For a small business, buying cybersecurity tools and proving its defences meet a standard are two different problems. CrowdStrike and CyberCert want Australian and New Zealand security partners to help customers address both.
Announced Oct. 7, the partnership pairs CrowdStrike’s AI-native Falcon platform with CyberCert’s SMB1001 certification services. Managed security services providers (MSSPs) can offer Falcon-powered protection alongside help preparing for certification, creating a potential additional service for smaller customers without dedicated security teams. For a limited time, qualifying MSSPs and SMBs can also receive complimentary SMB1001 certification credits.
Falcon meets a certification framework built for SMBs
SMB1001 is a multi-level cybersecurity certification framework designed for smaller businesses to assess their cybersecurity maturity and strengthen their controls over time.
“SMBs face increasingly sophisticated AI threats without the security resources of the world’s largest enterprises,” said Jon Fox, CrowdStrike’s vice president of channels and alliances for Japan and Asia Pacific, in the company’s Oct. 7 announcement.
CyberCert says SMB1001 is recognised by insurers, enterprises and governments. However, that does not mean every buyer or insurer will accept a given certification level, and the partnership does not guarantee that a business will earn certification.
MSSPs can add certification support to managed security
SecurityBrief reported that the companies are positioning the offering through MSSPs. For providers serving Australian and New Zealand SMBs, it creates a potential way to offer certification readiness alongside day-to-day security management rather than selling software licences alone.
A partner could help customers identify gaps against SMB1001 requirements, support improvements and coordinate certification preparation while delivering Falcon-based services. The announcement does not detail a standard service package or explain how certification responsibilities will be divided.
ANZ partners need answers on cost and delivery
For local MSSPs, the commercial opportunity depends on whether they can turn this combination into a service SMB customers can understand and afford. Before offering it, partners should clarify:
- Costs and credits: Who qualifies for complimentary SMB1001 credits, when the offer ends, and what Falcon licensing and managed services will cost afterward.
- Service responsibilities: Who configures Falcon, monitors alerts, responds to incidents, and helps customers prepare certification evidence.
- Certification requirements: Which SMB1001 level a customer needs, who performs the assessment and whether the intended insurer or enterprise buyer recognises it.
The potential opportunity for MSSPs is to help customers both strengthen their security and document their progress. Service agreements should clearly distinguish ongoing protection from the work required to earn SMB1001 certification.
Also read: Australian partners are also gaining new data protection options. ConnectWise has expanded x360Recover with a local data center, giving APAC MSPs more flexibility over backup storage, recovery, and data residency.