ConnectWise's IT Nation, a global community of peers, thought leaders and experts dedicated to elevating the IT ecosystem to new heights, is hosting its annual IT Nation Secure Conference. The event brings together a diverse set of experts from the managed service provider (MSP) community for three impactful days of speakers, sessions and peer networking opportunities focused on unlocking, transforming and expanding upon an organization's cybersecurity posture. IT Nation Secure will be held on June 3-5 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Whether you're just starting to build out your cybersecurity practice or are looking to bolster your existing cybersecurity framework, IT Nation Secure is designed to accommodate MSPs at all stages of their cybersecurity journeys. Content will be available for all maturity levels and roles within the organization, centered around three main tracks:

1. Unlocking the Secrets to Building a Profitable Cybersecurity Practice — Industry experts and successful MSPs will discuss their proven strategies for marketing, sustainable growth and driving profitability.
2. Transforming Your Cybersecurity Business with Cutting-Edge Strategies — Learn how consolidated cybersecurity — especially enhanced by a platform approach, automation and AI — helps to alleviate cybersecurity talent gaps, improves detection and response capabilities, increases visibility, simplifies your service delivery, consolidates security tech stacks, enhances performance and scales in the face of evolving threats.
3. Elevating Your Cybersecurity Expertise with Masterful Best Practices — Gain valuable insights on streamlining your cybersecurity services — from proactive defense to efficient incident management — by harnessing the power of hyperautomation, consolidating and simplifying your cyber tech stack, and implementing industry-leading MSP best practices.

"Cybersecurity challenges continue to rise, fueled by an ever-changing threat landscape," said Gregg Lalle, senior vice president and general manager, IT Nation. "We are committed to empowering MSPs with the necessary technology, services and guidance to effectively combat these cybersecurity threats for both their own organizations and their clients. With IT Nation Secure, we unite the MSP community, fostering connections, sharing best practices and exchanging ideas in the ongoing battle against cyberattacks."

The event will feature exciting keynote speakers and sessions, including:

• Theresa Payton is the first female to serve as White House chief information officer, overseeing IT operations for the president and his staff from 2006 to 2008 during a period of unprecedented technological change and escalating threats.
• Erwin Visser is the general manager of the Cloud Service Provider (CSP) Partner Channel at Microsoft, overseeing business strategy development and marketing execution for CSPs in the Americas region. His role involves enabling SMB and corporate customers to undergo digital transformation by leveraging the extensive network of Microsoft CSP partners.
• Cyber Research Unit is committed to the pursuit of threat hunting and threat intelligence in the realm of cybersecurity. Their mission is to decode the mysteries of cybersecurity and deliver valuable insights to enhance security measures.
• Additional Highlights: Industry thought leaders from Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA, Huntress, Bitdefender, Axcient, accomplished MSPs, cybersecurity innovation announcements and more.

Attendees will have the chance to build out their tech stack by connecting with more than 60 exhibitors offering cybersecurity services and technology. In addition to meeting with members of the ConnectWise team for expert guidance on their cybersecurity journeys, attendees will have the opportunity to learn proven methods and frameworks to help grow and strengthen their cybersecurity business from experts at companies such as Macro Technologies, Thinc Forward, CompTIA and more.

Automation Nation & IT Nation Grow: June 3

IT Nation will also host its quarterly Automation Nation, where MSPs learn how to unleash the power of hyperautomation and AI, and IT Nation Grow (formerly M&A Nation) on June 3, an immersive two-day program is specifically crafted to equip partners with the essential knowledge and skills required to navigate the intricate landscape of mergers and acquisitions. Those events will also be held in Orlando at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center.

If you're interested in learning more about IT Nation Secure, Automation Nation, or Grow Nation, please visit connectwise.com/events.

In other news, ConnectWise has announced new integrations with Microsoft Defender for Business into ConnectWise PSA and ConnectWise RMM. The integrations enable MSPs to fully streamline solutions' operations through the ConnectWise Asio platform. Microsoft Defender for Business brings enterprise-grade endpoint security to SMBs and is available as part of Microsoft 365 Business Premium or as a standalone solution.

The new integration empowers MSPs to deliver cybersecurity services to their small and medium-sized business (SMB) clients through a seamlessly integrated ecosystem. In addition to the previously announced integration of Microsoft Defender for Business into ConnectWise MDR in Fall 2023, this latest integration makes it easier for MSPs to deliver security services at scale to their SMB customers.

ConnectWise envisions a future where MSPs can effortlessly manage and respond to security incidents while streamlining their workflows and enhancing client protection. The integration of Microsoft Defender for Business into ConnectWise RMM and PSA brings this vision to life, offering a range of benefits, including:

• Automated Critical Workflows: The integrations allow partners to generate and synchronize tickets between Microsoft Defender for Business incidents and ConnectWise PSA and RMM, enabling a swift and coordinated response to security incidents. This automation eliminates manual processes and ensures efficient incident management.
• Data Sync: Microsoft Defender for Business incidents and Vulnerability Management security recommendations will seamlessly integrate into ConnectWise PSA, enabling partners who already utilize PSA for end-to-end business management, improved processes, intuitive billing and insights to create better visibility to drive faster business decisions.
• Ease of Deployment: Simplifying Microsoft Defender for Business across client networks directly from PSA and RMM enhances proactive defense. This ensures consistent endpoint protection and reduces the risk of security gaps, providing peace of mind for IT service providers and SMBs.
• Single Pane of Glass: View Microsoft Defender for Business Vulnerability Management in all clients' accounts from a single dashboard in ConnectWise RMM by automatically creating a ticket.

The PSA and RMM integrations build upon the previously announced ConnectWise Managed Detection and Response (MDR) integration with Microsoft Defender for Business, which provides 24/7 support from an MSP-focused dedicated security operations center (SOC), automated threat detection, backed by a highly skilled team of security analysts. The combination of Microsoft's threat intelligence with ConnectWise Cyber Research Unit (CRU), which focuses on MSPs and SMBs, ensures enhanced protection and makes this integration unique.

By eliminating friction and centralizing security management within Asio, ConnectWise empowers its partners to deliver a superior level of service to SMBs, while confidently navigating today's ever-evolving threat landscape. The integrations of Microsoft Defender for Business, which now include ConnectWise Asio, RMM and PSA, enable MSPs to automate threat response, achieve unified management and establish proactive defense measures.

"Our collaboration with Microsoft has been instrumental in driving remarkable advancements in enhancing the partner experience and cyber protection," said Ameer Karim, executive vice president and general manager for cybersecurity and data protection, ConnectWise. "This integration exemplifies our dedication to streamlining business operations. By combining Microsoft Defender for Business with ConnectWise RMM, and PSA through Asio, we are advancing our mission to equip partners with the tools needed for exceptional cybersecurity services. Together, we empower the IT ecosystem to protect SMBs more efficiently and effectively."

"The new ConnectWise integrations with Microsoft Defender for Business and Microsoft 365 Business Premium will help MSPs easily implement and scale security services that small-business customers need to protect themselves from the latest threats," said Rob Lefferts, corporate vice president, Microsoft Threat Protection.