Fortra has published the findings from its inaugural 2024 Fortra State of Cybersecurity Survey. The research uncovers the challenges security professionals have faced over the past year, as well as what they plan to focus on next as they continue to embrace digital transformation, new hybrid infrastructure, and tackle a challenging security landscape.
Hybrid Environments Lead to Disparate Challenges and Priorities
The survey found that most organizations anticipate phishing (81%), malware and ransomware (76%), and accidental data loss (63%) will be the top security risks over the next six months, followed by social engineering (55%) and third-party risks (52%).
To address these threats, security professionals’ top five cybersecurity initiatives for this year are: limiting outsider threats (such as phishing and malware) (74%), finding and closing security gaps (73%), improving security culture (66%), securing the cloud (63%), and compliance (62%).
64% of respondents in Fortra’s survey reported having a hybrid environment, while 19% were cloud-first, and 12% were cloud-only. The 6% who said they had no plans to move to cloud cited security concerns as the reason to not make the jump (77%).
Skill Shortages and the Increasing Role of Managed Security Services
The research also explored the hurdles hindering the execution of security strategies, with budget limitations (54%), the constantly changing nature of threats (45%), and lack of security skills (45%) topping the list. In addition, the survey revealed that while everyone is seeking to implement principles of zero trust, a quarter said they aren’t planning to due to insufficient resources.
Many organizations are aware that upskilling needs to occur to strengthen their security position, with 67% saying they are focusing on improving the skills of their staff. Organizations are also leaning into managed security services to offload some of the weight. The most popular areas to offload being: email security and anti-phishing (58%), vulnerability management (52%), data protection (51%), and compliance (40%).
Report Methodology/Respondent Profile
The 2024 Fortra State of Cybersecurity Survey canvassed opinions from over 400 security professionals within 40 different industries across the U.S., Europe, Canada, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia, and New Zealand. It provides an essential industry temperature check at a criticaljuncture in organizations’ digital transformation journeys, whereby leaders are planning security for their new hybrid infrastructure that meets the productivity needs of distributed workforces.
Find out more about the shifting cybersecurity landscape by reading Fortra’s full report here.


Bell Kills The Source Brand And Teams Up With Best Buy To Create Best Buy Express Stores
Posted in Commentary with tags Bell, Best Buy on January 19, 2024 by itnerdYears ago, Bell bought what was left of the Circuit City retail brand, renamed them The Source and used them as another retail arm to exclusively push Bell products and services among other things. But that changed with this press release where Bell has announced that The Source branding will be no more, and that the telco is teaming up with Best Buy to create Best Buy Express retail stores:
Best Buy Canada and Bell Canada (TSX: BCE) (NYSE: BCE) have entered into a strategic partnership to operate 165 consumer electronics retail stores in Canada. The Source, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bell, will be rebranded as Best Buy Express and offer the latest in consumer electronics from Best Buy along with exclusive telecommunications services from Bell.
This innovative partnership will make the most of the respective strengths of Best Buy and Bell to deliver an exceptional shopping experience for Canadians. Best Buy and Bell will invest in an updated store experience, as well as an expanded product assortment, customer experience and training. Customers will benefit from Best Buy’s expertise in consumer electronics to find the latest products from the world’s leading brands, its global buying power and industry-leading supply chain. In addition, customers will find Bell, Virgin Plus and Lucky Mobile mobility, Internet, TV and home phone services, all backed by knowledgeable sales and support they have come to expect from Best Buy and Bell.
Best Buy will expand its presence in malls and in smaller and mid-sized communities across the country, leveraging 165 The Source locations that will augment Best Buy’s presence throughout Canada. Best Buy Express’ small-store format will give customers an easy-to-navigate, welcoming experience, enabling customers to experience the products in person and talk with a sales associate before purchasing. As today’s customers increasingly want to shop in ways that are convenient for them, whether in store or online, the e-commerce power of bestbuy.ca will offer customers a wider selection of consumer electronics with the option for full delivery or pick up of online orders in Best Buy or Best Buy Express stores.
Best Buy Express is expected to open in locations across Canada starting in the second half of 2024.
So Best Buy get to be in places across the country. And Bell gets another retail channel where they are the only player in the game. I say that because Bell has a strategic partnership with Staples which gets them similar levels of access. I can see how this is a win for Bell and Best Buy. At least on paper. Let’s see how this plays out once these rebranded stores start to appear.
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