Cybersecurity has become one of the top priorities worldwide as the number and complexity of cyber threats continue to increase. In recent years, India has also emerged as a high-risk area for cyber-attacks due to its rapidly growing digital economy. The growing connectivity across the globe has made technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), and Big Data, more vulnerable than before. A recent report states that malicious activities can be seen happening in cyberspace every eighty-four minutes. Human connection has become so widespread that in order to safeguard it in virtual environments, it is essential for technologies and organisations to work together.
In order to keep the virtual network guarded against malicious attacks, companies also need to outsource the services such as firewall protection, intrusion detection, and anti-viral scan, to name a few. The one offering such a service is called managed security service provider (MSSP). Talking about MSSPs, Vijendra Katiyar, Country Manager, India & SAARC, Trend Micro, shared that acquiring the Bengaluru-based company called Anlyz will give them a strong footing in the MSSP market, which is predicted to become a $2.08 billion industry by 2025 in India. “Trend Micro’s go-to-market strategy for 2023 is centered around providing targeted security solutions to our customers, and we have several key initiatives planned in this regard,” said Katiyar.
Some edited excerpts:
Q. What made Trend Micro acquire SOC Technology Expert Anlyz?
Virendra Katiyar: Trend Micro, a leading global cybersecurity solutions provider, has been actively enhancing its products and capabilities to safeguard customers from the increasing risk of cyber-attacks. As part of this approach, the company has acquired Anlyz, a specialist in Security Operations Center (SOC) solutions that enable organizations to detect and respond to cyber threats in real time. Anlyz’s expertise in this field complements Trend Micro’s existing capabilities, such as endpoint and network security, threat intelligence, and cloud security.
The acquisition of Anlyz is a testament to Trend Micro’s commitment to investing in innovation and expanding its capabilities. Trend Micro and Anlyz have been technology partners for more than a year, serving over 30 customers together. The acquisition allows Trend Micro to broaden its SOC offerings and provide customers with a comprehensive range of security solutions. Anlyz’s technology is a “tuck-in” acquisition that integrates strategic technology into Trend Micro’s platform.
Overall, the acquisition of Anlyz is a strategic move by Trend Micro to reinforce its position in the cybersecurity market and offer customers the best possible protection against the ever-evolving threat landscape.
Q. What value does this acquisition bring to your existing customers?
Virendra Katiyar: Trend Micro has acquired Anlyz, a company that focuses on security orchestration and case management, to integrate its capabilities within Trend Micro’s unified cybersecurity platform, Vision One. This acquisition will provide enriched SOC (Security operations center) capabilities for VLE (very large enterprise) customers and offer an inclusive XDR (Extended Detection & Response) solution for mid-market customers. By leveraging Trend Micro with Anlyz, customers will have greater XDR value and the combined offering can simplify the process and technology complexity of running the SOC function within their organizations. The acquisition brings significant value to Trend Micro’s existing customers, providing them with enhanced security solutions and access to additional expertise and support.
Trend Micro also helps existing customers enhance their SOC maturity level by adding more capabilities and by looking at Trend Micro as a consolidation security partner.
Q. Trend Micro’s go-to-market strategy for 2023?
Virendra Katiyar: Trend Micro’s go-to-market strategy for 2023 is centered around providing targeted security solutions to our customers, and we have several key initiatives planned in this regard.
One of our top priorities is to offer our SOC service to mid-size and mid-enterprise customers. This service provides an end-to-end solution for threat detection, incident response, and ongoing monitoring of network infrastructure.
In addition, we are focused on augmenting our Security Operations Center operations for very large enterprises (VL/VLE) customers. Our goal is to work closely with these customers to understand their unique security needs and develop customized solutions that meet their specific requirements. This is in line with our value and motto of providing tailored security solutions to meet the diverse needs of our customers.
Furthermore, we plan to leverage our Trend Micro – Anlyz platform to offer Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) services to our customers. This platform provides advanced threat detection and response capabilities, enabling our customers to stay ahead of evolving security threats. By offering MSSP services, we can provide a comprehensive security solution to our customers and position ourselves as a one-stop shop for their security needs.
Q. What will be the impact of this acquisition on Trend Micro’s India growth strategy?
Virendra Katiyar: The acquisition of Anlyz by Trend Micro is expected to have a beneficial impact on the company’s growth strategy in India. India is a rapidly developing market for cybersecurity solutions, and with the addition of Anlyz, Trend Micro can extend its offerings in this market. For us, it cements India’s stature as one of the top technology hubs in the world, and is also a testament to the bright future of cybersecurity innovation in the country. Here are some potential impacts of the acquisition on Trend Micro’s India growth strategy:
- An increase in its market share in India by tapping into Anlyz’s established presence in the country and expanding its customer base.
- The acquisition of Anlyz provides Trend Micro with access to India’s abundant cybersecurity talent pool, enabling the company to leverage local expertise and support its growth strategy in the region.
- Anlyz’s SOC solutions expertise can enhance Trend Micro’s customer service in India. With real-time threat analysis and response capabilities, the Trend Micro platform can quickly detect and respond to cyber threats, building on the trust and loyalty that Trend Micro has established over the years among its customers.
- The acquisition of Anlyz by Trend Micro will enable the development of an open/hybrid/native XDR (Extended Detection and Response) platform that supports non-Trend Micro products.
By providing customers with the ability to choose from a wider range of security solutions, this platform can increase Trend Micro’s market share in India, where the demand for cybersecurity solutions is rapidly growing. The integration of Anlyz’s SOC solutions expertise with Trend Micro’s security solutions will lead to a more comprehensive and effective security solution for customers in India enabling the company to quickly detect and respond to cyber threats alongside enhancing our customer service in India.
Q. How big is the Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) market in India and its growth drivers?
Virendra Katiyar: The Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) market in India is expected to grow from $885.5 million in 2020 to $2.08 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 18.6% during the forecast period, according to a report by Markets and Markets.
Here are some of the key drivers of growth in the MSSP market in India:
- Expanding attack surface: With the increasing adoption of cloud computing, mobile devices, and the IoT, the traditional approach of relying on perimeter-based security solutions is no longer sufficient. The attack surface has expanded beyond the traditional perimeter to include identity, devices, assets, APIs, apps, and cloud infrastructure. Trend Micro is looking at the Future of MDR to deliver Threat Detection, containment, and mitigation capabilities.
- Increasing cyber threats: Cybersecurity threats are becoming more sophisticated and frequent, and organizations are struggling to keep up. As a result, more organizations are turning to MSSPs to help them stay protected.
- Regulatory compliance: India has introduced several regulations related to data privacy and cybersecurity, including the Personal Data Protection Bill and the Cybersecurity Policy. These regulations are driving demand for MSSPs as organizations seek to comply with these requirements.
- Skill shortage: There is a shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals in India, and this is driving demand for MSSPs. By outsourcing their cybersecurity needs, organizations can access the expertise of specialized providers without having to build their own in-house teams.
- Cost efficiency: Outsourcing cybersecurity to an MSSP can be more cost-effective than building an in-house team. MSSPs can offer economies of scale and access to specialized tools and technologies, which can help organizations to save money while improving their security posture.
Overall, the MSSP market in India is expected to continue growing as organizations seek to address their cybersecurity challenges in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. The increasing adoption of cloud-based technologies and the rise of remote work are also expected to drive demand for MSSPs in India in the coming years.
Q. What will this acquisition mean in your ability to serve the MSSP market?
Virendra Katiyar: Anlyz offers a SOC-as-a-Service solution that enables MSSPs to furnish SOC services to their clientele, while Trend Micro is a prominent player in the cybersecurity industry, offering a comprehensive range of security products and services to enterprises and individuals worldwide. By combining Anlyz’s automation, orchestration, and integration capabilities with our existing Vision One platform, we will create an enhanced platform that provides greater value to our customers and MSSPs. This will lead to increased market opportunities across various segments by delivering:
- A full SOC tech platform for MSSPs
- An inclusive XDR solution for mid-market customers
- Enriched SOC capabilities for very large enterprises (VLE) customers
The acquisition of Anlyz strengthens Trend Micro’s position in the MSSP (Managed security service providers) market by providing a more comprehensive range of solutions, advanced threat detection and response capabilities, better threat intelligence, and access to expertise. This will help Trend Micro to better serve the needs of MSSPs and their customers and to compete more effectively in the MSSP market by providing a more scalable, flexible, and full-featured platform to meet the needs of their clients, regardless of the size and complexity of their IT environments.
Q. Tips for Indian businesses to be future-ready in this evolving cybersecurity threat landscape
Virendra Katiyar: As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, it is important for Indian businesses to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in cybersecurity. Here are some tips from Trend Micro for Indian businesses to be future-ready in this evolving cybersecurity threat landscape:
- Invest in cybersecurity: Cybersecurity should be a top priority for Indian businesses. This means investing in the right tools, technologies, and expertise to protect against cyber threats. It also means building a cybersecurity culture within the organization, where employees are trained to recognize and respond to potential cyber threats.
- Adopt a proactive approach: Given the number of cyber-breach incidents that shook Indian businesses and organisations in recent years, they should take a proactive approach to cybersecurity rather than waiting for a breach to occur before taking action. This means regularly reviewing and updating security policies, conducting regular risk assessments, and testing security measures to ensure they are effective.
- Embrace cloud security: Cloud computing is becoming increasingly popular in India, and businesses need to ensure they have the right security measures in place to protect their data in the cloud. This means adopting a multi-layered approach to security, which includes encryption, access controls, and monitoring.
- Trusted Security Partners: Indian businesses should collaborate with trusted vendors who have a proven record of accomplishment in cybersecurity. This includes Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) who can provide advanced threat detection and response capabilities, as well as advice and support on cybersecurity best practices.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest threats: Indian businesses should stay up-to-date with the latest cybersecurity threats and trends, and adjust their security measures accordingly. This implies regularly monitoring threat intelligence feeds, attending cybersecurity conferences and events, and staying informed about the latest security technologies and best practices.
Overall, businesses in India need to be proactive and stay informed about the latest cybersecurity threats and trends in order to be future-ready in this evolving threat landscape. By investing in the right tools, technologies, and expertise, and collaborating with trusted vendors, businesses can protect themselves against cyber threats and ensure they are prepared for the challenges of the future.
