Earlier this year we introduced you to our partner Level Solutions Group. We shared how we’re helping the North Carolina-based systems integrator bring digital executive protection to the data center industry. 

In this second article in our Partner Spotlight series, we introduce you to IT Services provider Panacea Smart Solutions. Panacea provides a number of different services ranging from Health Information Management, Revenue Cycle Management, Custom Virtual Staffing Solutions and of course IT Managed Services. 

We recently spoke to Brian Collins, the company’s vice president of business development. He talked to us about the company, its customers, and the decision behind adding digital executive protection to their portfolio of software and services. 

Talking digital executive protection with leader in IT services industry

Q. Tell us a little bit about Panacea Smart Solutions. What makes it a unique IT Services provider?

A. At Panacea Smart Solutions we are first and foremost about solving problems. I think a couple of things make us unique. First off, our mindset is always “win/win or no deal.” I could be wrong, but I’m not sure most companies that do what we do approach their work the same way. We also approach our services with a degree of flexibility that allows the products we deliver to fit perfectly with the needs of our clients. We do this by not changing our foundational service principles, while at the same taking a plan, do, check, adjust approach to the methods we use to deliver our services.

Q. When it comes to cybersecurity, what are your customers’ most pressing challenges and needs? What do they come to you for the most?

A. Have you ever been riding with someone in a car listening to music, and they start singing along to the song, but the lyrics they are singing are obviously wrong, but they have no clue? You look over at them and laugh as you say, “is that what you think the words are?” That’s kind of what managing cybersecurity is like for most IT MSPs. To be honest, our clients aren’t inundating us with security related questions and needs. I believe this is because, just like with lyrics to some songs, they don’t know what they don’t know. Instead, we know it is up to us to find honest and edifying ways to educate them on the security landscape. That can be challenging, and we’re always looking for creative new ways and tools to do that.

Q. What made Panacea decide to offer digital executive protection? Have your customers asked for it? Are you wanting to provide a solution for a competitive advantage?

A. I’ve been in the IT Managed Services business for a decade now. It was apparent when I started and not much has changed: the folks at the top of organizations (those with the most access, and the highest income) exist, by design, outside of the normal security infrastructure for their company during working hours. This makes them a target, and after working hours, they’re even more exposed to cyber intrusion. Throughout the years, the approach has always been…it is what it is….and…not much we can do. When I was led to BlackCloak, and learned what you’re doing, I immediately saw the win/win.

Q. How does digital executive protection complement your existing cybersecurity offerings?

A. It complements our service offering by enhancing it. There was a void, and now it is filled.

Q. How are you introducing digital executive protection to your customers? What messages, features or benefits etc. are resonating the most?

A. Our strategy is to bring digital executive protection directly to the level of people who need it the most by meeting one on one with the folks with the highest exposure. We will find out exactly how exposed they are, and present them with the solution. We’ve also begun to build questions into our discovery process to find where digital executive protection may fit.  Finally, we are in the process of working directly w/ BlackCloak to collaborate on SEO and digital marketing efforts to digital executive protection focused campaigns.

Q. What do you think will be the biggest barrier to adoption, either among your customers or companies in general? What would you say to businesses hearing about DEP for the first time?

A. I think the biggest barrier is ‘perceived need’.  There is a lot of press about business-related cybersecurity, hacks, and breaches. But no one hears about individuals who are compromised and how devastating it can be to both the person and the business. I think when we leave the office, we hit a mental switch and mistakenly and subconsciously believe all the threats of cybersecurity stay at the office. When talking to people about DEP, I believe we must focus on the other 12 hours of the day, and their (and their family’s) cyber risk at home.

Partner with BlackCloak for personal cybersecurity and digital privacy protection

We’d like to thank Brian for taking the time to talk with us and for his candor. We look forward to checking back with him on the partnership in a few months. Until then, if you’re interested in learning more about BlackCloak’s Partner Program, read our Partner Guide and visit our Partners Page.