Security, AI Innovation, SSO, Cyber Insurance, Cloud Breaches, AI Chatbots, and MSP Tools

[00:00:00] It's Friday, June 28th, 2024, and I'm Dave Sobel. Three things to know today. Forrester and Netscope highlight the importance of security in business innovation. SSO and Cybersecurity, Insights from CISA and SOPHOS on SMB security, and AI's role in business, leveraging efficiency with human oversight for positive outcomes.

[00:00:23] Friday Big Ideas. This is the Business of Tech. Forrester has released its list of the top 10 emerging technologies for 2024, including generative AI for visual content, generative AI for language, Turing bots, and IoT security. Other technologies mentioned are AI agents, autonomous mobility, edge intelligence, and quantum security.

[00:00:48] Extended reality and zero-trust edge are expected to take longer to yield tangible value. A global research by Netscope reveals that chief information security officers are becoming more comfortable with risk, but there's a need for better alignment with the C-suite.

[00:01:06] The study found that 92% of SSOs experience tensions with their CEO and other executives, and 66% feel they are balancing between business demands and security. SSOs are increasingly proactive and progressive, with 59% considering themselves as business enablers. However, 23% of SSOs feel that other C-suite members fail to recognize the SSO's role

[00:01:29] in driving innovation. The report emphasizes the importance of aligning security strategies with business challenges to foster collaboration and recognize the value of SSOs at the highest levels. Why do we care? Well, Forrester gives you a preview of what may be of note down the road.

[00:01:46] There's a lot of AI to come. But let's focus on business goals. The key insight remains that security needs to be linked to business outcomes. Businesses should support security in this balancing act by integrating security considerations into early stages of business planning and the innovation processes.

[00:02:04] That's a key opportunity to focus on. The earlier the conversations happen securing the business, the more likely they will be to happen, the more successful they'll be, and ultimately, the most economical. Are you and your clients tired of the time-consuming ticket tennis of coordinating meetings and

[00:02:24] help desk calls? Wouldn't it be better to automate this process with a tool that connects directly to ConnectWise Manage or Autotask? TimeZest offers scheduling automation that gives you complete control of your schedule and eliminates the hassle of calendar ping pong.

[00:02:44] TimeZest is the only service designed specifically for MSPs. It integrates into your workflow and makes scheduling appointments easy on you and your clients. Plus, you can try TimeZest for free. Visit timesest.com slash msbradio and use the code MSBRADIO to get 10% off your first year of TimeZest.

[00:03:10] Security services providers play a crucial role in helping small businesses adopt single sign-on for improved security. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recommends that vendors provide flexible seat thresholds for small businesses and collaborate with providers to address the challenges of SSO adoption.

[00:03:28] Lack of SSO can make SMBs vulnerable to cyberattacks, but implementing SSO can enhance security and streamline login processes. However, cost, technical expertise, and awareness are barriers to SSO adoption. CISA suggests that vendors gather customer requirements, offer tailored solutions, and improve support materials to facilitate SSO implementation.

[00:03:52] According to a survey by Sophos, 97% of companies with cyber insurance invested in improving their defenses, with 76% qualifying for coverage, 67% getting better pricing, and 30% securing better policy terms. However, recovery costs from cyberattacks are outpacing insurance coverage, and only 1% of claimants had their carrier fund 100% of remediation costs.

[00:04:18] The survey also highlights the importance of implementing basic cybersecurity practices and the broader security benefits gained from investing in cyber defenses. And cloud breaches have been increasing, with 14% of firms experiencing a breach in the last year. Claimant error and misconfiguration were the main causes, while known vulnerabilities and

[00:04:37] lack of multi-factor authentication were also exploited. SaaS applications were the primary target, followed by cloud storage and infrastructure. Organizations need to strengthen their cloud security measures, including data encryption and visibility into data access. Data sovereignty and privacy considerations are also important factors in cloud security.

[00:04:58] Cloud security investment is expected to grow by 24% this year. Now why do we care? In the live show, which is dropping on the podcast feed this weekend, we talk about insurance so there are insights there for you. So today let's talk about single sign-on.

[00:05:15] Customers without SSO are vulnerable to cyberattacks due to the complexities and weaknesses of managing multiple credentials. This is easier said than done to fix, particularly with the SSO tax. If you're not aware, look at sso.tax online for a list of vendors who charge more than

[00:05:33] 10% over retail for the feature. So this is a key strategy, getting SSO implementation right. Time for some contemplative moments with Friday Big Ideas. The New York Times looks at how landlords are increasingly using AI chatbots for property management tasks, such as scheduling repair requests and answering tenant questions.

[00:05:57] These chatbots have saved time and improved efficiency for property managers, but have also raised questions about transparency and tenant trust. While some tenants appreciate the convenience, others prefer interacting with humans and find the chatbots repetitive.

[00:06:12] The use of AI in property management is expected to generate significant value for the real estate industry. And I couldn't resist this one. Can AI chatbots be used to ensure other chatbots' answers are correct?

[00:06:27] From the Washington Post, AI chatbots can be used to detect and correct errors made by other chatbots. Researchers have found that using chatbots to review and evaluate the responses of other chatbots can help identify inconsistencies and inaccuracies.

[00:06:43] This approach can address the issue of chatbots providing nonsensical or incorrect answers, known as hallucinations. However, there are concerns about the effectiveness and potential biases of using chatbots to evaluate other chatbots. And the BBC with AI took their jobs, now they get paid to make it sound human.

[00:07:02] The rise of AI in the copywriting industry has led to job losses for human writers. However, some writers are now being hired to edit and humanize AI-generated content. While this provides a temporary solution, it's repetitive and a low-paying task.

[00:07:17] The impact of AI on copywriters reflects the broader shift in various industries where AI is being used to produce work that was once exclusive to humans. Why do we care? Trust remains the key element to AI implementation. I give you a lot to ponder here.

[00:07:35] While AI offers efficiency gains and cost savings, it also raises concerns about job displacement, bias and the quality of those interactions. By adopting strategic approaches that balance automation with human oversight and improving it continuously, organizations can leverage the benefits while addressing its limitations

[00:07:54] and ensuring positive outcomes for everybody. And having insights will serve providers very well. Remember, it's your guidance that's most valuable. Today's episode is supported by Corview. Your customers need your Microsoft 365 expertise and Corview has the only M365 management platform designed for MSPs.

[00:08:18] Manage hundreds of tenants, automate manual tasks and monitor compliance, all while intelligently comparing to the baseline. With a no-code control approach, Corview revolutionizes your Microsoft 365 administration. This powerful platform enables automatic reporting and remediation, ensuring optimal performance and security. The best part?

[00:08:39] You achieve this high level of service without the need for a large workforce, allowing you to focus on growing your business through efficiency. Want to know more? Visit corview.com slash MSP and find out more. Thanks for listening. Today, National Safer Workplace Day and National Tapioca Day.

[00:09:02] I'm pretty confident they don't go together either. This weekend, you'll get the live show from Wednesday where Rich Freeman from Channelholic and I dive into cyber insurance rates, PAX 8 self-service, the coming M&A storm and AI positioning by the MSP platforms.

[00:09:19] There's also an interview with an MSP franchise owner dropping this weekend that you won't want to miss. And if you've got a comment or a thought on a story, put it in the comments if you're on YouTube or reach out on LinkedIn if you're listening to the podcast.

[00:09:32] First of all, if you like the show, share it with a colleague. I will see you again on Monday. The Business of Tech is written and produced by me, Dave Sobel, under ethics guidelines. Post it at businessof.tech.

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[00:10:19] I'll talk to you again on our next episode of the Business of Tech. You're listening to MSP Radio Network.