connectivity options, 5G service offers another choice. Compatible with Sophos’ XGS 116, 126, and 136 models, the compatible firewall modules assist businesses in not only connecting via 5G but securing those locations, too.
With new Network Detection and Response (NDR), Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) enhancements, Sophos is proving to be a restless partner discontent with the status quo. That’s just one of the reasons the company consistently earns high ratings and strong reviews, as evidenced by Gartner naming the company a Peer Insights Customers Choice and G2 users naming Sophos Intercept X with XDR a top solution. The company also recently earned SE Labs’ industry-best ratings.
Have Questions?
If you have questions regarding our partners’ innovative technologies, or if you’re curious how and why we select various vendors for long-term relationships, drop us a line. We’re happy to explain the role vendor relationships fulfill properly and effectively servicing customers’ technology needs and requirements. Just email [email protected] or call 502-897-7577.
