Navigating Compliance, Cybersecurity Investment, & Decision-Making w/ Jared Casner
12/30/24 • 18 min
The discussion begins with Jared Casner sharing his journey into the channel, highlighting a pivotal shift from direct sales to working with Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Initially targeting small businesses with a compliance-as-a-service platform, Jared and his team quickly realized the importance of MSPs in deploying their solution effectively. This realization led them to invest time in understanding the channel, attending conferences, and learning from their MSP partners.
Jared elaborates on the challenges small businesses face regarding compliance and security, drawing from his extensive experience as a CTO in finance and healthcare. He emphasizes the pain points he encountered while building security programs from scratch and the lessons learned along the way. The conversation reveals that the genesis of Blacksmith InfoSec stemmed from a desire to create software that simplifies compliance processes, making them more accessible and affordable for small businesses.
The episode delves into the concept of viewing security as an investment rather than a cost. Jared explains how early investments in security can lead to long-term benefits, akin to a 401k approach. By embedding security into the organizational culture, businesses can foster a proactive mindset among employees, reducing the likelihood of security breaches. This proactive approach not only mitigates risks but also enhances operational efficiency, allowing businesses to respond more effectively to compliance demands and potential threats.
As the discussion progresses, Jared shares insights into risk management and the importance of tailored solutions for different businesses. He discusses the need for a scoring system that helps organizations understand their risk levels and prioritize compliance efforts. By providing a phased compliance roadmap and risk assessments, Blacksmith InfoSec aims to empower MSPs to guide their clients in making informed decisions about their security investments. The episode concludes with Jared reflecting on the decision-making framework that drives their product development, emphasizing collaboration and strategic planning to meet the evolving needs of their partners and clients.
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Want to be a guest on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights? Send Dave Sobel a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech
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The discussion begins with Jared Casner sharing his journey into the channel, highlighting a pivotal shift from direct sales to working with Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Initially targeting small businesses with a compliance-as-a-service platform, Jared and his team quickly realized the importance of MSPs in deploying their solution effectively. This realization led them to invest time in understanding the channel, attending conferences, and learning from their MSP partners.
Jared elaborates on the challenges small businesses face regarding compliance and security, drawing from his extensive experience as a CTO in finance and healthcare. He emphasizes the pain points he encountered while building security programs from scratch and the lessons learned along the way. The conversation reveals that the genesis of Blacksmith InfoSec stemmed from a desire to create software that simplifies compliance processes, making them more accessible and affordable for small businesses.
The episode delves into the concept of viewing security as an investment rather than a cost. Jared explains how early investments in security can lead to long-term benefits, akin to a 401k approach. By embedding security into the organizational culture, businesses can foster a proactive mindset among employees, reducing the likelihood of security breaches. This proactive approach not only mitigates risks but also enhances operational efficiency, allowing businesses to respond more effectively to compliance demands and potential threats.
As the discussion progresses, Jared shares insights into risk management and the importance of tailored solutions for different businesses. He discusses the need for a scoring system that helps organizations understand their risk levels and prioritize compliance efforts. By providing a phased compliance roadmap and risk assessments, Blacksmith InfoSec aims to empower MSPs to guide their clients in making informed decisions about their security investments. The episode concludes with Jared reflecting on the decision-making framework that drives their product development, emphasizing collaboration and strategic planning to meet the evolving needs of their partners and clients.
All our Sponsors: https://businessof.tech/sponsors/
Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/
Looking for a link from the stories? The entire script of the show, with links to articles, are posted in each story on https://www.businessof.tech/
Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/
Want to be a guest on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights? Send Dave Sobel a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech
Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do We Care?” - Visit https://mspradio.myspreadshop.com
Follow us on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/mspradio/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mspradionews/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mspradio/
Previous Episode
Navigating Compliance Complexity: MSPs, Cybersecurity, AI, and Business Outcomes with Josh Hoffman
Host Dave Sobel engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Josh Hoffman, the Chief Revenue Officer at ControlCase. They delve into the complexities of compliance in the regulatory landscape, particularly in the United States, where a patchwork of state laws creates confusion for businesses. Hoffman emphasizes the challenges faced by clients navigating compliance requirements, highlighting the need for expertise and support, especially for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) who can play a crucial role in guiding their clients through these intricate processes.
Hoffman discusses the increasing complexity of compliance requirements, such as the new controls introduced by PCI DSS and the chaos surrounding the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). He advocates for a more streamlined approach, suggesting that the industry should work towards simplifying compliance standards to make it easier for businesses to understand and implement necessary measures. ControlCase aims to facilitate this process by offering tools that allow clients to "assess once, comply to many," thereby reducing the burden of compliance and enabling MSPs to monetize their services effectively.
The conversation shifts to the challenge of linking cybersecurity efforts to tangible business outcomes. Hoffman explains that while cybersecurity is often viewed through the lens of risk management, it is essential for businesses to recognize the value of a strong cybersecurity posture in protecting their reputation and client data. He encourages MSPs to communicate the importance of cybersecurity to their clients, particularly in industries like law and finance, where safeguarding sensitive information is paramount. By framing cybersecurity as a critical component of business credibility, MSPs can help clients understand the broader implications of their investments in security measures.
Finally, the discussion touches on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in compliance and cybersecurity. Hoffman shares insights into how ControlCase is leveraging AI to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of compliance processes. He notes that AI can significantly improve the speed at which evidence is processed and assessed, ultimately benefiting both clients and MSPs. As the conversation concludes, Hoffman expresses optimism about the future of compliance and cybersecurity, emphasizing the potential for AI to transform the industry and make compliance more manageable for businesses.
All our Sponsors: https://businessof.tech/sponsors/
Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/
Looking for a link from the stories? The entire script of the show, with links to articles, are posted in each story on https://www.businessof.tech/
Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/
Want to be a guest on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights? Send Dave Sobel a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech
Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do We Care?” - Visit https://mspradio.myspreadshop.com
Follow us on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/mspradio/
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Next Episode
AI in Food Safety: Enhancing Compliance, Consumer Insights, and Product Innovation withMark Haas
Host Dave Sobel engages in a compelling conversation with Mark Haas, the CEO of the Helmsman Group, a company specializing in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) sector. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Mark shares insights into how AI, particularly natural language processing (NLP), is transforming food regulation and safety. The discussion delves into the origins of their innovative platform, Regulate, which was born out of a need for a sophisticated data warehouse to manage the extensive documentation required in the highly regulated food and beverage industry.
Mark explains that Regulate initially served as a static database to archive information but has evolved into a powerful tool for analyzing consumer sentiment. By leveraging open API connections from social media platforms like X, Reddit, and Amazon, the platform captures real-time discussions about products. This allows brands to gain organic insights into consumer opinions, preferences, and trends, moving beyond traditional focus groups that often suffer from confirmation bias. The episode highlights the importance of understanding consumer sentiment in a more authentic way, enabling companies to make informed decisions about product development and marketing strategies.
One of the standout features of Regulate is its Consumer Sentiment Analysis module, which provides various reports to help brands understand consumer perceptions. Mark discusses how the platform generates word clouds, attribution reports, and centrality analyses to identify key themes and connections in consumer conversations. This data-driven approach not only aids in product innovation but also helps brands identify flavor trends and other market opportunities that resonate with consumers. By analyzing the interconnections of thoughts, companies can better align their products with consumer desires, ultimately leading to more successful market entries.
The conversation also touches on the compliance aspect of the platform, emphasizing how Regulate assists brands in navigating FDA regulations. Mark explains that the platform can parse vast amounts of regulatory data to ensure that products meet compliance standards, thus reducing the risk of costly errors. The episode concludes with a discussion on measuring success, where Mark shares that the primary deliverable for businesses using Regulate is the ability to accelerate time to market while improving profitability. By streamlining the product development process, the Helmsman Group is helping brands achieve significant financial outcomes, demonstrating the transformative power of AI in the CPG industry.
All our Sponsors: https://businessof.tech/sponsors/
Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/
Looking for a link from the stories? The entire script of the show, with links to articles, are posted in each story on https://www.businessof.tech/
Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/
Want to be a guest on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights? Send Dave Sobel a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech
Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do We Care?” - Visit https://mspradio.myspreadshop.com
Follow us on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079/
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