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Sophos celebrates partners and cybersecurity innovation at annual conference

[Sponsored] Sun City hosted Sophos' annual partner event this year, which took place from 12 to 14 March. Sophos’ South African cybersecurity distributors and resellers gathered for an engaging two-day conference. This year's theme centred on the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape and the crucial role of local partnerships in navigating the challenges and trends of 2024.

The event's discussions were dominated by this year's key cybersecurity trends. They focused on the pressing demand for governance and compliance and the increased reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in cybersecurity efforts. Speakers highlighted the growing sophistication of AI-powered threat detection, anomaly detection, and automated response systems, emphasising their critical role in mitigating risks.

A central point of conversation was the expansion of the Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) approach as organisations adapt to the increased security risks posed by user access. The 'never trust, always verify' principle has been adopted more widely, with the goal of securing data and reducing risk. Additionally, the cloud's ever-growing presence in enterprise operations has prompted a corresponding increase in demand for robust cloud security measures.

Automated threat hunting and the integration of threat intelligence platforms, known as Managed Detection and Response (MDR), have gained prominence for their proactive stances in identifying and mitigating threats. Sophos’ speakers at the event underlined that these solutions enable organisations to stay ahead of threat actors through continuous monitoring for signs of compromise.

The importance of cyber insurance and the development of the market were also addressed, with a clear indication that financial protection against cyber incidents is becoming a key focus for businesses. Furthermore, the conference spotlighted the imperative of incident response and recovery planning as a top priority for ICT teams, underlining the necessity for swift action to minimise the impact of breaches.

The conference concluded on a high note as Sophos announced the winners of its annual awards, celebrating the achievements of its partners at a gala dinner. The awards recognised the excellence and dedication of Sophos' partners in various categories, showcasing the success of the company's collaborative approach to cybersecurity:

Sophos 2024 South African channel partner award winners

1. Cloud Partner of the Year: SevenC Computing

2. Top Partner of the Year: First Technology

3. Growth Partner of the Year SADC: Liquid Intelligent Technologies

4. Synchronised Security Partner of the Year: Ikasi Solutions

5. Technical Expertise Partner of the Year: Cyber83

6. Enterprise Partner of the Year: BC Tech & Netelligent Group

7. Mid-Market Partner of the Year: Itec Tiyende

8. SMB Partner of the Year: Daisy Business Solutions

9. Distributor of the Year: Tarsus Distribution

10. SADC Partner of the Year: Convex Computer Systems

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