Bringing Layered Defense to WatchGuard Partners 

As cybercriminals continue to evolve and refine their techniques, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) must step up their defense strategies to stay ahead of advanced threats. One essential approach is defense in depth, which adds multiple layers of security with the aim of reducing the impact of an attack—ideally stopping it at the entry point.

With this in mind, the recent integration of Blackpoint Cyber and WatchGuard brings a significant boost to MSP security. Through this collaboration, WatchGuard partners now have access to Blackpoint’s Managed EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response), enabling them to strengthen their cybersecurity posture by combining detection with swift, expert-led response. This integration is particularly crucial in today’s environment, where sophisticated tactics like lateral movement and advanced persistent threats (APTs) are increasingly common.

The concept of defense in depth is more relevant than ever as attackers become more skilled at penetrating single layers of defense. Each additional security layer helps shrink the blast radius of an attack, ideally stopping the intruder before they can move deeper into the network. But the reality is that, even with strong perimeter defenses, some threats manage to slip through. That’s why it’s critical to have systems in place that can detect suspicious activity quickly and respond before significant damage occurs.

According to the 2023 M-Trends Report, the global median dwell time for cyberattacks is 16 days. Sixteen days for an attacker to go undetected within a network—potentially exfiltrating data, planting ransomware, or disrupting critical systems. This highlights the need for not only detection but also fast, effective response.

That’s where Blackpoint Cyber’s Managed EDR comes into play. By integrating with WatchGuard’s suite of tools, Blackpoint offers 24/7 monitoring, threat hunting, and swift response to suspicious activities. The goal is to stop hackers quicker, minimizing the impact of any breach and reducing the time attackers can damage your infrastructure.

While EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) is excellent at identifying suspicious activity at the endpoint level, it often requires a manual response from the in-house security team, which can lead to delays or missed opportunities to stop an attack. In fact, studies show that EDR solutions alone can miss a significant portion of threats, sometimes failing to stop adversary techniques as much as 39% of the time (AttackIQ).

This is why the integration of Blackpoint’s MDR (Managed Detection and Response) with WatchGuard’s EDR is so powerful. MDR provides the additional layer of human expertise needed to analyze and respond to threats in real-time, closing the gap that EDR alone can leave open. Blackpoint’s Security Operations Center (SOC) monitors networks 24/7, providing rapid response to neutralize threats before they can cause widespread damage.

1. Reduced Dwell Time: With Blackpoint’s SOC monitoring environments around the clock, the window of opportunity for attackers is significantly reduced. The faster a threat is identified and neutralized, the smaller the chance of severe damage.
2. Comprehensive Protection: Combining EDR and MDR ensures that not only are threats detected, but they are also acted upon in real-time, providing a proactive defense against advanced tactics like lateral movement.
3. Improved Client Trust: MSPs can now offer a more robust security service, giving their clients peace of mind that their systems are not only monitored but actively defended by cybersecurity professionals.
4. Reduced Alert Fatigue: With Managed EDR, MSPs can avoid the pitfalls of alert fatigue, where too many false positives or low-priority alerts overwhelm their internal teams. Blackpoint’s experts sift through alerts, perform analysis, and ensure only legitimate threats are escalated.

Today, cybercriminals are more adept than ever at bypassing perimeter defenses. While EDR is an essential tool for detecting endpoint-level threats, it’s not enough on its own. The combination of Blackpoint’s MDR with WatchGuard’s EDR provides the necessary depth of defense to stop sophisticated attacks in their tracks and reduce the potential damage.

This integration ensures that MSPs are equipped with the tools and expertise they need to not only detect but also respond to threats in real-time, providing a much-needed layer of defense in a world where every second counts. With Blackpoint responding on your behalf, the blast radius of any attack can be minimized, protecting your clients from significant harm.