Helping SMEs and MSPs thrive amidst global headwinds, future talents with industry-needed skills and capabilities.
Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection, hosted the Acronis Partner Day event at NTU Alumni Centre @One-North. Partnering with Workforce Singapore (WSG), the event, themed "Shaping Singapore's cyber resilience ― A synergistic approach to cyber protection from a business and talent development perspective", is set to be a game changer for SMEs and those in the field of managed service providers (MSPs) looking to bolster their cybersecurity strategies and enhance their technological capabilities.
The COVID-19 pandemic has expedited the need for digital transformation across various sectors, with governments mandating stronger data protection and security measures. A comprehensive cyber protection strategy is essential to mitigate the risks of broader attack surfaces and threat vectors. The journey can be challenging, even for large enterprises and experienced vendors. Strong leadership teams and strategic partnerships are key to steering digital transformation efforts effectively, but retraining and reskilling engineering teams are crucial for the success of SMEs.
The rapid digitisation of businesses brings unparalleled opportunities, but it also exposes many to increased cyberthreats ― particularly SMBs. Recent studies indicate that a significant percentage of SMBs are not equipped with the robust cybersecurity measures needed in today's threat landscape, rendering them susceptible to breaches that could have severe implications, not just for the businesses themselves, but also for national interests.
MSPs, with their specialised expertise, are poised to play a crucial role in enhancing cybersecurity for these SMBs. By leveraging the knowledge and tools available through partnerships like those with Acronis, MSPs can significantly uplift the cybersecurity posture of SMBs, ensuring they meet compliance and safeguard both business and national interests.
This collaborative effort between Acronis and Workforce Singapore is symbolic of a broader initiative to safeguard Singapore's digital landscape and empower and nurture the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. By intertwining cybersecurity with talent development, we're creating a robust ecosystem where businesses are protected and driven by well-trained, competent professionals.
In a time when cyberthreats are burgeoning, the readiness of SMEs is critical. Industry experts like SGTech and ISACA came together to provide an inside look at how SMEs and MSPs are impacted by the rapidly digitalized world, speaking about building resiliency for companies, emphasizing the importance of upskilling SMEs and future talents, and specifically touching on industry and government initiatives that can be leveraged to build the right capabilities in these organizations. With the support of WSG, the event aimed to ensure that SMEs are not just reactive but proactive in their cybersecurity strategies, reflecting a broader vision of a cybersecure Singapore.
Signifying a commitment to nurturing the next generation of tech professionals, Acronis announced the introduction of a new MSP IT Specialists Training Program. This innovative program is designed to address the pressing need for trained IT specialists in Singapore's rapidly evolving tech landscape. It aims to accelerate the learning curve of fresh graduates, especially from Polytechnic and ITE, and equip them with practical skills ready for immediate deployment in the tech industry.
“Our commitment is to empower MSPs and SMEs to thrive in the tech industry by providing the skills and capabilities they need. We believe in fostering strong tech and engineering teams, and the MSP IT Skills Training Program is a valuable layer in this commitment," said Ron Eo, Senior Evangelist, Acronis.
As the CEO of a MSP, Edwin Lee, CEO of Focus Digitech, sees the potential of this program to bridge the industry's skills gap and prepare fresh graduates for real-world challenges. Mr. Lee stated, "The MSP IT Specialists Training Program is a transformative step toward building a more skilled and resilient workforce. It equips individuals and organizations with the knowledge and skills required to excel in the tech sector. This program is a fantastic opportunity for fresh graduates to gain real-world skills. It aligns perfectly with the industry's need for qualified talent and will significantly benefit the tech sector."
The MSP IT Specialists Training Program will be available in Q2’ 24 and offers participants the opportunity to choose from three specialized tracks of modules: business, technical, and soft skills, under the Acronis Academy. The Acronis Partner Day underscored the importance of fostering talent, strengthening tech capabilities and fostering collaboration between public and private sectors. By providing practical training and real-world skills, Acronis Academy aims to empower businesses and graduates to thrive in the ever-evolving tech industry.
About Acronis:
Acronis is a global cyber protection company that provides natively integrated cybersecurity, data protection, and endpoint management for managed service providers (MSPs), small and medium businesses (SMBs), and enterprise IT departments. Acronis solutions are highly efficient and designed to identify, prevent, detect, respond, remediate, and recover from modern cyberthreats with minimal downtime, ensuring data integrity and business continuity. Acronis offers the most comprehensive security solution on the market for MSPs with its unique ability to meet the needs of diverse and distributed IT environments.
A Swiss company founded in Singapore in 2003, Acronis has 15 offices worldwide and employees in 50+ countries. Acronis Cyber Protect is available in 26 languages in 150 countries and is used by over 20,000 service providers to protect over 750,000 businesses. Learn more at www.acronis.com.