Online and In-Check Third party cybersecurity provides keep alaska business vigilant.

• Author: Brbour, Track

From its inception. Anchoragebased DenaliTEK has focused on addressing cybersecurity issues and a range of other IT services. But for years, many businesses did not want to hear about cybersecurity, including medical practices that are legally required to maintain strict security practices, says President Todd Clark. Now due to a rash of security breaches and evolving federal laws, more companies are ready to listen.

"Now people understand that it's a real, urgent business need--and in some cases a problem," Clark says. "And they want to know their IT provider is prioritizing cybersecurity."

Cybersecurity is such a critical issue that it's now part of DenaliTEK's official mission statement: "Alaska will be the most cybersecure business community in America."

Like a variety of other managed services providers in Alaska, DenaliTEK is doing its part to ensure businesses have the IT resources necessary to address the increasingly vital area of cybersecurity. Alaska's third-party cybersecurity providers offer a variety of solutions to help businesses of all types and sizes secure their operations against emerging cybersecurity threats, which are becoming more prevalent, sophisticated, and costly.

Key Cybersecurity Issues to Address

So what are the most important cybersecurity issues for businesses to address? All of them, according to Clark, who says comprehensive security is a fundamental requirement. "Breaches can only be prevented by focusing on all areas of security," he says.

There's no silver bullet when it comes to safeguarding a business, says Cindy Christopher, director of Managed IT at Alaska Communications. That's why Alaska Communications promotes the practice of using several layers of security, which can provide multiple defenses against cyber attacks. It also embraces best practices and employs best-of-breed products to support its customers and their networks.

Alaska Communications also prioritizes end-user training and employee awareness. "No cybersecurity solution can block 100 percent of attacks," Christopher explains. "Your employees are your first line of defense. You could have the tightest security controls in place and still be infiltrated if an employee falls for a phishing attack."

Robert Thurston, chief technology officer at Ampersand (originally founded as AlasConnect), helps clients focus on effective IT risk management as a whole. "What it boils down to is we help organizations effectively look at their security risk from top to bottom and putting together a plan, so they can sleep at night," he says. "This may not be flashy, but it comes down to having a risk management mindset."

The real value, Thurston says, is in adopting a holistic approach and seeing the "whole battlefield." He explains: "The threat in the news is ransomware, but that is just one battlefield. So we have to take that long view and make sure our clients are prepared to move into the future."

DenaliTEK's Services

DenaliTEK provides services to small and medium companies via its managed services offering and to large companies through its co-managed services solution. And to all businesses with at least ten computer users, it offers limited free network assessments to ensure they are currently protected. "All our clients are on a managed services plan with a fixed monthly fee for an annual term," Clark says.

When providing co-managed services, DenaliTEK normally works with larger entities that have their own IT personnel in-house. "We basically do everything for that company and support their front-line support staff," Clark explains. "We have a team that manages antivirus, backups and patches, et cetera. What we find is that a lot of companies that have front-line IT staff may be struggling to...