CharTec Launches Relyenz Security Service for MSPs

Looking to give managed services providers a much-needed hand in delivering security services, CharTec announced the launch of its new Relyenz division, which functions as a value-added distributor for IT security technologies delivered as a cloud service.

CharTec already provides MSP training and hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) offerings to solution providers. The new division extends those efforts into the realm of IT security services and support, said Leonard Dimiceli, vice president of marketing and sales for Relyenz.

“In addition to making it simpler to buy multiple IT security services, we’re providing MSPs with Tier 2 and Tier 3 support,” said Dimiceli. “We deliver everything through our CentralPoint portal.”

Most MSPs these days are hard-pressed to find IT security talent in a space where technology advances are rapid. As a result, MSPs are always faced with transitioning to new IT security technologies that they usually don’t have the internal expertise available to support.

Most MSPs are trying to support multiple IT security products in any given category, which can be costly. Relyenz will significantly lower the cost of switching between IT security products and services for the MSP, Dimiceli said.

As a result of a series of high-profile breaches, the awareness of IT security issues has never been higher. The downside of all that attention, however, is that fact that customers are insisting that MSPs be able to provide higher levels of security to gain or maintain their businesses. That puts the onus on MSPs to find and retain IT security experts that are in very short supply. Via Relyenz, multiple MSPs are effectively sharing the cost of acquiring IT security expertise in a way that doesn’t show up on their balance sheet as a full-time employee.

At this juncture, it’s apparent that MSPs have no choice but to be in the security services business. Time will tell just how they will go about delivering those services.

Michael Vizard has been covering IT issues in the enterprise for more than 25 years as an editor and columnist for publications such as InfoWorld, eWEEK, Baseline, CRN, ComputerWorld and Digital Review.