Print.IT Reseller - issue 47

01732 759725 4 BULLETIN New CompTIA security+ certification CompTIA has updated its CompTIA Security+ certification exam to reflect the changing and expanding responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals. The new version of CompTIA Security+ (SY0- 501) places a greater emphasis on a security professional’s practical and hands-on ability to both identify and address security threats, attacks and vulnerabilities. CompTIA Security+ is a vendor-neutral, internationally recognised credential used by private and public employers, government agencies and others to validate foundation- and intermediate- level cybersecurity skills. Now in its fifth iteration, CompTIA Security+ was introduced in 2002. Since then, more 430,000 individuals have earned the credential. www.comptia.org On the up Data systems integrator NexStor’s turnover has more than doubled in the last 12 months, its team has expanded and it has been recognised as one of the top Nimble and HPE partners in the UK. NexStor’s team of experts also sold the world’s first Arcserve UDP 8000 appliance and has enlarged its product portfolio with the addition of three cloud services. www.nexstor.co.uk New ecommerce platform M2 is enabling resellers to broaden their product portfolio to include MPS for the first time with the launch of a new eCommerce website, ‘Print Simplicity’. It says Print Simplicity will revolutionise the way print services are purchased and delivered, offering transparency, flexibility and cost efficiency. www.printsimplicity.co.uk Mobile printers and scanners create new channel opportunities Mobile printers and scanners could create new opportunities for channel partners as business demand for field workforces grows, according to new research from Brother UK. The research of IT professionals across the UK shows that just over half (50%) of businesses plan to grow the size of their field workforce within the next five years. Of these, 37% are investing in mobile scanners and almost a fifth (19%) are turning to mobile printers to deliver better services to field workers. Ged Cairns, Brother’s Head of Mobile Solutions said: “The research shows that businesses believe that mobile printing and scanning saves them a significant amount of time. As well as improving efficiencies and productivity, time savings can positively benefit sales and customer service, as rather than spending hours or days waiting for follow-up documents and information, customers receive a more immediate, in-the-field service.” When asked about the biggest challenge of growing mobile workforces, 62% of businesses highlighted data security challenges. Brother’s mobile printers and scanners are designed to meet this challenge and come with secure messaging and encryption technology such as WEP, WPA- PSK, LEAP (CKIP) and WPA2-PSK (AES) built-in as standard. Cairns added: “Around a quarter of businesses surveyed are currently using mobile printers and scanners, presenting a huge growth opportunity for channel partners as businesses invest in growing field workforces and look for ways to make them more efficient.” www.brother.co.uk The Path to MSSP A new report from SolarWinds MSP outlines a huge opportunity for service providers. Four out of every five businesses across the US and UK will change how they deal with security in the coming 12 months. The study found that 17% of companies intend to switch their current service provider in the next 12 months, 10% want to cease outsourcing in favour of in-house management, and half (49%) plan to outsource security for the first time within the year. This latter group represents an enormous opportunity for IT solution providers and MSPs able to prove their security services credentials. The report, entitled The Path to MSSP examined the views of more than 400 SMEs and enterprises in the US and UK and explores the opportunity for MSPs in security. In particular, it looks at what it means to be a managed security service provider (MSSP) and the opportunities for MSPs considering this path. www.solarwindsmsp.com Virtulytix produces new forecasts According to the 2017 Worldwide Office Printer and Supplies Forecasts from Virtulytix, business inkjet cartridge revenue will exceed consumer inkjet cartridge revenue by 2020. Understanding this consumer/business inkjet cartridge mix shift is critically important to office products OEMs, distributors and resellers because office printer supplies represent 80% of total worldwide office printing revenue (60% ink and toner, 20% media), while hardware represents only 20%. This is just one of the insights provided in the 2017 Worldwide Office Printer/Supplies Forecasts and Forecast Perspectives. www.virtulytix.com Consumers lack confidence in IoT device security A survey by Gemalto has revealed that 90% of consumers lack confidence in the security of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This comes as more than two-thirds of consumers and almost 80% of organisations support governments getting involved in setting IoT security. Other findings include the fact that a hacker controlling IoT devices is the most common concern for consumers (65%), while six in ten (60%) worry about their data being stolen. Furthermore, more than two-thirds (67%) of businesses encrypt all data captured or stored via IoT devices. Encouragingly, businesses are realising that they need support in understanding IoT technology and are turning to partners to help, with cloud service providers (52%) and IoT service providers (50%) the favoured options. When asked why, the top reason was a lack of expertise and skills (47%), followed by help in facilitating and speeding up their IoT deployment (46%). www.gemalto.com/iot