Flashpoint switches on global partner programme

Business risk intelligence vendor seeks UK security-focused partners

Business risk intelligence (BRI) vendor Flashpoint has launched its first global partner programme in a move designed to attract regional security partners, according to CEO Josh Lefkowitz.

Lefkowtiz told CRN that Flashpoint delivers BRI solutions that help end users make informed decisions on how to deal with a range of cyber threats.

The vendor mixes its technology with a team of cybersecurity analysts who scour the deep web for information that can help users make these decisions.

"Historically we've seen that there is a narrow application to cyber-threat intelligence. Overwhelmingly it's reactive, tactical, and a feed of malicious indicators that typically has a unidirectional flow into the SOC and the SIEM," Lefkowitz said.

"With BRI we've elevated it to fuse both the tactical and the strategic to actually drive decision making, which spans far more broadly than cybersecurity and intelligence teams. That is increasingly spanning fraud teams, insider threat teams, physical protection teams - even non-traditional use cases such as cyber M&A due diligence.

"At the heart of our model is an access into corners of the web that are extremely difficult to penetrate, so a very heavy focus on the cyber-criminal underground."

Lefkowitz said that Flashpoint is now in 21 sectors globally, with the financial services market "the most prolific".

The global partner programme has launched with around 50 partners worldwide, and Lefkowitz said the UK focus is to recruit partners with a deep knowledge of the local geography they serve.

He added that Flashpoint is working with a handful of distributors across the UK and EMEA but could not disclose who they are.

"We're focused on two core pillars," he said. "One is our strategic partner network where we are integrating with a range of different technology partners such as Silo Breaker and Anomaly, as well as our global channel programme where we are focused on resellers around the world such as Spire Solutions, WavePort and others to really expand our global reach.

"We've seen a lot of traction in overseas markets where the local partner really understands the intricacies of the buying community and understands their requirements and DNA. We see it as far less of a vendor relationship and more of a partnership and so as we've expanded rapidly from a global footprint, that's where we've been focused."

Flashpoint has received financial backing from a number of high-profile investors, including Cisco, and announced its latest $28m (£21m) round in July.

Lefkowitz said that while the channel is important to the vendor, it will operate alongside a direct business.

"We do a healthy amount of business direct," he said.

"As we think about our global trajectory, having that mix of direct and channel is imperative.

"Historically we had a far heavier direct model, but as our business has grown rapidly and the global opportunity has become more prominent, we recognise the immense value of channel relationships."