We live in a world that is driven by data. Leveraging this data for deriving beneficial outcomes is an empowering approach – and equally vulnerable when in the wrong hands.
The discipline of cybersecurity caters to the latter part. Data and privacy protection is prioritized when cybersecurity solutions are implemented.
Companies operating in the cybersecurity sector are ceaselessly striving to deliver innovative and comprehensive solutions with the motive of aiding organizations to be less concerned about the security of their data. ISA Cybersecurity is one prominent name among leading cybersecurity companies catering to the healthcare sector.
ISA Cybersecurity has been recognized by IDC as a ‘Major Player’ in the Canadian security space. In a recent customer satisfaction survey conducted by IDC, the company was ranked #1 for ‘Highly Responsive Staff’, and #2 overall among security service providers in the Canadian market. The company is also proud to have preferred partner status with over 30 of the leading cybersecurity vendors in the world.
In the following interview, Kevin Dawson, the President & CEO of ISA Cybersecurity shares valuable insights about the cybersecurity industry and how ISA is planning to lead the game in 2021.
Here are the interview highlights of ISA cybersecurity:
Please brief our audience about ISA Cybersecurity, its mission, and the key aspects of its stronghold within the cybersecurity niche.
ISA Cybersecurity is proud to be Canada’s leading cybersecurity-focused company, with nearly three decades of experience delivering cybersecurity services. We bring in real-world implementations of technology that are essential for customer success and that maximize the return on cybersecurity investment. We offer the perfect combination of large-firm expertise and small-firm flexibility for our services. Our corporate vision is straightforward: to help create a world in which everyone is safe from cyber threats.
Tell us more about your products and services which make your company stand out from the competition?
We have a comprehensive cybersecurity practice embracing advisory and assessment services; architecture design and implementation services; digital forensics/incident response services; and an impressive range of hosted and managed services. But, I think a key differentiator is that we truly strive to make it easy to do business with us.
We understand that every customer has their own threat landscape, their own unique circumstances, their own budgetary constraints, and so on. So, we work with our customers to understand and define their requirements, then partner with them to deliver cybersecurity services on a project basis, short-term, long-term – whatever is the best fit for them.
What is your opinion on the impact of the current pandemic on the global cybersecurity space, and what challenges did you face during the initial phase of the pandemic?
The COVID-19 pandemic definitely raised the global profile of cybersecurity. Threat actors saw opportunities to exploit security gaps created by the rush to support distributed remote workforces. Phishing scams and ransomware attacks reached all-time highs as criminals sought to capitalize on the fear and uncertainty that many of us were feeling.
The number of reported breaches over the last year and a half has been staggering, and no one was immune – SMBs were frequent targets, but high-profile and global companies suffered disruption and data loss as well. And, as we’ve seen, healthcare has been one of the most frequently attacked sectors, with dozens of breaches reported just in Canada and the United States alone.
From our perspective, ISA Cybersecurity was very well-positioned to withstand the sudden lockdown. As a technology company and specialists in cybersecurity, we already had a mature and well-tested distributed workforce structure in place – our operations were fully remote within hours of the first stay-at-home orders, and service levels to our customers were maintained without incident.
With continuous development in technologies such as AI and big data, what is your prediction about the future of the cybersecurity space pertaining to the healthcare services niche?
Healthcare is one of the most frequently targeted industries for hackers. Hospitals provide an essential service, therefore, in the minds of the criminals, they are more willing to pay ransoms. Time and budget pressures often make it challenging for healthcare facilities to stay up to date with patching and staff training, creating potential exposures. And complex IT networks and hard-to-manage IoT device networks are increasingly commonplace. Given this risk landscape, sophisticated threat intelligence and advanced threat detection – powered by the latest in AI and machine learning – will become even more critical tools for the healthcare sector.
Threat actors are becoming increasingly sophisticated and persistent in their attacks, so healthcare needs to be more proactive in defending against both known and unknown threats and be prepared to recognize and block unauthorized activity patterns should they occur. Emerging cybersecurity technologies can help, since more traditional defenses cannot keep up.
As an established leader, what would be your advice to the budding entrepreneurs and enthusiasts aspiring to venture into the cybersecurity industry?
It is no secret that there’s a shortage of cybersecurity talent out there today. I encourage anyone interested in pursuing a career in this field to get involved. ISA Cybersecurity has forged strong ties with several Canadian post-secondary educational institutions over the years, providing financial support and mentorship for tomorrow’s cybersecurity specialists.
We are also passionate about encouraging more women to pursue careers in cybersecurity. I believe there is always room for new ideas and new ways of thinking – we need strength in numbers and diversity to win the battle against cyber threats.
How do you envision scaling your company’s operations and offerings in 2021?
Our cloud solutions are already highly available and almost limitlessly scalable. We hired several additional staff members in 2020, and the headcount growth this year has been strong as well. As our client base has expanded, we are making sure that we are fully staffed to continue to provide top-flight cybersecurity services and support.
We are also very excited about the launch of a new cybersecurity service practice in fall of 2021. While I’m not at liberty to discuss the details just yet, I encourage readers to bookmark our website at www.isacybersecurity.com and subscribe to our CyberCast newsletter for the latest developments as they are announced.
About Kevin Dawson
Kevin has nearly 30 years’ experience in the IT industry and is a recognized expert in the cybersecurity field. In addition to leading ISA Cybersecurity, Kevin is actively involved in the academic community, advocating for cybersecurity education at the post-secondary level in Canada.
He serves as an advisor to two Canadian universities, providing mentorship around cybersecurity and program development. Kevin is an active member of several advisory boards for industry-leading cybersecurity vendors, a frequent speaker and facilitator for cybersecurity-focused events, and a regular contributor of security articles and thought leadership on LinkedIn.
