Huntress & CyberCert to boost SMB cybersecurity in Australia

Huntress has announced a strategic collaboration with CyberCert to boost cybersecurity resilience among small and medium businesses (SMBs) in Australia.

This initiative involves the delivery of the SMB1001 cybersecurity certification standard via the Huntress partner ecosystem. The new standard aims to provide easily accessible and affordable cybersecurity certifications tailored specifically for SMBs.

Reece Appleton, Regional Director APAC at Huntress, and Peter Maynard, Co-Founder and CEO of CyberCert, are leading this partnership. They plan to offer SMB1001 certifications to several Huntress Managed Service Provider (MSP) partners. The SMB1001 certification comes in five tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond, each tier representing an increased alignment with cybersecurity requirements.

The investment from Huntress will enable partners to achieve Gold certification and offer a mixture of Bronze, Silver, and Gold certificates to their customers. This approach is intended to allow partners to demonstrate tangible cybersecurity improvements, fulfilling a critical need for SMBs. Peter Maynard from CyberCert highlighted the unique strengths of the standard, stating, "The SMB1001 CyberCert standard aims to democratise access to cybersecurity standards tailored specifically for SMBs who don't have IT and security experts at their disposal."

Maynard contrasted the SMB1001 certification with more complex and costly options like the ISO/IEC 27001 certification. "Unlike the complex and costly ISO/IEC 27001 certification, we're enabling MSPs to deliver structured cyber resilience and compliance solutions at a fraction of the price, with a managed offering that requires no security expertise and effort," he said. Maynard added that this strategy benefits both MSPs and their customers, providing necessary security enhancements and fostering stronger customer relationships.

Huntress recognised a shortfall in existing cybersecurity frameworks suitable for SMBs. Many partners struggle to align their clients with more complex standards, particularly at scale. Discussing this issue, Appleton explained, "Through Huntress subsidising a number of these certification subscriptions, our partners can take their customers on a cybersecurity improvement journey and provide them with something tangible to prove their cybersecurity posture to the world."

Appleton also pointed to the real-world applicability of the standard as a key differentiator. "Some vendors think that bundling a few products will help MSPs differentiate. I believe partners that can demonstrate value and real cybersecurity outcomes for their customers are the ones who will differentiate, and this partnership will help them do that," he commented.

The success of this initiative is already evident. Michael Gibby, Founder and Managing Director of SEQ IT, one of the early adopters of the Huntress and CyberCert partnership, highlighted its impact on his business. "The CyberCert and Huntress initiative has been instrumental for us in the industry. Not just a badge and a tool; it's a strategic initiative that helps us differentiate ourselves in a crowded market, and especially in scenarios where customers are frustrated with cybersecurity insurance or Essential 8 demands," Gibby remarked.

SEQs testimonial underscores the collaboration's focus on practical, effective, and accessible cybersecurity measures for SMBs without the need for in-depth security expertise. The partnership between Huntress and CyberCert is expected to set a new standard for SMB-specific cybersecurity resilience in Australia.