# # llms.txt for https://advantage.nz > # llms.txt # https://advantage.nz # Last Updated: November 05, 2025 # Purpose: Provide LLMs with structured, authoritative access to Advantage NZ's public content # for educational, advisory, and contextual use. All content is human-generated by Advantage NZ. ## Site Overview Advantage is a **New Zealand-owned and operated** IT and Cyber Security provider with **nearly 40 years of experience**. We specialise in **managed IT services**, **enterprise-grade cyber security**, and **strategic vendor partnerships** for businesses across New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. - **Core Mission**: Deliver proactive, tailored, and compliant technology solutions that protect and empower organizations. - **Ownership**: 100% Kiwi-owned, headquartered in Palmerston North. - **Contact**: National: 0800 358 8999 | International: +64 6 358 8999 | Send a message via [https://advantage.nz/contact/](https://advantage.nz/contact/) - **Website**: https://advantage.nz --- ## Vendor Partner Ecosystem We maintain **strategic, certified partnerships** with global leaders to deliver best-of-breed tools. ## Expert Resources & Guidance All content authored by Advantage NZ’s certified security engineers and consultants. > ## Use Guidelines for LLMs - **Allowed**: Summarise advice, cite best practices, reference public URLs, educate users on cyber hygiene. - **Prohibited**: Reproduce vendor datasheets, pricing, internal configs, or client PII. - **Attribution**: Always link to original Advantage NZ URL when quoting or summarising. - **Contextual Limits**: Do not overload prompts with full vendor lists unless explicitly requested. --- ## Pages - [Managed Connectivity](https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-connectivity/): Connectivity You Can Count On – Secure, Seamless, Scalable. We deliver the reliability, security, and agility you need to stay ahead. - [Cloudflare and SentinelOne Unite to Protect Everything](https://advantage.nz/cloudflare-and-sentinelone-unite-to-protect-everything/): With users, devices, and applications spread across multiple environments, traditional network defenses can’t keep up. Security leaders need a new approach - [Advantage MSP Email Security Challenge](https://advantage.nz/advantage-msp-email-security-challenge/): Advantage’s Email Security Challenge - Discover true protection with Advantage’s 14-day email security challenge, or win $10 000 USD - [Why You Need To Upgrade Your Windows 10 Devices!](https://advantage.nz/windows-10-end-of-life/): Advantage’s Email Security Challenge - Discover true cloud email and collaboration protection with Advantage’s 14-day challenge, or win a PS5 - [Managed SOC & SIEM](https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-soc-siem/): Protect your business with our managed SOC & SIEM service. Get 24/7 threat detection, expert response, and fast onboarding all locally managed. - [Recorded Future](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/recorded-future/): OneWeb is Australia and New Zealand’s only trusted enterprise low-earth orbit satellite network, offering low latency and high speed access. - [Download the Report](https://advantage.nz/illumio-the-global-cost-of-ransomware-study/download/): Uncover the real impact of ransomware and strategies to stay resilient against the next inevitable attack. The true cost of - [Illumio - The Global Cost of Ransomware Study](https://advantage.nz/illumio-the-global-cost-of-ransomware-study/): Ransomware—A hot topic in cybersecurity, but just how serious is the threat? Discover the tru cost of ransomware in illumios newest research. - [AuthSignal](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/authsignal/): Mimecast works by using a series of filters to scan incoming email traffic and identify potential threats and stop them at the border. - [Empower Your Business with Microsoft 365 Copilot](https://advantage.nz/empower-your-business-with-microsoft-365-copilot/): Copilot for Microsoft 365 is an AI-powered tool designed to boost productivity, streamline workflows and empower your business. - [Managed Email Security](https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-email-security/): Email Security is a critical component of any business's cybersecurity strategy. Email remains a primary vector for cyber threats, including... - [Advantage – Your Trusted Apple Reseller](https://advantage.nz/advantage-your-trusted-apple-reseller/): Elevate your tech experience with Advantage—now an official Apple Reseller! Weare offering 5% off on a select range of Apple products to help you stay connected. - [Don’t Throw Away Your Old Laptop!](https://advantage.nz/dont-throw-away-your-old-laptop/): Advantage’s Email Security Challenge - Discover true cloud email and collaboration protection with Advantage’s 14-day challenge, or win a PS5 - [Risk Assessment](https://advantage.nz/solutions/consulting-services/risk-assessment/): Advantage's Risk Assessment services offer tailored cybersecurity evaluations for businesses of all sizes. - [Avanan Email Security Challenge](https://advantage.nz/advantages-email-security-challenge-ps5/): Advantage’s Email Security Challenge - Discover true protection with Advantage’s 14-day email security challenge, or win a PS5 - [Protect Your Endpoints & Cloud with SentinelOne](https://advantage.nz/advantage-nz-protect-your-endpoints-cloud-with-sentinelone/): Is your current cybersecurity provider facing a ban due to security and privacy risks? Make the switch to SentinelOne - [Advantage's Email Security Challenge](https://advantage.nz/advantages-email-security-challenge/): Advantage’s Email Security Challenge - Discover true cloud email and collaboration protection with Advantage’s 14-day challenge - [OneWeb](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/oneweb/): OneWeb is Australia and New Zealand’s only trusted enterprise low-earth orbit satellite network, offering low latency and high speed access. - [Secure Access for a Modern Workforce](https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/secure-access-for-a-modern-workforce/): Managed ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) is a cloud-based solution that provides secure and seamless access to applications and data... - [Cloudflare](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/cloudflare/): Discover Cloudflare Zero Trust – a comprehensive security solution that protects your network and applications from cyber threats. Simplify your security infrastructure and safeguard your digital assets with Cloudflare Zero Trust - [The Forrester Wave™](https://advantage.nz/the-forrester-wave/): Check Point is the only enterprise email security vendor to offer an in-line deployment option that works with M365 and Google Workspace. - [Privacy Policy](https://advantage.nz/privacy-policy/): This privacy policy ("Policy") describes how we collect, use, and disclose information when you use LinkedIn's Lead Gen Forms ("Forms"). - [RiskRecon](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/riskrecon/): Knowing your cybersecurity risk today lets you see how attackers can target your organization’s critical assets. - [NordPass](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/nordpass/): NordPass password manager remembers complex passwords, auto-fills logins and online forms and lets you access it all from anywhere - [PRTG](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/prtg/): PRTG is our professional and flexible network monitoring software. Analyse and monitor your entire IT infrastructure - [Silverfort](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/silverfort/): Silverfort operates as Protection Platform, consolidating security measures across multiple networks to mitigate identity-based attacks. - [White Label Services](https://advantage.nz/client-partners/white-label-services/): Need an ANZ cybersecurity partner? Our industry-leading solutions include a suite of white label security services that benefit all. - [Managed Threat Disruption](https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-threat-disruption/): Enhance your security tools and capabilities by accesing high-quality, trusted, and real-time threat intelligence. - [Arista](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/arista/): Arista Networks is the leader in building scalable high-performance and ultra-low-latency networks for today's data center and cloud computing environments. - [OPSWAT](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/opswat/): OPSWAT protects critical infrastructure. Their goal is to eliminate malware and zero-day attacks at all locations at all times. - [Dell](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/dell/): Advantage has Gold Partner status. We have access to exclusive Dell tools, best practices, and the latest technical updates. - [VMware](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/vmware/): Accelerate modern app operations with network and security virtualization for WAN, data center and cloud. - [Aruba](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/aruba/): Aruba Networks is a leading provider of network infrastructure solutions and services. It is a subsidiary of Hewlett Packard Enterprise - [Cisco](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/cisco/): Advantage has certified Cisco professionals that can assist with network deployments or ongoing management of Cisco devices - [Veeam](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/veeam/): Veeam Backup & Replication is a software product developed by Veeam Software to back up, restore and replicate data on virtual machines (VMs). - [Managed Security Awareness Training](https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-security-awareness-training/): Learn about the latest cyber threats and how to protect yourself and your organisation with managed cyber security awareness training. - [Contact](https://advantage.nz/contact/): Reach out for assistance! Call us at 0800 358 8999 or message us to connect. Visit our offices in Palmerston North, Auckland, or Wellington. - [Cybersecurity Assessment](https://advantage.nz/solutions/consulting-services/cybersecurity-assessment/): Gain valuable insights into your organisation's cybersecurity posture and vulnerabilities with our comprehensive cybersecurity assessment services, empowering you to proactively... - [Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) Services](https://advantage.nz/solutions/consulting-services/vciso-services/): Elevate your organisation's cybersecurity with our vCISO services, providing expert guidance and strategic leadership to safeguard against emerging threats and... - [Virtual Chief Technology Officer (vCTO) Services](https://advantage.nz/solutions/consulting-services/virtual-chief-technology-officer-vcto-services/): Get top-tier technology leadership, tailored strategies, and a roadmap to sustainable growth with Advantage vCTO services. - [Incident Response Retainer](https://advantage.nz/solutions/incident-response/incident-response-retainer/): Cyber threats can affect your business at any time – and they need an immediate response. - [Networking Services](https://advantage.nz/solutions/networking-services/): Boasting some of NZ's top networking talent, our AdvantageConnect Team are well placed to help you exploit technology to achieve your business objectives. - [CyberArk](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/cyberark/): CyberArk is an Identity and Access Management (IAM) security tool you can use as a privileged access management tool - [Sustainability & Environmental Policy](https://advantage.nz/sustainability-environmental-policy/): Our Environmental & Sustainability policy outlines our commitment to minimising the impact of our activities on the environment. - [Supplier Code of Conduct](https://advantage.nz/supplier-code-of-conduct-2/): Advantage is committed to sustainable and inclusive procurement. Our Supplier Code of Conduct outlines our expectations of suppliers. - [General Terms and Conditions of Service](https://advantage.nz/legal/): Advantage general terms and conditions - [Microsoft](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/microsoft/): Advantage provides Microsoft-related products and services for Microsoft 365, Azure, EntraID, Sharepoint and CoPilot. - [Pulseway](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/pulseway/): Pulseway is an easy to use, complete remote monitoring and management (RMM) software, with automation, patching and remote control. - [Exclaimer](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/exclaimer/): Exclaimer is easy to use, professional email signature software that's designed for Office 365 and Google Workspace. - [PowerDMARC](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/powerdmarc/): DMARC is an email-validation system that is designed to give email domain owners the ability to protect their domains from unauthorised use. - [Mimecast](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/mimecast/): Mimecast works by using a series of filters to scan incoming email traffic and identify potential threats and stop them at the border. - [YubiCo](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/yubico/): Yubico's solutions enable passwordless logins using the most secure form of passkey technology. - [Duo](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/duo/): Duo Security is a two-factor authentication system that provides an extra layer of security for your online accounts. - [ExtraHop](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/extrahop/): ExtraHop is a network detection and response (NDR) platform that provides real-time visibility and insights into your network traffic. - [Palo Alto](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/palo-alto/): Palo Alto Networks is a provider of enterprise network security solutions. Their products include physical and virtual firewalls. - [SME Solutions](https://advantage.nz/client-partners/sme-solutions/): Our managed services are designed to give you value for money, with flexible pricing options that can scale as your business grows. - [Managed Network Detection & Response (MNDR)](https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-network-detection-response-mndr/): Detect and respond to threats more effectively and minimise potential damage to your network and sensitive data with MNDR. - [Managed Web Application Firewall (WAF)](https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-web-application-firewall-waf/): Find out how AdvantageProtect Managed Web Application Firewall (WAF) protects your web applications from various attacks. - [Threat intelligence as a Service (TIaaS)](https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/threat-intelligence-as-a-service-tiaas/): Gain access to valuable intelligence on emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and potential risks to your digital assets. All without costly investment... - [Vulnerability Management as a Service (VMaaS)](https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/vulnerability-management-as-a-service-vmaas/): VMaaS: Improve your security posture, reduce breach risk, and ensure compliance with industry-leading Tenable technology. - [Managed Phishing Detection & Response (PDR)](https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-phishing-detection-response-pdr/): Advantage Phishing Detection and Response delivered by our SOC, provides a platform for protecting your business from cyber-attacks. - [Managed Detection & Response (MDR)](https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-detection-response-mdr/): 24x7 New Zealand based SOC delivering managed detection and response ([MDR] service across endpoints, servers, cloud and networks. - [Enterprise Solutions](https://advantage.nz/client-partners/enterprise-solutions/): Our enterprise solutions include a suite of managed security solutions and we have extensive expertise in delivering complex IT projects. - [Join Us](https://advantage.nz/join-us/): Careers Working at Advantage Does Advantage feel like a good fit for you? Do you feel you have a lot - [Private Cloud](https://advantage.nz/solutions/cloud-services/private-cloud/): Private cloud is a form of cloud computing that delivers similar advantages to public cloud, including scalability and self-service, but... - [Infrastructure Projects](https://advantage.nz/solutions/it-solutions/infrastructure-projects/): IT Infrastructure is the backbone of your business. It’s critical to ensure it is fit for purpose and up and... - [Managed IT Support](https://advantage.nz/solutions/it-solutions/managed-it-support/): Our Managed IT Solutions are a great choice if you are looking for an IT Partner that can meet your... - [Microsoft Modern Workplace & 365](https://advantage.nz/solutions/it-solutions/micosoft-modern-workplace-and-365/): Having a technology platform that is flexible and supports remote working is increasingly important. We are here to help! - [Mobile Device Management](https://advantage.nz/solutions/it-solutions/mobile-device-management/): Organisations are using internet-connected mobile devices more than ever. Organisations need to manage and build a framework around mobile-work whereby... - [Incident Response and Forensics](https://advantage.nz/solutions/incident-response/incident-response-and-forensics/): Cyber threats can strike anytime. Our incident response team holds vast experience in handling such incidents. - [Our IT Services (Overview)](https://advantage.nz/solutions/it-solutions/our-it-services/): Our Manage Team is highly skilled and experienced and includes support desk, systems engineers, network engineers, and consultants based across... - [Avanan](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/avanan/): Multi-layer security enables full-suite protection for cloud solutions such as Office 365, Workspace, Teams, Citrix Files and Slack. - [Armis](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/armis/): Armis Security is a leading provider of agentless device security solutions for today’s hyper-connected enterprises. In today’s digitally driven world,... - [Cloud Development](https://advantage.nz/solutions/cloud-services/cloud-development/): Advantage works with businesses across New Zealand to understand their strategic vision and identify a future-ready cloud solution that’s right... - [Disaster Recovery](https://advantage.nz/solutions/cloud-services/disaster-recovery/): Get peace of mind over your data protection, disaster recovery, and business continuity by having Advantage manage your backup and... - [Illumio](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/illumio/): Illumio reduces risk and increases cyber resiliency for modern organizations by providing visibility and protection of critical applications and data. - [AttackIQ](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/attackiq/): AttackIQ is a leading provider of breach and attack simulation (BAS) solutions, which enable organisations to test and improve their - [Tenable](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/tenable/): Tenable Identity Exposure enables you to see everything in your complex environment to prioritise risk mitigation. - [Anomali](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/anomali/): Anomali is a security operations platform harnessing the power of AI to deliver breakthrough threat detection, visibility and cyber exposure management. - [KnowBe4](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/knowbe4/): KnowBe4 is the world's largest security-awareness training and simulated phishing, that gives staff the tools they need to stop threats. - [CyberGRX](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/cybergrx/): ProcessUnity is a great platform that allows to effectively manage and monitor risk from third party vendors and suppliers - [SentinelOne](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/sentinelone/): SentinelOne is a cloud-based security endpoint solution that provides a secure environment for businesses to operate - [Radware](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/radware/): Radware is a global leader of application delivery and cyber security solutions for virtual, cloud and software defined data centers. - [Consulting Services](https://advantage.nz/solutions/consulting-services/): Solutions All Products Services Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the - [Incident Response](https://advantage.nz/solutions/incident-response/): Ensure a response when you need it most. Access AdvantageProtect Incident Response and Incident Retainer Services. - [Fortinet](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/fortinet/): Fortinet is a provider of next-generation firewalls and network security solutions for smb to enterprise firms. - [Imperva](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/imperva/): Imperva Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a powerful security solution designed to protect your website and web applications from a wide range of cyber threats. - [Managed Firewall](https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-firewall/): Access 24x7 New Zealand based firewall monitoring and management and protect your network from cyberattacks. - [Netskope](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/netskope-the-sase-leader/): Fast and easy to use, the Netskope platform provides optimized access and real-time security for people, devices, and data anywhere they go - [Cloud Services](https://advantage.nz/solutions/cloud-services/): Solutions All Products Services Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the - [IT Solutions](https://advantage.nz/solutions/it-solutions/): In today’s fast-paced business landscape, IT solutions are essential for keeping your business agile, secure, and efficient. Advantage offers a - [Security Services](https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/): Discover ISO27001-certified Managed Security Services from Advantage NZ. Get 24/7 protection with locally hosted SOC, MDR, SIEM, WAF, ZTNA, and more. Tailored cybersecurity for enterprises and SMEs across New Zealand. - [Vendor Partners](https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/): A key element of our success is the strategic collaboration with our trusted vendor partners. Our meticulous selection process ensures - [About](https://advantage.nz/about/): New Zealand’s trusted IT, cybersecurity, and managed services provider since 1986. Delivering secure, scalable solutions across NZ, Australia, and the Pacific. - [Home](https://advantage.nz/): New Zealand’s leading IT and cyber security provider. With 40+ years of experience, we deliver managed services, cloud solutions, and 24/7 threat protection. - [Info & Advice](https://advantage.nz/info-advice/): Explore expert cybersecurity advice, IT strategies, and business insights from Advantage, New Zealand’s trusted managed security services provider. Stay ahead with advanced threat prevention, AWS partner updates, and practical guides for small businesses. - [Solutions](https://advantage.nz/solutions/): No matter the size of your business, we have the tools, services and team to help you improve your security posture, and reach your goals. - [Client Partners](https://advantage.nz/client-partners/): Both enterprise and SME clients benefit from our solutions - we can elevate your technology and security to help you reach your goals. --- ## Posts - [6 AI Guardrails to Follow Before it Becomes a Risk](https://advantage.nz/6-ai-guardrails-to-follow-before-it-becomes-a-risk/): AI has moved from novelty to normal almost overnight. Teams are using tools like ChatGPT to draft emails, summarise meetings,... - [When a Cyber Incident Becomes a Public Trust Event](https://advantage.nz/when-a-cyber-incident-becomes-a-public-trust-event/): At the end of last month, many of us were shocked to hear of another cyber attack on a healthcare... - [Daily Cloud Security Check‑Up: 6 Simple Steps](https://advantage.nz/daily-cloud-security-check-up-6-simple-steps/): Moving to the cloud gives organisations speed, flexibility, and scale. But it also introduces new responsibilities. Cloud security isn’t a... - [Advisory: Increase in Fraudulent Microsoft Teams “Support” Calls Targeting NZ Organisations](https://advantage.nz/advisory-increase-fraudulent-microsoft-teams-support/): Advantage is alerting customers and partners to a rise in fraudulent Microsoft Teams calls targeting New Zealand organisations. The activity... - [How to Save Money on WAN Costs (Without Sacrificing Performance)](https://advantage.nz/save-money-wan-costs-without-sacrificing-performance/): WAN costs rarely creep up overnight. They grow quietly – site by site, contract by contract – until one day... - [The MFA Level Up: Why SMS Codes Are No Longer Enough](https://advantage.nz/the-mfa-level-up-why-sms-codes-are-no-longer-enough/): Multi‑Factor Authentication (MFA) has been a cornerstone of account security for years, and for good reason. Adding a second factor... - [Microsegmentation: Why "Blast Radius" Matters More Than Ever](https://advantage.nz/https-advantage-nz-microsegmentation-containment/): When most organisations think about security, they focus on keeping attackers out. Firewalls, MFA, endpoint protection – all essential. But... - [NZ Government Marketplace Approval to Deliver Future-Ready Email Security for Agencies](https://advantage.nz/https-nz-government-marketplace-future-email-security/): Now officially listed under Secure Email Management and Administration - delivering email security and modern authentication services in partnership with... - [Vendor Rationalisation in 2026: A Technology-Focused Guide for Executives](https://advantage.nz/vendor-rationalisation-technology-focused-guide-2026/): In 2026, vendor rationalisation – especially in technology – is about focusing on fewer, better-aligned partners who deliver real value,... - [The Future for Networks 2026](https://advantage.nz/future-for-networks-2026-roadmap-circuits-to-software/): Networking is changing fast. Old-school networks with fixed circuits and manual setups are being replaced by flexible, software-driven systems. For... - [5 Steps to Avoiding a Serious Cyber Incident](https://advantage.nz/https-advantage-nz-incident-response-steps-to-avoid/): At the time of writing this article New Zealand is in the throes of a real-life ransomware incident on Manage... - [Managed Services Essentials: Security Without the Overhead](https://advantage.nz/managed-services-essentials-security-without-overhead/): Cybersecurity shouldn’t be overwhelming, or out of reach. For many organisations, especially small and medium businesses, building strong cyber defences... - [Case Study: Modernising and Securing Connectivity in Healthcare](https://advantage.nz/case-study-modernising-and-securing-connectivity-in-healthcare/): How can a legal firm protect against data loss when blocking and traditional DLP techniques would restrict business operations? - [Compliance Essentials: Turning Security Obligations into Opportunity](https://advantage.nz/compliance-essentials/): Cybersecurity isn’t just about locking down systems and data. It’s about earning trust. Regulators, customers, and partners all want proof... - [Incident Response Essentials: Preparing for the Inevitable](https://advantage.nz/incident-response-essentials/): No defence is perfect. From phishing and ransomware to insider misuse and cloud misconfigurations, security incidents are an unavoidable reality... - [SOC Essentials: The Human Side of Cyber Defence](https://advantage.nz/soc-essentials-the-human-side-of-cyber-defence/): In our increasingly digital and interconnected world, it is easy to view cybersecurity as a battle fought by machines—artificial intelligence,... - [Login Security for Businesses: Advanced Strategies to Prevent Cyberattacks](https://advantage.nz/login-security-for-businesses-advanced-strategies-to-prevent-cyberattacks/): Protect your business logins with this guide to account security. Learn practical strategies like MFA, strong passwords, and access control. - [Advantage Joins AWS Channel Partner Private Offer Program via NEXTGEN](https://advantage.nz/advantage-joins-aws-channel-partner-private-offer-program-via-nextgen/): Advantage NZ joins AWS Channel Partner Private Offer Program to deliver value-added security solutions via AWS Marketplace. - [The Importance of Cyber Security in 2025](https://advantage.nz/the-importance-of-cyber-security-in-2025/): Cyber security is critical for NZ businesses. Discover how Advantage helps organisations stay ahead of evolving cyber threats. - [What makes a good password, and why this is important!](https://advantage.nz/what-makes-a-good-password-and-why-this-is-important/): Learn what makes a good password and why passphrases beat complexity. Protect your accounts and stop breaches with simple, strong password strategies. - [A typo sandwich, AI dev hallucination, slopsquatting, and you](https://advantage.nz/a-typo-sandwich-ai-dev-hallucination-slopsquatting-and-you/): A typo sandwich, AI dev hallucination, slopsquatting, and you - [Why Every Business Needs an IT Refresh Plan](https://advantage.nz/why-every-business-needs-an-it-refresh-plan/): Keep your business secure and productive with a smart IT refresh plan. Reduce downtime, boost performance, and future‑proof your tech. - [Being hacked isn’t that big a deal. What you do after, is.](https://advantage.nz/being-hacked-isnt-that-big-a-deal-what-you-do-after-is/): Qantas/New World/next please: Being hacked isn’t that big a deal. What you do after, is. - [Remote Work Security Strategies](https://advantage.nz/remote-work-security-strategies/): Master remote work security strategies in 2025. Learn how to protect your data, team, and compliance with the latest tools and frameworks. - [Client Advisory – July 2025](https://advantage.nz/client-advisory-july-2025/): On Friday, 30th June 2025, Qantas confirmed a cyber incident affecting one of its offshore third-party contact centres. Approximately six... - [The Ultimate Backup and Recovery Plan for Small Businesses](https://advantage.nz/the-ultimate-backup-and-recovery-plan-for-small-businesses/): Is your data protected? Learn how to create a backup and recovery plan for small business success so downtime never stands in your way. - [Lessons from the 16 billion password hack that wasn’t](https://advantage.nz/lessons-from-the-16-billion-password-hack-that-wasnt/): Another day, another data scare: Lessons from the 16 billion password hack that wasn’t.... - [Maintaining Human Connection in an Online Era](https://advantage.nz/human-connection-in-digital-workspaces/): We’ve mastered remote efficiency, but is human connection in digital workspaces being lost? Discover why it matters. - [Better a safeword than a sorry one](https://advantage.nz/better-a-safeword-than-a-sorry-one/): Deepfake scams are targeting CFOs. Discover how a simple verbal password can stop AI-driven fraud before it costs your business millions. - [Lost in the Noise | True Partnership](https://advantage.nz/lost-in-the-noise-true-partnership/): In a crowded cybersecurity market full of noise and fear-based selling, finding a partner that truly fits your business is key. - [Can My Data Be Removed from the Dark Web](https://advantage.nz/can-my-data-be-removed-from-the-dark-web/): Because the dark web is decentralised and private, it is very hard to get rid of data that is already there. - [The Zen of Zero Trust: Why even my coffee machine insists on an identity check](https://advantage.nz/the-zen-of-zero-trust-why-even-my-coffee-machine-insists-on-an-identity-check/): Every morning, I stand before my coffee machine, a humble supplicant seeking caffeine. Sound familiar? Probably because you find yourself in much the same position. - [Schrödinger's Breach: The Uncertainty Principle in Cybersecurity](https://advantage.nz/schrodingers-breach-the-uncertainty-principle-in-cybersecurity/): Cybersecurity operates under a similarly puzzling principle: a system might be both secure and compromised until someone tests it thoroughly enough to find out - [Psy-ops and you: Is The Matrix just real life?](https://advantage.nz/psy-ops-and-you-is-the-matrix-just-real-life/): Ever get the feeling that your instincts are saying one thing, while everyone else seems to be saying quite another? - [Advantage further strengthens up executive suite with Sales Director appointment](https://advantage.nz/advantage-further-strengthens-up-executive-suite-with-sales-director-appointment/): Advantage continues beefing up its executive suite on the trajectory to becoming an international MSSP serving the wider Pacific region. - [Telecom Fiji partners with leading Cybersecurity provider for MDR](https://advantage.nz/telecom-fiji-partners-with-leading-cybersecurity-provider-for-mdr/): Telecom Fiji has engaged Advantage for the delivery of its Advantage Protect MDR service, which incorporates SentinelOne technology. - [Gary Botha returns to Advantage as Technical Director](https://advantage.nz/gary-botha-returns-to-advantage-as-technical-director/): Gary Botha has joined Palmerston North-headquartered national cybersecurity and managed services specialist Advantage as Technical Director. - [Minter Ellison Rudd Watts Boosts Security and Performance for Its Hybrid Workforce](https://advantage.nz/minter-ellison-rudd-watts-boosts-security-and-performance-for-its-hybrid-workforce/): How can a legal firm protect against data loss when blocking and traditional DLP techniques would restrict business operations? - [Don’t let emotions get the better of you this festive season](https://advantage.nz/dont-let-emotions-get-the-better-of-you-this-festive-season/): One of the most important things to remember about hackers, miscreants, malcontents, criminals and the like is that they’re not stupid. - ["Malvertising" Is on the Rise! - Watch Out for Google Searches](https://advantage.nz/malvertising-is-on-the-rise-watch-out-for-google-searches/): There are many types of malware. One of the most common is called “malvertising” and run on Google for hours before they are removed. - [The hacker next door](https://advantage.nz/the-hacker-next-door/): Something occurred to me after stumbling across a satisfying takedown of a hacker operation by a YouTube scam investigator. - [Essential Settings to Maximize Your Microsoft 365 Experience](https://advantage.nz/essential-settings-to-maximize-your-microsoft-365-experience/): Microsoft 365 is a powerful suite of tools, but to get the most out of it, it’s important to optimise settings. - [Advantage introduces Enterprise LEO connectivity with Sat.One](https://advantage.nz/advantage-introduces-enterprise-leo-connectivity-with-sat-one/): Advantage is adding satellite connectivity from Sat.One , bringing new enterprise-grade internet options to organisations across New Zealand - [Advantage NZ wins SentinelOne APJ Partner of the Year](https://advantage.nz/advantage-nz-wins-sentinelone-apj-partner-of-the-year/): In a week of wins for Advantage New Zealand, the company was named SentinelOne Asia Pacific Japan Partner of the Year. - [Top 6 Smart Office Trends to Adopt for an Improved Workflow](https://advantage.nz/top-6-smart-office-trends-to-adopt-for-an-improved-workflow/): The office landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Gone are the days of sterile cubicles and monotonous routines. - [Authsignal put operations with Advantage](https://advantage.nz/authsignal-put-operations-with-advantage/): Next-generation authentication and digital identity provider Authsignal builds value proposition on AdvantageMDR protection. - [Security audits are on the rise, and that’s a very good thing for everyone](https://advantage.nz/security-audits-are-on-the-rise-and-thats-a-very-good-thing-for-everyone/): We’ve seen a definite increase in the number and frequency of our clients (and organisations in general) conducting cybersecurity audits. - [Phishing 2.0: How AI is Amplifying the Danger and What You Can Do](https://advantage.nz/phishing-2-0-how-ai-is-amplifying-the-danger-and-what-you-can-do/): Protect yourself from the next-gen scam: Phishing 2.0, powered by AI. Learn about the dangers and find out how to stay safe. - [Central Business Innovation chooses Advantage, goes local with IT Support](https://advantage.nz/central-business-innovation-chooses-advantage-goes-local-with-it-support/): Looking for a more local flavour to its IT support, Palmerston North’s Central Business Innovation didn’t have far to go. - [How outsourced security delivers for Managed Services Provider Think I.T.](https://advantage.nz/how-outsourced-security-delivers-for-managed-services-provider-think-i-t/): Think I.T. operations with AdvantageHow outsourced security delivers for Managed Services Provider Think I.T. - [A Simple Guide to the Updated NIST 2.0 Cybersecurity Framework](https://advantage.nz/a-simple-guide-to-the-updated-nist-2-0-cybersecurity-framework/): CSF 2.0 is a comprehensive update that builds on its predecessor. It offers a more streamlined and flexible approach to cybersecurity. - [Advantage makes mark as first Cloudflare Zero Trust MSSP](https://advantage.nz/advantage-makes-mark-as-first-cloudflare-zero-trust-mssp/): New Zealand’s Advantage has become the first Cloudflare partner in the Asia Pacific region to qualify for the vendor’s Zero Trust Managed Services Program - [Why Copilot is probably the most promising of any AI](https://advantage.nz/why-copilot-is-probably-the-most-promising-of-any-ai/): Probably the most promising of all the artificial intelligence solutions mushrooming onto the scene is Microsoft’s Copilot. - [SentinelOne® and Advantage Partner to Deliver Next-Generation of Managed Detection and Response](https://advantage.nz/sentinelone-and-advantage-partner-to-deliver-next-generation-of-managed-detection-and-response/): SentinelOne® and Advantage Partner to Deliver Next-Generation of Managed Detection and Response - [Cyber insurers are singing from the same song sheet](https://advantage.nz/cyber-insurers-are-singing-from-the-same-song-sheet/): Here’s a sign that ransomware and other shenanigans aren’t going anywhere: getting cybersecurity insurance is much harder. - [Advantage delivers automated penetration testing with AttackIQ](https://advantage.nz/advantage-delivers-automated-penetration-testing-with-attackiq/): Advantage delivers automated penetration testing with AttackIQ to New Zealand-wide building supplies and home improvement retailer, Mitre 10 - [4 Ways Small Businesses Can Leverage Copilot for Microsoft 365](https://advantage.nz/4-ways-small-businesses-can-leverage-copilot-for-microsoft-365/): Feeling overwhelmed running your small business? Copilot for Microsoft 365 can help! Discover 4 ways to boost productivity & streamline tasks. - [How We Have Enhanced Our Information Security in the Past Two Years](https://advantage.nz/how-we-have-enhanced-our-information-security-in-the-past-two-years/): How We Have Enhanced Our Information Security in the Past Two Years - [Advantage inks partnership with Getac - ruggedised computing solutions](https://advantage.nz/advantage-inks-partnership-with-getac-ruggedised-computing-solutions/): Advantage inks partnership with Getac, set to introduce ruggedised computing solutions for use in high-impact environments. - [Overland Footwear Reduces Vulnerability Risks With Illumio](https://advantage.nz/overland-footwear-reduces-vulnerability-risks-with-illumio/): Complete visibility into endpoint-to-server interactions; Reduces vulnerability risk and proactively prepares for breaches - [Netskope Named a Leader in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Security Service Edge](https://advantage.nz/netskope-named-a-leader-in-the-2024-gartner-magic-quadrant-for-security-service-edge/): Netskope Named a Leader in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Security Service Edge - [Mis- and disinformation are fundamental tools for hackers](https://advantage.nz/mis-and-disinformation-are-fundamental-tools-for-hackers/): Mis- and disinformation are fundamental tools for hackers…and there’s nothing we can or should do about it - [Learn How to Spot the Different Types of Deepfakes](https://advantage.nz/learn-how-to-spot-the-different-types-of-deepfakes/): Have you ever seen a video of your favorite celebrity saying something outrageous? Then later, you find out it was completely fabricated? - [Advantage expands relationship with Mastercard’s RiskRecon, targets supply chain and third-party risk](https://advantage.nz/advantage-expands-relationship-with-mastercards-riskrecon-targets-supply-chain-and-third-party-risk/): Through this collaboration, Advantage is further addressing supply chain and third-party risk for its customers around the country. - [Don’t QR yourself into a quandary](https://advantage.nz/dont-qr-yourself-into-a-quandary/): Don’t QR yourself into a quandarySometimes you just have to admire the scammers. Now it’s QR codes, curiosity, and while it may or may not kill the cat, it could quite possibly smash your wallet. - [Be Careful When Scanning QR Codes](https://advantage.nz/be-careful-when-scanning-qr-codes/): QR codes are everywhere these days. You can find them on restaurant menus, flyers, and posters. - [How a Data Breach Can Cost Your Business for Years](https://advantage.nz/how-a-data-breach-can-cost-your-business-for-years/): In the digital age, data is the lifeblood of businesses. But there is a dark underbelly of this data-centric landscape. It’s the persistent threat of data breaches. - [These 7 AI Trends Are Sweeping the Cybersecurity Realm](https://advantage.nz/these-7-ai-trends-are-sweeping-the-cybersecurity-realm/): The symbiotic relationship between AI and cybersecurity has become pivotal, check out these 7 trends that are sweeping the Cybersecurity Realm. - [Hackers deepfaked an entire company board on a video call](https://advantage.nz/hackers-deepfaked-an-entire-company-board-on-a-video-call/): Have you seen the story of the Hong Kong banker taken for $25 million after someone deepfaked the entire company board on a video call. - [Lessons from a galactic breach and the Pig Butcher](https://advantage.nz/lessons-from-a-galactic-breach-and-the-pig-butcher/): Well folks, there it is. The Mother of All Breaches, with a staggering 26 billion electronic records leaked. That’s about 3 or 4 records for every living person. - [Protect staff from AI with these 9 rules](https://advantage.nz/protect-staff-from-ai-with-these-9-rules/): Artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool. It can enhance the productivity, efficiency, and creativity of your staff. - [Hackers don’t go on leave – even if the rest of the world does](https://advantage.nz/hackers-dont-go-on-leave-even-if-the-rest-of-the-world-does/): Hackers don’t go on leave – even if the rest of the world does. Don’t let them have a Christmas bonus this year, or any other. - [2024 Emerging Technology Threats](https://advantage.nz/2024-emerging-technology-threats/): The global cost of a data breach last year was USD $4.45 million. This is an increase of 15% over three years. - [Sharing passwords with employees has always been a risk](https://advantage.nz/sharing-passwords-with-employees-has-always-been-a-risk/): Breached or stolen passwords are the bane of any organization’s cybersecurity. Passwords cause over 80% of data breaches. - [Left and Right of Boom, where does your Cybersecurity Strategy sit?](https://advantage.nz/left-and-right-of-boom-where-do-your-cybersecurity-strategy-sit/): In the pulsating digital landscape, every click and keystroke echoes through cyberspace. The battle for data security rages on. - [What is "Secure by Design" Cybersecurity Practices?](https://advantage.nz/secure-by-design-is-a-modern-cybersecurity-approach/): % . It integrates security measures into the very foundation of a system, app, or device. It does this from the start. - [Cyber Smart Week is here!](https://advantage.nz/cyber-smart-week-is-here/): This Cyber Smart Week (30 October - 5 November), we're supporting CERT NZ to highlight the importance of staying secure online and showing New Zealanders what's at stake when they don't get their online security right. - [Division of labour: Why MSPs need an MSSP partner](https://advantage.nz/division-of-labour-why-msps-need-an-mssp-partner/): There’s a long and successful history and well-understood principles underpinning the now-familiar concept of outsourcing IT or any other specialist function to ‘the professionals’. - [Advantage Wins NZ-wide Innovation Award for the third year in the row.](https://advantage.nz/advantage-wins-nz-wide-innovation-award-for-the-third-year-in-the-row/): New Zealand-based IT consulting firm Advantage was recently awarded the NZ-wide Innovation Award at the Reseller News Innovation Awards. - [Is the latest Windows update really from Microsoft](https://advantage.nz/is-the-latest-windows-update-really-from-microsoft/): Imagine you’re working away on your PC and see a Windows update prompt. Instead of ignoring it, you take action. After all, you want to keep your device safe. - [Why Managed Service Providers (MSPs) Partner with Advantage to Deliver Security Services to Their Customers](https://advantage.nz/why-managed-service-providers-msps-partner-with-advantage-to-deliver-security-services-to-their-customers/): White labeling security services can be a great way for you to improve your offering and grow your business. - [Spare a (dark) thought for the hackers doing it hard, too](https://advantage.nz/spare-a-dark-thought-for-the-hackers-doing-it-hard-too/): There’s a bit of a global cost of living crisis going on and everyone’s feeling the pinch. Even the hackers. - [Advantage hires senior talent, continues to build Security Consulting division](https://advantage.nz/advantage-hires-senior-talent-continues-to-build-security-consulting-division/): Advantage hires senior talent, continues to build Security Consulting division - [Grow your MSP through white labeling](https://advantage.nz/grow-your-msp-through-white-labeling/): White labeling security services can be a great way for you to improve your offering and grow your business. - [Advantage named SentinelOne APJ Partner of the Year](https://advantage.nz/advantage-named-sentinelone-apj-partner-of-the-year/): Advantage named SentinelOne APJ Partner of the Year for the second year running, Steve Smith named Top Sales Person of the Year. - [Access Management Has Become a Critical Part of Cybersecurity](https://advantage.nz/access-management-has-become-a-critical-part-of-cybersecurity/): 6 Reasons Access Management Has Become a Critical Part of Cybersecurity - [Why Xuba outsources security to Advantage](https://advantage.nz/why-xuba-outsources-security-to-advantage/): Why Xuba outsources security to Advantage. Success rests on the right assets and the right people, with the right products and the right technology. - [What is Zero-Click Malware? How Do You Fight It?](https://advantage.nz/what-is-zero-click-malware-how-do-you-fight-it/): In today's digital landscape, cybersecurity threats continue to evolve. They pose significant risks to individuals and organizations alike. - [Combating Cyber Crime in New Zealand: The Imperative for Incident Response](https://advantage.nz/combating-cyber-crime-in-new-zealand-the-imperative-for-incident-response/): Combating Cyber Crime in New Zealand: The Imperative for Incident Response - [The VPN is dead (and goes unmourned)](https://advantage.nz/the-vpn-is-dead-and-goes-unmourned/): Even the best of technologies which have served us well can and should meet their end just as soon as... - [How to Use Threat Modeling to Reduce Your Cybersecurity Risk](https://advantage.nz/how-to-use-threat-modeling-to-reduce-your-cybersecurity-risk/): As cyber threats continue to increase, businesses must take proactive steps. They need to protect their sensitive data and assets... - [The Essential 8: The controls that will prevent most attacks (and make hackers leave you for an easier target)](https://advantage.nz/the-essential-8-the-controls-that-will-prevent-most-attacks/): Never mind the Hateful Eight or any other Quentin Tarantino movie, there’s a very handy import from just across the... - [Case Study - Devoli secures operations with Advantage and SentinelOne MDR](https://advantage.nz/devoli-secures-operations-with-advantage-and-sentinelone-mdr/): Wholesale internet services provider Devoli has chosen a MDR Service from SentinelOne delivered and supported by Advantage. - [How to Use the New Virtual Appointments in Microsoft Teams](https://advantage.nz/how-to-use-the-new-virtual-appointments-in-microsoft-teams/): Scheduling appointments is a common activity. Salespeople often set up virtual appointments to answer questions about a product. - [Got cyber insurance? If not - it’s time to seriously consider buying some](https://advantage.nz/got-cyber-insurance-if-not-its-time-to-seriously-consider-buying-some/): Despite all the efforts of a not-inconsequential cybersecurity industry, the possibility of a breach which could cost your business dearly... - [What Is App Fatigue & Why Is It a Security Issue?](https://advantage.nz/what-is-app-fatigue-and-why-is-it-a-security-issue/): The number of apps and web tools that employees use on a regular basis continues to increase. - [Shadow IT and AI Platforms](https://advantage.nz/shadow-it-and-ai-platforms/): Shadow IT refers to the use of systems, devices software and applications that are not authorised or approved by the... - [What maths tells us about ChatGPT (and other software like it)](https://advantage.nz/what-maths-tells-us-about-chatgpt-and-other-software-like-it/): There’s a dirty little secret underpinning the 8th wonder of the world, and it is your own ignorance. - [Data Backup Is Not Enough, You Also Need Data Protection](https://advantage.nz/data-backup-is-not-enough-you-also-need-data-protection/): The need to back up data has been around since floppy disks. Data loss happens due to viruses, hard drive... - [Advantage appoints Doug Jewson to new National Sales Manager position](https://advantage.nz/advantage-appoints-doug-jewson-to-new-national-sales-manager-position/): With growth on the agenda, leading national managed services and security provider Advantage has appointed industry veteran and executive sales... - [Security Situational Awareness - March 2023](https://advantage.nz/security-situational-awareness-march-2023/): The National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST) Cyber Security Framework (CSF) is one of the de facto frameworks used by... --- # # Detailed Content ## Pages > Connectivity You Can Count On – Secure, Seamless, Scalable. We deliver the reliability, security, and agility you need to stay ahead. - Published: 2025-12-16 - Modified: 2025-12-18 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-connectivity/ Connectivity You Can Count On – Secure, Seamless, ScalableYour network is the backbone of your business. We deliver the reliability, security, and agility you need to stay ahead. Connect With Us For Peace Of Mind Focus on driving results, not troubleshooting IT. Why Connectivity Matters Our Networking Services Why Choose Us? How We Manage Your Network What this means for You Why Connectivity Matters Reliable network connectivity underpins everything from day-to-day operations and cloud applications to customer interactions and security. Unmanaged systems can leave you open to significant business risks and costs: Security Risks Unpatched systems and weak controls expose you to cyber threats and data breaches. Rising Costs Frequent outages and emergency fixes drive up operational expenses. Performance Issues Poor configurations cause slow speeds, downtime, and unreliable WiFi. Business Disruption Downtime impacts productivity, revenue, and customer trust. Data Loss Incomplete backups or misconfigured storage can leadto lost or corrupted data. Scalability Limits Networks that can’t grow with your business force costly redesigns. Compliance Challenges Gaps in segmentation or encryption risk non-compliance and penalties. Our Networking Services Managed Networks Automated device discovery & dynamic topology mappingReal-time health metrics (bandwidth, latency, packet loss, CPU/memory)Continuous IP inventoryCentralised dashboards for multi-site visibilityWiFi optimisation – performance metrics, heatmaps, interference management, and rogue AP detection Managed Firewalls Automated configuration backup/versioningReal-time alerting for critical eventsHistorical analyticsBest-practice firewall policy management tailored to your business Network Security (Authentication & Segmentation) Automated device profiling and segmentationReal-time monitoring of authentication events and segmentation breachesAlerting for unauthorised access attempts and policy... --- > With users, devices, and applications spread across multiple environments, traditional network defenses can’t keep up. Security leaders need a new approach - Published: 2025-11-19 - Modified: 2025-11-20 - URL: https://advantage.nz/cloudflare-and-sentinelone-unite-to-protect-everything/ Cloudflare’s Zero Trust platform enforces access controls at the network level, while SentinelOne AI-powered endpoint protection detects and mitigates threats in real time. The security perimeter is gone. With users, devices, and applications spread across multiple environments, traditional network defenses can’t keep up. Security leaders need a new approach—one that continuously verifies both users and devices before granting access. Cloudflare and SentinelOne provide end-to-end Zero Trust security. Cloudflare’s Zero Trust platform enforces access controls at the network level, while SentinelOne AI-powered endpoint protection detects and mitigates threats in real time. Learn more OR Get in touch How Cloudflare and SentinelOne work together Device-verified accessCloudflare checks device posture using SentinelOne real-time threat signals before granting access. Only healthy, secure devices can reach applications and data. Automated risk-based policiesSentinelOne AI-driven endpoint detection continuously evaluates risk, while Cloudflare enforces Zero Trust access controls dynamically. Proactive monitoringSentinelOne Singularity XDR continuously assesses device health, ensuring only secure devices are granted access, complementing Cloudflare’s Zero Trust policies. Faster, more efficient securityCloudflare’s global network delivers enforcement decisions within milliseconds, stopping threats before they spread. Seamless integrationConnect Cloudflare to SentinelOne via API in just a few clicks, simplifying Zero Trust implementation without disrupting workflows. Joint solution brief Cloudflare and SentinelOne - Strengthen Zero Trust security with integrated risk data. Download now Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Advantage’s Email Security Challenge - Discover true protection with Advantage’s 14-day email security challenge, or win $10 000 USD - Published: 2025-11-19 - Modified: 2025-11-20 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantage-msp-email-security-challenge/ How secure is your Microsoft 365 or Gmail Workspace? If we can't discover any threats your security provider has missed within 14 days, we will send you $10,000 USD. Security Challenge OverviewAdvantage will set up a two-week assessment of your Microsoft Office 365 or Gmail environment. If our patented approach to email security does not uncover any phishing and/or malware attacks that your security provider missed we'll send you the $10,000 USDChallenge RulesParticipants must be new partners who have not previously subscribed to Check Email & Collaboration. Participants must be using Microsoft 365 or Google workspace for corporate email. Admin is required to authorise the Advantage application. Checkpoint Avanan must be deployed to a production (cloud) mail environment of 50 or more users. Participants must follow the Advantage 14-day Proof of Value process, including meetings with Advantage. Mandate that the SEG must be a recognized enterprise-grade solution (e. g. , Proofpoint, Mimecast, Cisco), and disqualify any custom or hybrid setups. The applicant is required to participate in a technical walkthrough of the Checkpoint Avanan product, conducted in collaboration with an Advantage Sales Engineer. The POC must be completed and licensed by Dec 31st, 2025. If Advantage does not discover any threats in your mail environment from the 14-day proof of value we will send you $10K USD. Users of API solutions such as Abnormal and Ironscales do not qualify. Participants must work with Advantage to deploySigning up for the challenge does not guarantee participation. The company must have been in... --- > Advantage’s Email Security Challenge - Discover true cloud email and collaboration protection with Advantage’s 14-day challenge, or win a PS5 - Published: 2025-08-26 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/windows-10-end-of-life/ Windows 10 End of Support Is Coming What You Need to Know and What to Do Next:If your business still has devices running Windows 10, this is something you can’t ignore. On 14 October 2025, Microsoft is officially ending support for all versions of Windows 10. That means no more security updates, no patches, and no technical support. And while your devices will still power on, they’ll become a much easier target for cyber threats, and a bigger risk to your operations. We’re helping clients now to:Review their current device fleetRecommend which machines to upgrade vs. replaceCreate a rollout plan that’s fast, secure, and tailored to their operationsBuild a cleaner, leaner Windows 11 image to improve log-on speed, reduce bloatware, and tighten securityWhy Upgrading Now Just Makes Sense:Here’s what early action gets you:Faster performance with reduced junkware and faster boot timesStronger security with fewer attack vectors and modern protectionsStreamlined deployments using the latest Group Policy features to save hours across your fleetHardware availability before the rush startsCompliance readiness well before audits or policy updatesNo last-minute surprises when hardware runs low or policies changeAs an existing Advantage client, the good news is:We already understand your environmentWe know what tools you use, what your priorities are, and how to plan upgrades without disruptionNot an Existing Client? If you’re not yet working with us but have Windows 10 systems in place, we can help. Reach out for a no-obligation risk review and see how we can support your upgrade path securely and efficiently.... --- > Protect your business with our managed SOC & SIEM service. Get 24/7 threat detection, expert response, and fast onboarding all locally managed. - Published: 2025-07-28 - Modified: 2026-01-15 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-soc-siem/ We’ve reimagined Security Operations Centre (SOC) and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) services for today’s threat landscape and for New Zealand organisations. Our fully managed platform delivers 24/7 threat detection and expert led response all powered by a locally hosted, automation-first architecture. We’ve Reimagined Security Operations - Local, Automated, and Built for NZ Businesses. Get in touch Get in touch Why Choose Us? Rapid OnboardingWe’ve automated onboarding from start to finish: log source integration, detection rule deployment, validation, and tuning. No heavy lift for your team, no disruption to your operations. Just fast time-to-value and full visibility, straight out of the gate. Hyper AutomationOur built-in SOAR engine takes care of the heavy lifting by automating triage, enrichment, correlation, and containment. It speeds up response and cuts down on manual work, helping your team stay focused and ahead of threats. Data Sovereignty and NZ Based InfrastructureAll data is processed and retained exclusively within Advantage’s New Zealand-owned data centre. With no offshore storage you maintain full control, complete visibility, and assurance that your data is governed by local jurisdiction at all times. Security That Fits Your Budget and Your BusinessOur pricing model delivers full protection, automated response, and expert monitoring at significantly lower cost than traditional SIEM or MSSP solutions. No hidden fees, no licence traps, and no overpaying for tools you don’t use. AI-Powered Detection & ResponseMachine learning and behavioural analytics enhance detection across your environment identifying anomalies, prioritising real threats, and reducing false positives. Our platform helps you see more, respond faster, and cut through the noise. Our Service We’ve reimagined Security Operations Centre (SOC) and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) services for today’s threat landscape and for New Zealand organisations. Our fully managed security operations platform delivers 24/7 threat detection... --- > OneWeb is Australia and New Zealand’s only trusted enterprise low-earth orbit satellite network, offering low latency and high speed access. - Published: 2025-06-10 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/recorded-future/ Know what matters... Act first. Recorded Future is a leading threat intelligence platform that empowers security teams to make fast, confident decisions based on real-time, context-rich insights. Their intelligence is trusted by some of the world’s most security-conscious organisations to reduce operational risk, respond faster, and stay ahead of threats. Built on the world’s most comprehensive intelligence holdings, Recorded Future’s platform delivers continuous visibility across the threat landscape — cyber, physical, brand, supply chain, and beyond. Platform Capabilities At the core of Recorded Future is a single intelligence platform designed to support decision-making across the entire organisation. Whether you’re detecting ransomware, managing exposure, or responding to supply chain risk, Recorded Future delivers actionable insight at speed and scale. Key services include:Managed MonitoringExtend your security operations with expert threat intelligence analysts who work as an extension of your team. Intelligence ServicesEnhance your intelligence maturity with tailored integration, enablement, and advisory support. Analyst on DemandAccess deep expertise with custom threat reports, briefings, and analyst-led training as and when you need it. Attack Surface Intelligence Recorded Future offers deep visibility into your external attack surface - giving you an outside-in perspective that reveals blind spots and unmanaged risk. Benefits include:Real-time asset discovery and risk classificationTransparent scoring with context and evidenceContinuous monitoring of external infrastructureAccess to the world’s largest historical DNS archiveUse Cases & OutcomesRecorded Future supports a wide range of practical security challenges, helping teams move from reactive defence to proactive control. Ransomware MitigationDetect and prevent ransomware at every stage of the attack... --- - Published: 2025-02-11 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/illumio-the-global-cost-of-ransomware-study/download/ Uncover the real impact of ransomware and strategies to stay resilient against the next inevitable attack. The true cost of ransomware? Find out in our newest research. 88% of organizations were hit by ransomware in the last year. 58% had to shut down operations after an attack for an average of 12 hours. Are your defenses ready to stand up to today’s ransomware threat? Download the Global Cost of Ransomware Study to discover:Critical insights from the Ponemon Institute on emerging ransomware threatsKey vulnerabilities that attackers are exploiting right nowProven defense strategies used by resilient organizationsThe new Global Cost of Ransomware Study, sponsored by Illumio and conducted by Ponemon Institute, reveals the trends, vulnerabilities, and strategies you need to know to stay resilient. Download Now Get in touch Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Ransomware—A hot topic in cybersecurity, but just how serious is the threat? Discover the tru cost of ransomware in illumios newest research. - Published: 2025-02-11 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/illumio-the-global-cost-of-ransomware-study/ Ransomware—A hot topic in cybersecurity, but just how serious is the threat? This report dives deep into the complexities of these attacks, uncovering their devastating impact on the global economy. From financial losses to operational disruptions, the findings highlight why robust protection, rapid detection, and effective response strategies are critical in safeguarding businesses. The Global Cost of Ransomware Study Discover the true cost of ransomware in Illumio’s newest research. Download the report Contain the Breach. Breaches are inevitable. Disasters don’t have to be. Discover how The Global Cost of Ransomware Study Discover the true cost of ransomware in Illumio's newest research. Download the report Contain the Breach. Breaches are inevitable. Disasters don't have to be. Discover how Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Mimecast works by using a series of filters to scan incoming email traffic and identify potential threats and stop them at the border. - Published: 2025-02-05 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/authsignal/ Authsignal is a leading drop-in digital identity and authentication platform that enables enterprise and mid-market businesses to deliver world-class identity experiences, mitigate fraud, and secure customer journeys. Authsignal's leading digital identity and authentication platform delivers global enterprise and mid-market businesses a path to deploy modern authentication experiences across any customer journey. With Authsignal's developer-friendly platform, uplifting security and unifying authentication across digital and real-world channels becomes a seamless and streamlined experience for both internal teams and the end user. Built to support rapid deployment and without the need to migrate or replace existing identity technologies, Authsignal integrates into best-in-class identity platforms, Okta, AWS Cognito, Auth0, Duende Identity server and more. Authsignal enables a seamless identity experience layer to be deployed in weeks, delivering strong customer authentication technologies like passkeys, biometric authentication, passwordless authentication and more. With Authsignal, businesses can easily secure every consumer digital interaction. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Copilot for Microsoft 365 is an AI-powered tool designed to boost productivity, streamline workflows and empower your business. - Published: 2024-12-08 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/empower-your-business-with-microsoft-365-copilot/ Unlock the Future of Work with Microsoft 365 Copilot Microsoft 365 Copilot isn’t just another tool - it’s a game-changer for businesses of all sizes. With AI-driven capabilities, Copilot helps streamline workflows, boost productivity, and empower your team to achieve more. At Advantage, our industry experts are here to ensure you harness Copilot’s full potential, transforming how you work and innovate. Contact us OR Get in touch What is Microsoft 365 Copilot? Your AI Assistant for Everyday Business TasksCopilot for Microsoft 365 is an AI-powered tool designed to boost productivity, streamline workflows and empower your business. Copilot uses advanced AI, powered by Large Language Models (LLMs), to provide intelligent suggestions and automate repetitive tasks. Integrated into Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, Copilot makes complex tasks feel effortless, letting your team focus on what matters most. Why Choose Advantage? Your Partner in Maximising Copilot’s Capabilities Our team doesn’t just understand technology; we specialise in making it work for your business. From setup and deployment to training and support, Advantage ensures you unlock every benefit Copilot has to offer. With nearly four decades of experience in IT and cybersecurity, we know how to tailor solutions to your unique needs and empower your business. Tailored Setup & Configuration Copilot for business isn’t plug-and-play. To unlock its full potential, it needs to be customised to your workflows and security needs. We help you configure it seamlessly into your environment, ensuring it fits your business goals. Security That Protects Your Business... --- - Published: 2024-10-03 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-email-security/ Email Security is a critical component of any business's cybersecurity strategy. Email remains a primary vector for cyber threats, including phishing attacks, malware, and ransomware. Email Security is a critical component of any business's cybersecurity strategy. Email remains a primary vector for cyber threats, including phishing attacks, malware, and ransomware. Our Managed Email Security services provide robust, comprehensive protection, ensuring that your organisation's external and internal communications remain secure, confidential, and reliable. The Advantage offering is underpinned by Checkpoint’s Harmony Solution suite offering complete email security utilising adaptive AI with anomaly detection. The solution also monitors mailbox activity to provide early warning of compromised accounts. In addition, Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is available as an add on to support your compliance requirements. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Elevate your tech experience with Advantage—now an official Apple Reseller! Weare offering 5% off on a select range of Apple products to help you stay connected. - Published: 2024-09-18 - Modified: 2024-09-19 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantage-your-trusted-apple-reseller/ Elevate your tech experience with Advantage—now an official Apple Reseller! Weare offering 5% off on a select range of Apple products to help you stay connected. Discover Our Exclusive Apple Offers: Listening Apple Airpods AirPods Pro 2nd Generation with MagSafe Case (USB-C) Enjoy Active Noise Cancellation, immersive sound, and easy charging with the MagSafe Case. Get Quote AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancellation Block out distractions with Active Noise Cancellation and enjoy rich, clear audio wherever you go Get Quote AirPods 4 Seamless connectivity and clear audio in a sleek design, perfect for everyday use. Get Quote AirPods Max Premium over-ear headphones, available in Starlight, Purple, Orange, Blue, and Midnight. Get Quote Home Apple TV Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi (64GB): Stream your favourite shows in breathtaking 4K with enhanced features. Get Quote Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi + Ethernet (128GB): Enjoy ultra-fast performance and storage for a complete home theatre experience. Get Quote Unique HomePod mini and AirTag HomePod mini Available in Space Grey, White, Blue, Orange, Midnight, and Yellow, the HomePod mini is the perfect smart speaker to fill any room with immersive audio. Get Quote AirTag (1 Pack & 4 Pack): Keep your most important items safe and find them with ease, anytime and anywhere. Get Quote Why Shop with Advantage? As a Licensed Apple Reseller, we are committed to bringing you the best deals on Apple products, with personalized service, expert advice, and the peace of mind that comes from buying from a trusted provider. Get your 5% Discount... --- > Advantage’s Email Security Challenge - Discover true cloud email and collaboration protection with Advantage’s 14-day challenge, or win a PS5 - Published: 2024-09-02 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/dont-throw-away-your-old-laptop/ Instead make a difference in your community. At Advantage we care for the environment and are all about making positive changes in our community. We are excited to announce our partnership with RAD (Recycle A Device) to help make that happen! Do you have an old laptop lying around? Don’t let it sit there and gather dust or endup in the landfill. Instead, donate it and give it a second life. Why Donate: Every year hundreds of laptops are discarded contributing to e-waste and harming the environment. With RAD, your old device can become a powerful tool for change. By donating your laptop, you're helping equip the Rangatahi or youth, with the technology they need to succeed in today’s digital world. How it works: Ensure your laptop is less than 10 years old, includes a charger, and isundamaged. Let us know how many laptops you’re donating, your location, and anyquestions you have. Laptops are securely wiped and assetised at our warehouse. Arrange for a courier or drop-off. Laptops are sent to RAD Clubs for refurbishment. Refurbished laptops are given to Rangatahi to keep and use. See recycleadevice. nz for more information. So, you’re keen to donate devices - that’s amazing! Get in touch Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Advantage's Risk Assessment services offer tailored cybersecurity evaluations for businesses of all sizes. - Published: 2024-08-28 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/consulting-services/risk-assessment/ We have a number of packaged solutions for all types of New Zealand's businesses, whether you're a startup or an enterprise corporation, we have a multi-day session that has been created to deliver the essentials of security for your business. We have a number of packaged solutions for all types of New Zealand's businesses, whether you're a startup or an enterprise corporation, we have a multi-day session that has been created to deliver the essentials of security for your business About our Risk Assessment services: These services are ideal for you if you fit any of these criteria: You don't know what you don't know with regards to security and compliance, and need to identify your key priority areas. Your budget and your time is limited, but you need an assessment of your cybersecurity maturity. You need to verify if your existing controls are adequate and effective against cyber threats. Why not get in touch with us for a no-obligation chat? Contact Us For Small Businesses: 2. 5 day engagement Whether you're a crew of one or ten, cybersecurity matters. This package includes:A security gap analysisA review of your business assets. Includes people, process, policies and technologyA review of the risks to your businessPolicy reviewSummary review of your security controls including cloudSummary report with roadmap Contact Us For Medium Sized Businesses: 4 day engagement Medium Sized businesses get everything in the Small package but also includes:An in-depth audit of the potential threats to your business, including your supply chain. Backup & DR reviewA vulnerability scan of your websitePatching of your systems where necessaryPassword auditConfigure MFA where necessarySummary report with roadmap Contact Us For Large Businesses: 7 day engagement Everything in the Medium package but also includes:A thorough vulnerability scan of... --- > Advantage’s Email Security Challenge - Discover true protection with Advantage’s 14-day email security challenge, or win a PS5 - Published: 2024-08-19 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantages-email-security-challenge-ps5/ How secure is your Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace against business email compromise and phishing attacks? Put Avanan's email security to the test and accept the email security challenge! If we can't detect any threats, including business email compromise, phishing or email scams, that your current solution missed within 14 days, we’ll send you a PlayStation 5. Take the security challenge to see how Avanan’s advanced phishing protection and phishing prevention can block phishing emails and safeguard your business from email scams. Email Security Challenge Overview Advantage will set up a two-week assessment of your Microsoft Office 365 or Gmail environment. If our patented approach to email security does not uncover any phishing and/or malware attacks that your security provider missed we'll send you the PlayStation 5. Challenge Rules Participants must be using Microsoft 365 or Google workspace for corporate email Admin is required to authorise the application Participants must have 50+ users in their mail environment Participants must follow the Advantage 14-day Proof of Value process, including meetings with Advantage If Advantage does not discover any threats in your mail environment from the 14-day proof of value we will send you a PlayStation 5. Signing up for the challenge does not guarantee participation Awarded at the sole discretion of Advantage Ltd. Put us to the test, Sign up now! Get in touch Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call... --- > Is your current cybersecurity provider facing a ban due to security and privacy risks? Make the switch to SentinelOne - Published: 2024-08-05 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantage-nz-protect-your-endpoints-cloud-with-sentinelone/ SentinelOne is one of the world leading Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Cloud Native Security (CNS) solutions, providing AI-driven, autonomous protection for your business. Whether you're struggling with your current EDR, looking to secure your cloud workloads, or need a future-ready cybersecurity solution, Advantage offers a seamless transition to SentinelOne - with FREE onboarding for businesses across New Zealand. Why Choose SentinelOne? AI-Powered Threat Detection & Response – Stop threats before they cause damage with autonomous security. Automated Incident Response – Instant threat neutralisation with rollback capabilities. Cloud-Native Security – Agentless CNAPP solution that proactively identifies real exploit paths, preventing attacks on cloud environments. Secrets & Compliance Protection – Detect hardcoded credentials and ensure cloud security best practices. Seamless Multi-Cloud Security – Protect AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud from vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. With SentinelOne’s Unified Security Platform, your business gains comprehensive protection across endpoints, cloud workloads, IoT devices, and more — ensuring security teams spend less time on false alerts and more time stopping real threats. Struggling with Your Current EDR or Cloud Security? Many businesses face inefficiencies with outdated cybersecurity solutions. Whether you’re dealing with: Slow and manual threat response Lack of cloud security visibility False positives wasting security team timeAdvantage is here to help. We are offering FREE onboarding* to SentinelOne, handling the entire process - from planning to implementation - so your business stays protected with minimal disruption. Ready to Secure Your Business? Contact Advantage today to start your free onboarding* to SentinelOne and take the... --- > Advantage’s Email Security Challenge - Discover true cloud email and collaboration protection with Advantage’s 14-day challenge - Published: 2024-08-05 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantages-email-security-challenge/ Discover true cloud email and collaboration protection with Advantage’s 14-day challenge How does it work? If we are unable to discover any threats missed by your current email securityplatform within 14 days, we will shout you and the team a pizza lunch. When you sign up, Advantage will set up a free two-week assessment of your MicrosoftOffice 365 or G Suite Email environment. RulesParticipants must be using Office 365 or Gmail for corporate emailAccount Admin is required to authorise the Avanan scanParticipants must have 100+ users in their email environmentParticipants agree to allow Avanan to scan their Office 365 / G Suite environment for 14 days to perform a retroactive scanIf Avanan does not discover any threats in your email environment fromthese scans, we will send you and the team a pizza lunchMaximum of 5 pizzasSigning up for the challenge does not guarantee participationAwarded at the sole discretion of Advantage NZ. Put us to the test, Sign up now! Get in touch Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > OneWeb is Australia and New Zealand’s only trusted enterprise low-earth orbit satellite network, offering low latency and high speed access. - Published: 2024-08-04 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/oneweb/ OneWeb is Australia and New Zealand’s only trusted enterprise low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite network. Experience seamless connectivity no matter where you are, whether it's the middle of the desert, off the coast, on-the-move, or in a remote community. OneWeb ensures you're connected as if you were in the heart of the city. OneWeb connects you through our innovative, best-in-class user terminals designed to meet diverse needs. These terminals encrypt your data and transmit it at high speeds to our custom LEO satellite fleet, which orbits approximately 1,200 kilometers from Earth. This proximity, 30 times closer than geostationary satellites, guarantees low latency and stable, real-time connections. Our constellation design and multi-beam coverage ensure seamless connectivity even in the most challenging terrains. Your data is beamed back to Earth to the nearest satellite network portal and securely re-enters the web through our in-country gateways. This entire journey takes only one-tenth of a second, ensuring you're always connected when you need to be. OneWeb Offers: Tailored Solutions: Custom network solutions for your business needs. Adaptable Connectivity: Terminals that fit various requirements. Comprehensive Coverage: Connectivity everywhere with robust infrastructure. Secure Data Solutions: Guaranteed SLAs for secure data transmission. 24/7 Support: Dedicated support and advanced traffic management. Financial Flexibility: Cost-efficient solutions. Diverse Products: Options for land fixed, mobile fixed, marine, and field operations. Why OneWeb Wins Low Latency and High Speed: Enhanced data transmission for critical operations. Cost-effective Global Reach: Affordable coverage in remote areas. Rapid Deployment: Quick setup and scalable solutions. Secure Connections: Private... --- - Published: 2024-06-04 - Modified: 2025-09-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/secure-access-for-a-modern-workforce/ Managed ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) is a cloud-based solution that provides secure and seamless access to applications and data for remote users, regardless of their location, device, or network. Managed ZTNA reduces the risk of data breaches, simplifies compliance, and improves user experience. Managed ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) is a cloud-based solution that provides secure and seamless access to applications and data for remote users, regardless of their location, device, or network. Managed ZTNA reduces the risk of data breaches, simplifies compliance, and improves user experience. Key features: Seamless User Experience Single Sign-On (SSO): Simplify access with SSO integration, allowing users to authenticate once and gain access to multiple applications without repetitive logins. Adaptive Authentication: Utilise multi-factor authentication (MFA) and context-based security policies to ensure that users are who they claim to be. Granular Access Control Least Privilege Access: Implement precise access controls, granting users only the permissions they need to perform their tasks, reducing the risk of unauthorised access. Dynamic Policies: Define and enforce policies based on user roles, device health, location, and other contextual factors. Robust Security Measures Continuous Monitoring: Continuously monitor user activity and device health, identifying and responding to potential threats in real time. Encrypted Connections: Ensure all communications between users and applications are encrypted, protecting data in transit from eavesdropping and tampering. Flexible Deployment Cloud-Native: Leverage CloudFlare's global network to deploy ZTNA with minimal on-premises infrastructure, reducing complexity and costs. Hybrid Environments: Seamlessly integrate with existing on-premises and cloud environments, providing a unified security approach across your entire IT ecosystem. Key benefits: Enhanced Security PostureAdopt a Zero Trust model that verifies every user and device before granting access, minimising the risk of data breaches and insider threats. Improved User ProductivityProvide users with secure, fast, and reliable access... --- > Discover Cloudflare Zero Trust – a comprehensive security solution that protects your network and applications from cyber threats. Simplify your security infrastructure and safeguard your digital assets with Cloudflare Zero Trust - Published: 2024-06-03 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/cloudflare/ Secure Access for a Modern WorkforceIn today's dynamic digital landscape, traditional perimeter-based security models are no longer sufficient. CloudFlare Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) provides a robust and flexible solution that ensures secure access to your applications, data, and resources regardless of user location. Key Benefits:Enhanced Security PostureAdopt a Zero Trust model that verifies every user and device before granting access, minimizing the risk of data breaches and insider threats. Improved User ProductivityProvide users with secure, fast, and reliable access to the applications and resources they need, from anywhere, at any time, without compromising security. Simplified ManagementCentralize your security policies and access controls with CloudFlare’s intuitive management interface, making it easier to enforce consistent security practices across your organization. Use CasesRemote Workforce: Securely connect remote employees to internal applications and data without the need for traditional VPNs. Third-Party Access: Provide contractors, partners, and vendors with controlled access to specific resources, ensuring they only see what they need. BYOD Environments: Safeguard access from personal devices, enforcing security policies without compromising user convenience. Contact us about Cloudflare To find out if Cloudflare is right for you, send us your details: --- > Check Point is the only enterprise email security vendor to offer an in-line deployment option that works with M365 and Google Workspace. - Published: 2024-03-28 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/the-forrester-wave/ Check Point Named a Leader in the 2023 Forrester Wave™ for Enterprise Email Security We are excited to announce that Check Point was recently named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: Enterprise Email Security, Q2, 2023. In the report, it was noted that Harmony Email & Collaboration, also known as Avanan, has:Superior efficacy, noted by customersEase of investigations, noted by customersHighest score possible in deployment options criterionLeverages Check Point's ThreatCloud for threat intelligenceGet insights from a leading analyst firm and learn why Check Point Software Technologies has been named a Leader. Sign up for a copy of The Forrester Wave™: Enterprise Email Security, Q2, 2023. Read the Report Get in touch Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > This privacy policy ("Policy") describes how we collect, use, and disclose information when you use LinkedIn's Lead Gen Forms ("Forms"). - Published: 2024-03-19 - Modified: 2024-06-23 - URL: https://advantage.nz/privacy-policy/ This privacy policy ("Policy") describes how we collect, use, and disclose information when you use LinkedIn's Lead Gen Forms ("Forms"). By accessing or using the Forms, you agree to the terms and conditions of this Policy. INFORMATION WE COLLECT We collect personal and non-personal information about you when you submit a Form. This includes your name, email address, job title, company name, and other contact information that you provide. In addition, we may collect non-personal information about your use of the Forms, such as the time and date of your visit, the pages you viewed, and the type of browser you are using. We may also collect information about your device, including the type of device you are using, the operating system you are running, and your IP address. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION We use your personal information to fulfill your requests for information or services, to contact you about our products or services, and to improve our Forms and overall user experience. We may also use your information to send you marketing materials or other communications, unless you opt out of receiving such communications. We may use non-personal information for a variety of purposes, including to analyse usage patterns, improve our Forms and services, and for other research and marketing purposes. DISCLOSURE OF YOUR INFORMATION We may disclose your personal information to third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as processing payments, providing customer support, or hosting our Forms. We may also disclose your information... --- > Knowing your cybersecurity risk today lets you see how attackers can target your organization’s critical assets. - Published: 2024-02-27 - Modified: 2024-06-23 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/riskrecon/ RiskRecon by Mastercard is a leading cybersecurity platform that empowers organisations to manage and mitigate third-party cyber risks effectively. Leveraging advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, RiskRecon provides comprehensive visibility into the security posture of third-party vendors and partners. Know Your Risk - Request a Free Cyber Risk Report We offer a free report using RiskRecon to provide a summary of your organization's current cybersecurity posture with influencing risk factors. Knowing your cybersecurity risk today lets you see how attackers can target your organization’s critical assets, which could lead to data loss. Your risk report is the first step in improving your cybersecurity. It automatically assesses and rates the security performance of these entities based on various factors, including network security, patching cadence, and susceptibility to cyber threats. By continuously monitoring and evaluating these factors, RiskRecon enables organisations to identify and prioritize high-risk vendors, ensuring proactive risk management strategies. With RiskRecon, businesses can make informed decisions regarding vendor selection, contract negotiation, and risk mitigation efforts. Its intuitive dashboard offers actionable insights and customisable risk profiles, allowing users to tailor risk management strategies according to their specific needs and industry regulations. Moreover, RiskRecon facilitates collaboration between organisations and their vendors by providing transparent risk assessments and remediation recommendations. This fosters a culture of accountability and partnership in managing cybersecurity risks across the supply chain. Overall, RiskRecon by Mastercard is a powerful tool for enhancing cyber resilience and protecting sensitive data, enabling organizations to maintain trust and confidence in their business operations amidst... --- > NordPass password manager remembers complex passwords, auto-fills logins and online forms and lets you access it all from anywhere - Published: 2024-02-27 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/nordpass/ NordPass Business is a robust password management solution tailored for organisations, offering streamlined security for teams. It provides a secure digital vault encrypted with advanced algorithms, ensuring the protection of sensitive company credentials. With centralised administration, businesses can efficiently manage user access and permissions. NordPass Business includes features such as password sharing for secure collaboration, password health assessments to maintain strong security standards, and seamless syncing across devices for convenient access. Additionally, it offers audit logs and reporting functionalities to monitor and track password-related activities within the organization. With NordPass Business, businesses can bolster their cybersecurity defenses while simplifying password management for their teamsHere are the key points:Secure Password Storage: NordPass offers a digital vault encrypted with advanced algorithms to safeguard passwords, credit card details, and other sensitive information from unauthorized access. Master Password Protection: Users can access their vault using a single master password or biometric authentication, ensuring that only authorized individuals can retrieve stored data. Password Generation: The platform provides a password generator tool to create complex, unique passwords for each online account, enhancing resilience against password-related attacks. Cross-Device Syncing: NordPass facilitates seamless synchronization across multiple devices, allowing users to access their stored credentials securely from anywhere, at any time. Password Sharing: Users can securely share passwords with trusted individuals or team members, streamlining collaboration while maintaining data confidentiality. Password Health Assessment: NordPass conducts regular assessments to evaluate password strength and identify weak or compromised passwords, prompting users to update them for improved security. Browser Integration: The platform... --- > PRTG is our professional and flexible network monitoring software. Analyse and monitor your entire IT infrastructure - Published: 2024-02-27 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/prtg/ PRTG (Paessler Router Traffic Grapher) is a comprehensive network monitoring solution developed by Paessler AG. It offers real-time insights into the performance and health of IT infrastructure components, including servers, routers, switches, and applications. PRTG utilizes a centralised dashboard to display key metrics, such as bandwidth usage, uptime, and traffic patterns, enabling proactive troubleshooting and optimization. Its customizable alerts notify administrators of potential issues, ensuring prompt response to network anomalies. With support for a wide range of sensors and protocols, PRTG provides scalability and flexibility to meet the monitoring needs of small to large enterprises. Comprehensive Monitoring: PRTG offers comprehensive monitoring of IT infrastructure components, including servers, routers, switches, applications, and more, providing a holistic view of network performance. Customizable Alerts: Users can set up customizable alerts based on thresholds and conditions, ensuring timely notification of potential issues or anomalies for proactive troubleshooting. Scalability: PRTG is highly scalable, accommodating the monitoring needs of both small businesses and large enterprises, allowing for flexible expansion as the network grows. Ease of Use: With an intuitive user interface and straightforward setup process, PRTG is easy to deploy and manage, requiring minimal training and resources. Wide Range of Sensors and Protocols: PRTG supports a vast array of sensors and protocols, allowing users to monitor diverse aspects of their network infrastructure and applications. Centralized Dashboard: The centralized dashboard provides a single pane of glass view of network health and performance metrics, simplifying monitoring and analysis tasks. Historical Data Storage: PRTG stores historical monitoring data, enabling... --- > Silverfort operates as Protection Platform, consolidating security measures across multiple networks to mitigate identity-based attacks. - Published: 2024-02-27 - Modified: 2026-01-15 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/silverfort/ Silverfort Unified Identity Protection Platform is a comprehensive cybersecurity solution designed to safeguard organisations against identity-based threats. It provides centralised control and visibility over access to critical assets across hybrid environments, including cloud, on-premises, and legacy systems. By employing adaptive multi-factor authentication (MFA) and risk-based authentication, Silverfort ensures that only authorised users gain access, mitigating the risks of unauthorised access and credential-based attacks. Its intelligent threat detection capabilities analyse user behaviours and contextual data to identify suspicious activities in real-time, enabling swift response to potential security breaches. Additionally, Silverfort integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure, eliminating the need for extensive modifications or replacements. Through continuous monitoring and adaptive policies, it strengthens the security posture of organizations while maintaining user experience and operational efficiency. Extend MFA to Any Asset, Without Modifying ItEnable Multi-Factor Authentication for any system, without installing agents on it, without modifying its code, and without deploying proxiesThis includes systems that couldn’t be protected before:Legacy and homegrown applicationsAdmin tools (including command-line interfaces, Run As and more)File systems and databasesIT infrastructureIndustrial and healthcare systemsUse Silverfort to extend the coverage of your existing third-party MFA products (Microsoft, Okta, Ping, Yubico, Duo, RSA, etc. ) Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Need an ANZ cybersecurity partner? Our industry-leading solutions include a suite of white label security services that benefit all. - Published: 2023-09-17 - Modified: 2025-11-12 - URL: https://advantage.nz/client-partners/white-label-services/ Customers concerned about security? Solved with our white-label services. We've done all the hard work for you with our comprehensive security solutions. Get the Advantage of your brand combined with our security expertise. Get a free RiskRecon audit report OR Get in touch WE OFFER Expertise & specialisation Cybercrime is a fast-growing global industry. So, as a Managed Service Provider (MSP), you know that cybersecurity is essential for your customers. But providing comprehensive security can be a challenge – especially if you don’t have the expertise, time or a team to implement it. Scalability & flexibility That’s where white-label security services from Advantage come in. Providing white-label cybersecurity lets you offer your customers all the benefits of comprehensive digital protection. Without having to invest in your own security infrastructure, staff or knowledge. It’s the best of both worlds. With the AdvantageProtect white label services you can: Leverage the expertise of a leading cybersecurity provider Offer your customers a wide range of security solutions Customise solutions to meet the specific needs of your customers Security & compliance With more than a decade of offering white-label solutions, with several MSP reference customers, you can count on us. Plus, Advantage has the industry certifications and Security Partner Awards to prove we’re industry leaders. Our BLOG Insider Advice January 24, 2018 Uncategorized, News March 9, 2018 Uncategorized, News, Security March 26, 2018 Uncategorized, News, Security Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and... --- > Enhance your security tools and capabilities by accesing high-quality, trusted, and real-time threat intelligence. - Published: 2023-08-16 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-threat-disruption/ Disrupt threats before they disrupt you! Enhance your security tools and capabilities by accessing high-quality, trusted, and real-time threat intelligence from a range of free and paid feeds. Disrupt threats before they disrupt you with a Managed Threat Disruption Service! Enhance your security tools and capabilities by accessing high-quality, trusted, and real-time threat intelligence from a range of feeds including Malware Free Networks. Our service Threat intelligence includes national and international law enforcement agencies, NCSC’s Malware Free Networks, Advantage Commercial Partners, as well as internal Advantage threat intelligence. Combined with powerful automation and orchestration, Threat Disruption helps you respond immediately to threats and keep your organisation protected and secure. Managed Threat Disruption data sheet Key benefits include:High quality threat identification - Data feeds provide reliable information about threats, reducing MTTD and MTTR. Custom integrations - Threat disruption integrates with most leading technology suppliers, supporting disruption across your environment. 24/7/365 updates - You receive new indicators of compromise in real-time, 24/7/365. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Arista Networks is the leader in building scalable high-performance and ultra-low-latency networks for today's data center and cloud computing environments. - Published: 2023-07-11 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/arista/ Experience Unmatched Performance and Reliability with Arista Networking Solutions. Arista, is an industry leader in high-performance network solutions, with cutting-edge technology and unwavering commitment to excellence, they empower businesses to achieve seamless connectivity, unmatched reliability, and unparalleled performance. Unleash the Power of Arista Networking:Built for the most demanding environments, Arista’s networking solutions redefine industry standards. Whether you're a small business, a large enterprise, or a service provider, Arista has the scalable and flexible solutions you need to meet your connectivity requirements. Arista’s state-of-the-art hardware, combined with advanced software capabilities, ensures your network operates at its peak potential. Accelerate Your Business with Arista's Innovation:Stay ahead of the competition with our innovative solutions. Arista constantly pushes the boundaries of networking technology, enabling businesses to adapt, scale, and evolve with ease. Arista’s focus on open standards and interoperability ensures seamless integration with your existing infrastructure, giving you the agility to respond to evolving business needs quickly. Reliability and Performance You Can Trust:When it comes to your network, reliability is non-negotiable. Arista's solutions are designed for mission-critical environments, offering industry-leading uptime and resiliency. Experience lightning-fast speeds, low latency, and robust performance across all our products, from switches and routers to software-defined networking solutions. Simplify Network Management with Arista's Intuitive Interfaces:Managing a complex network doesn't have to be a daunting task. Arista's intuitive management interfaces and automation capabilities simplify network operations, reduce administrative overhead, and optimise your team's efficiency. Focus on driving business growth while Arista handles the intricacies of your network infrastructure. Discover the... --- > OPSWAT protects critical infrastructure. Their goal is to eliminate malware and zero-day attacks at all locations at all times. - Published: 2023-07-11 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/opswat/ OPSWAT’s flagship products – MetaDefender and MetaAccess – are comprehensive platforms for advanced threat prevention and secure access. Both platforms are supported by industry-leading technologies developed by OPSWAT and backed by over 19 years of industry experience. OPSWAT products are in use by over 1,000 customers around the world They protect organisations as diverse as nuclear power plants, financial institutions, government agencies, educational institutions and information technology companies. Contact us to learn how these products can help protect your infrastructure. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Advantage has Gold Partner status. We have access to exclusive Dell tools, best practices, and the latest technical updates. - Published: 2023-07-11 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/dell/ Gain access to the the full suite of Dell Products and Solutions, leveraging Advantage’s platinum partner status. Dell believes in empowering businesses with innovative solutions and cutting-edge products to unlock their full potential. With Dell’s comprehensive range of technology solutions, Dell are here to help you overcome challenges, boost productivity, and drive growth like never before. Harness the Power of Dell's End-to-End Solutions:From robust infrastructure solutions to secure cloud services and intelligent data management, Dell’s comprehensive suite of solutions is designed to meet the evolving needs of modern businesses. Whether you're a small startup or a large enterprise, Dell have the tools and expertise to optimise your operations and drive meaningful results. Unleash Your Team's Productivity with Dell's Cutting-Edge Products:Equip your workforce with the tools they need to excel. Dell’s diverse portfolio of products, including laptops, desktops, workstations, and peripherals, delivers unmatched performance, reliability, and security. With Dell's commitment to quality and innovation, you can stay ahead of the competition and empower your employees to reach new heights. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Accelerate modern app operations with network and security virtualization for WAN, data center and cloud. - Published: 2023-07-09 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/vmware/ Unleash the Power of Virtualisation with VMwareAs a global leader in cloud infrastructure and digital workspace technology, VMware empowers businesses to thrive in the digital era. With their cutting-edge solutions, you can unlock the full potential of your IT infrastructure, streamline operations, and deliver exceptional experiences to your customers and employees. Transform Your IT Infrastructure with VMware Virtualisation: Embrace the power of virtualisation and optimise your IT infrastructure. VMware's industry-leading virtualisation solutions enable you to consolidate servers, streamline management, and reduce costs. Virtualise your data center, desktops, applications, and networking to create a more agile and efficient environment. Cloud Computing: Accelerate your journey to the cloud with VMware's cloud solutions. Whether you choose private, public, or hybrid cloud deployments, VMware’s cloud infrastructure and management tools provide the flexibility, scalability, and security you need to modernise your IT operations and drive innovation. Modern Applications: Embrace the future of application development and delivery with VMware's modern application solutions. From containers to Kubernetes, VMware’s technologies enable you to build, run, and manage modern applications across any cloud or infrastructure, increasing developer productivity and accelerating time to market. Networking and Security: Transform your network infrastructure with VMware's software-defined networking (SDN) and security solutions. VMware’s solutions provide centralised management, automation, and security across your entire network, enabling you to simplify operations, enhance agility, and protect against emerging threats. Digital Workspace: Empower your workforce with VMware's digital workspace solutions. Deliver a seamless, secure, and personalised experience to your employees, enabling them to access their applications and... --- - Published: 2023-07-06 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/aruba/ Aruba Networks is a leading provider of network infrastructure solutions and services. It is a subsidiary of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and specialises in wireless networking, wired networking, and network security. Aruba's networking solutions are designed to help organisations build and manage reliable, secure, and scalable networks. Some key aspects of Aruba's networking offerings include:Wireless Networking: Aruba is well-known for its expertise in wireless networking. They offer a range of wireless access points (APs) and wireless controllers that provide high-performance, reliable Wi-Fi connectivity. Aruba's wireless solutions support the latest standards, such as Wi-Fi 6 (802. 11ax), and incorporate advanced features like adaptive radio management, client roaming optimisation, and seamless integration with other network components. Wired Networking: In addition to wireless solutions, Aruba also provides wired networking infrastructure. This includes switches, routers, and network management software. Aruba's wired networking solutions are designed to deliver high-speed, secure, and resilient connectivity for organisations of all sizes. They offer features like quality of service (QoS), virtual LAN (VLAN) support, and Power over Ethernet (PoE) capabilities. Network Security: Aruba emphasises network security and offers solutions to protect networks from threats. Their security portfolio includes features such as firewall protection, intrusion detection and prevention, secure access controls, and network visibility tools. Aruba's ClearPass Policy Manager is a popular solution for managing network access and enforcing security policies across both wired and wireless networks. Network Management: Aruba provides network management solutions to simplify the configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting of network infrastructure. Their management software, called Aruba Central,... --- > Advantage has certified Cisco professionals that can assist with network deployments or ongoing management of Cisco devices - Published: 2023-07-06 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/cisco/ Unlock the Power of Connectivity with Cisco! Cisco believe in the transformative power of technology. Cisco’s cutting-edge networking solutions empower businesses to connect, collaborate, and thrive in the digital age. With Cisco’s expertise in networking hardware, software, and security, we are your trusted partner in building a secure and intelligent network infrastructure. Accelerate Your Business with Cisco Networking Solutions Experience the next generation of networking with Cisco's innovative solutions. Cisco’s portfolio includes a wide range of products and services designed to meet the diverse needs of businesses across industries. Networking Infrastructure: Build a robust and scalable network foundation with Cisco's industry-leading routers, switches, and wireless solutions. From small businesses to large enterprises, our networking infrastructure provides reliable connectivity, seamless scalability, and high-performance capabilities. Security: Protect your digital assets and safeguard your business with Cisco's comprehensive security solutions. Our advanced threat intelligence and integrated security technologies defend against sophisticated cyber threats, ensuring that your network, data, and applications remain secure. Collaboration: Foster collaboration and enhance productivity with Cisco's collaboration tools. From video conferencing to team messaging and unified communications, our solutions enable seamless communication and collaboration across teams, regardless of location or device. Cloud Solutions: Embrace the power of the cloud with Cisco's cloud solutions. Our cloud infrastructure, management tools, and services help businesses leverage the scalability and flexibility of the cloud, enabling faster innovation and reduced operational costs. Data Center: Optimise your data center operations with Cisco's data centre solutions. From compute and storage to virtualisation and automation, our solutions... --- > Veeam Backup & Replication is a software product developed by Veeam Software to back up, restore and replicate data on virtual machines (VMs). - Published: 2023-07-06 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/veeam/ Experience Data Protection and Intelligent Data Management with VeeamWelcome to Veeam, the global leader in backup, recovery, and intelligent data management solutions. Veeam understand that data is at the heart of your business, and our mission is to help you protect and manage it with confidence. With Veeam, you can ensure the availability, agility, and insights you need to drive your organisation forward. Protect Your Data with Veeam's Comprehensive Solutions Backup and Recovery: Safeguard your critical data with Veeam's powerful backup and recovery solutions. Veeam’s innovative technologies enable you to create secure backups, replicate data, and recover rapidly in case of any data loss or disruption. With industry-leading Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs), you can minimise downtime and keep your business running smoothly. Cloud Data Management: Embrace the cloud with Veeam's cloud data management solutions. Seamlessly extend your data protection and management capabilities to the cloud, whether it's public, private, or hybrid. With Veeam, you can securely backup, replicate, and archive your data, ensuring its availability and compliance across multi-cloud environments. Intelligent Data Management: Gain valuable insights from your data with Veeam's intelligent data management solutions. Veeam’s advanced analytics and monitoring tools provide visibility into your data, helping you optimize resources, identify risks, and make informed business decisions. Leverage the power of your data to drive innovation and achieve a competitive edge. Data Security and Compliance: Protect your data from internal and external threats with Veeam's comprehensive data security and compliance solutions. Ensure data integrity, prevent... --- > Learn about the latest cyber threats and how to protect yourself and your organisation with managed cyber security awareness training. - Published: 2023-07-06 - Modified: 2025-09-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-security-awareness-training/ Cybercrime is a fast-paced, fast-growing global industry. New Zealand organisations are facing increasingly sophisticated attacks, designed to evade existing security controls. Becoming victim to an online threat could result in ransomware attacks, stolen intellectual property and private data exfiltration, or significant brand damage. Security awareness training is an essential investment for any organisation that wants to protect itself from cyber threats. By educating employees about the risks and how to stay safe, security awareness training can help to strengthen your security posture, reduce risk, and empower your people to be the first line of defense against cyber threats. Advantage Protect specialised Security Awareness Training programs, leverage Knowbe4 The solution delivers market leading security awareness training with several key benefits to you:Training is tailored to educate employees about a wide range of cybersecurity risks, including phishing, ransomware, social engineering, and more. Customised content and interactive modules covering essential topics such as email security, password best practices, data protection, and safe browsing habits improves security awareness. Phishing Simulations allow employees to experience realistic scenarios and learn how to identify and respond to phishing attempts. Employees can report suspected phishing to the Advantage SOC who will promptly review and respond to the request, removing the email and conducting further scans for similar emails across other mailboxes. Our fully managed offering includes a monthly report giving you visibility over the success of the program. To learn how you can access the benefits of KnowBe4 and Advantage Protect specialised security awareness training, contact us. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Reach out for assistance! Call us at 0800 358 8999 or message us to connect. Visit our offices in Palmerston North, Auckland, or Wellington. - Published: 2023-07-06 - Modified: 2025-11-06 - URL: https://advantage.nz/contact/ National 0800 358 8999 International +64 6 358 8999 Send us a message Head Office 73 Queen Street, Palmerston North, Manawatu, 4410 Auckland Unit 304, 48 Greys Avenue, Auckland, 1010 Wellington Level 6, 15 Willeston Street, Wellington, 6011 --- - Published: 2023-06-27 - Modified: 2025-09-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/consulting-services/cybersecurity-assessment/ Gain valuable insights into your organisation's cybersecurity posture and vulnerabilities with our comprehensive cybersecurity assessment services, empowering you to proactively identify and mitigate risks for enhanced protection. Is your business secure? Get peace of mind with our comprehensive Cybersecurity Assessment service. Our Cybersecurity Assessment services In today’s digital world, your business' security is of utmost importance. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, it’s essential to have strong defences in place. Our Cybersecurity Assessments follow industry-leading standards and can be customised to meet your specific business needs. We are a team of experienced cybersecurity professionals with a proven track record of success in working with organisations of all sizes, from enterprises to SMEs. Key Benefits of Our Cyber Security Assessments: Identify Weaknesses: Our expert team can evaulate your digital infrastructure to find vulnerabilities and weaknesses. This will give you a clear understanding of your organisation's risks. Mitigate Risks: We will develop a roadmap to address risks identified in the assessment. This roadmap will include recommendations for technical controls, policy enhancements, employee awareness, and incident response planning. This will help you prioritise and allocate resources effectively. Stay Compliant: Compliance with industry regulations and standards is important for maintaining trust and avoiding penalties. Our assessments will ensure that your organisation meets the necessary compliance requirements. We will identify any gaps and provide guidance on how to align your practices accordingly. More key benefits cont. : Enhance Incident Response: With a solid understanding of your organisation's security landscape, we assist in developing a robust incident response plan. This proactive approach ensures that your team is well-prepared to detect, contain, and mitigate cyber threats effectively, minimising potential damage and downtime. Strengthen Security... --- - Published: 2023-06-27 - Modified: 2025-09-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/consulting-services/vciso-services/ Elevate your organisation's cybersecurity with our vCISO services, providing expert guidance and strategic leadership to safeguard against emerging threats and protect your critical assets. Our vCISO services give you acces to the highest level of security expertise without breaking the bank. Here's an overview of our vCISO services: With a vCISO, you get a trusted adviser and cybersecurity expert who can help you with:Strategic Security Leadership:We help you develop and implement a cybersecurity program that meets your specific needs. We align security initiatives with your business objectives to ensure that your security investments are making a difference. We help you mitigate risk and comply with regulations. Risk Management:We conduct risk assessments to identify and prioritise your security risks. We develop risk management frameworks to help you manage your risks effectively. We implement robust security controls to protect your sensitive data, systems, and intellectual property. Cyber Security Governance: We help you establish governance frameworks and policies to ensure consistent and effective security practices across your organisation. We define roles and responsibilities for security. We implement security awareness programs to help your employees stay safe online. We facilitate regulatory compliance. Overview of our vCISO services (continued): Incident Response Planning:We help you develop a plan to respond and recover from cyber attack. We help you minimise the impact of the attack and get your systems back up and running as quickly as possible. We help you communicate with your stakeholders during an incident and implement lessons learned to improve your incident response capabilities. Security Compliance and Regulatory Alignment:We have deep knowledge of industry regulations and compliance standards. We help you navigate complex regulatory landscapes and ensure you... --- > Get top-tier technology leadership, tailored strategies, and a roadmap to sustainable growth with Advantage vCTO services. - Published: 2023-06-27 - Modified: 2025-09-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/consulting-services/virtual-chief-technology-officer-vcto-services/ Accelerate your technological growth and innovation with our vCTO services, delivering expert guidance and strategic leadership to optimise your IT infrastructure and drive business success. We understand that technology plays a crucial role in driving business success and innovation. As a leading provider of vCTO services, we offer the expertise and guidance you need to leverage technology effectively and strategically. Our vCTO services With our vCTO services, you get:Top-tier technology leadershipTailored strategiesA roadmap to sustainable growth. Our team of experienced vCTOs: Brings a wealth of knowledge and industry expertiseCollaborates closely with you to understand your business objectives, challenges, and vision. Whether you’re a startup or an established organisation:We provide strategic advice to align your technology objectives with your business goals. Key benefits of our vCTO services: Technology road mapping: We work with you to develop a roadmap for your technology investments that aligns with your long-term business goals. We identify opportunities, assess risks, and recommend strategies to ensure that your technology investments are making a difference. IT infrastructure optimisation:We evaluate your current IT infrastructure, and identify areas for improvement. We help you streamline operations, enhance security, and maximise the performance of your IT systemsWe make sure that your IT systems are supporting your business needs and that you are getting the most out of your IT investments. Digital Transformation:We help you embrace the digital era with confidence. We provide insights into emerging technologies, and help you to harness their potential to transform your business. We help you improve your customer experiences, drive innovation, and achieve your business goals. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact... --- - Published: 2023-06-14 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/incident-response/incident-response-retainer/ Cyber threats can affect your business at any time – and they need an immediate response. At a time where incident response (IR) resource is in high demand and in short supply, an Incident Response Retainer (IRR) gives you peace of mind. Our retainer agreement can be used to prepare for, respond to, and efficiently resolve security incidents to minimise business impact. What's included The IRR is an agreement set up in advance of a cyber incident and entitles you to priority support, guaranteed SLAs, and access to a wide range of incident response and security program readiness consulting services. We will also provide the appropriate licenses to support the incident response services. We will respond within the agreed timeframes to provide incident-response (IR) services including:data breach responseransomware investigation and recovery servicesdigital forensics and insider threat investigationstactical response insider threats, and expert witness testimonyOur incident response includes all licensing to support delivery of the IR service. Hours expire after the agreed 12-month term. You can repurpose any prepaid hours for a variety of proactive, reactive, and educational purposes. Need help now? Contact us Why use Advantage for incident response? Our team of IR specialists are experienced with a wide variety of industry standard tools and solutions that provide the required visibility across your network, endpoints, and other systems to perform efficient and comprehensive investigation of an incident. We are the only SentinelOne SIREN certified Incident Response Company in New ZealandExperienced and Dedicated IR Team based in New ZealandISO27001 Certified Incident response data sheet Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can... --- > Boasting some of NZ's top networking talent, our AdvantageConnect Team are well placed to help you exploit technology to achieve your business objectives. - Published: 2023-06-13 - Modified: 2025-12-16 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/networking-services/ Boasting some of New Zealand's top networking talent, our AdvantageConnect Team are well placed to help you exploit technology to achieve your business objectives. AdvantageConnect Networking Services IP Data Networks Service designed to provide reliable, secure, and scalable networking solutions. Managed Firewall Comprehensive monitoring and management of firewalls including threat intelligence and NCSC Malware Free Networks. Network Security Comprehensive protection for your digital infrastructure utilising best of breed technology and tools. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > CyberArk is an Identity and Access Management (IAM) security tool you can use as a privileged access management tool - Published: 2023-06-08 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/cyberark/ CyberArk is a leading provider of Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions that help organisations to secure, manage, and monitor privileged access to their sensitive systems and data. The platform uses advanced security intelligence and machine learning algorithms to provide complete visibility and control over privileged access, from the device to the cloud. Privileged access management is an essential component of an organization's cybersecurity strategy, as privileged accounts and credentials are often the target of cyber attackers. By securing, managing and monitoring privileged access, organisations can prevent cyber-attacks, maintain compliance and protect their sensitive systems and data. CyberArk's PAM platform provides a comprehensive privileged access management solution, including:Automated discovery and onboarding of privileged accounts,Secure and automated management of privileged access and credentials,Real-time monitoring and alerting, which enables detection of suspicious activity and potential threats,Advanced analytics and reporting, which provides insights and visibility into privileged access and enables organisations to track progress over timeMulti-platform support, which covers a wide range of technologies and platforms, including Windows, Linux, Unix, databases, and cloud environmentsIn addition to PAM, CyberArk also offers a range of specialized cybersecurity solutions that are designed to protect specific industries and use cases such as financial services, healthcare, and government. CyberArk's PAM solution is designed to protect an organization from advanced threats and ensure compliance. By securing, managing and monitoring privileged access, organizations can prevent cyber-attacks, maintain compliance and protect sensitive systems and data. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact... --- > Our Environmental & Sustainability policy outlines our commitment to minimising the impact of our activities on the environment. - Published: 2023-06-08 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/sustainability-environmental-policy/ Advantage provides IT, Cyber Security, Cloud, and Networking Solutions to businesses throughout New Zealand and the Pacific Region. We recognise that our activities have an impact on our environment and pledge to do our best to comply with social, environmental, and economic sustainability through our daily activities. To support our efforts, we have developed an environmental and sustainability policy. The following 3-pillars form the basis of this policy:Environmental sustainabilitySocial sustainabilityEconomic sustainabilityENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITYWe are a responsible business and try to minimise the impact of our activities on the environment whilst maintaining a high standard of service to our clients. This policy outlines our commitment to minimising our impact on the environment and how we aim to continually improve our environmental performance as we carry out our day-to-day activities. Following an extensive review of our activities and operations, we have identified several key areas that impact on our environment:Energy consumptionAir emissionsResource useWaste to landfillLogisticsSupplier environmental impactWorking in partnership with our team, customers, and suppliers, we continually raise awareness of environmental issues. Additionally, we work together to make continuous improvements to our operations, and ensuring compliance with all current environmental legislation as a minimum. Our commitment is to implement improvements in the following areas:Energy ConsumptionWe use energy for heating and lighting, as well as to run our datacentre operations. Energy consumption is monitored continuously and we seek to implement energy efficiency measures wherever practical. An example of an inititiave is the use of Windows Group Policy to manage business and customer wide power... --- > Advantage is committed to sustainable and inclusive procurement. Our Supplier Code of Conduct outlines our expectations of suppliers. - Published: 2023-06-08 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/supplier-code-of-conduct-2/ Advantage Supplier Code of Conduct Our Commitment to Responsible Partnerships in New ZealandWelcome to the Advantage Supplier Code of Conduct. This document lays out our expectations for anyone who supplies goods or services to Advantage. We believe that doing the right thing is as important as doing things right. That’s why we’re committed to fair, ethical, and environmentally responsible business practices—and we expect our suppliers to share these values. Why We Have a Supplier Code of Conduct We work with a wide range of suppliers, from large companies to small local businesses, and we want every relationship to be built on trust and respect. This Code of Conduct helps make sure our suppliers know what we stand for, what we expect, and how we work together. It’s not about formality—it’s about making sure we’re all on the same page. Our Standards and Expectations We ask that all suppliers follow New Zealand laws, regulations, and local requirements, as well as these core principles:Act Lawfully: Suppliers must comply with all relevant local and national laws. That includes the Health and Safety at Work Act, Employment Relations Act, Privacy Act, and Fair Trading Act, among others. If you’re unsure about a requirement, please ask us or seek local advice. Respect for People: Everyone deserves to be treated fairly. Suppliers must not discriminate based on gender, race, age, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any protected status. We expect suppliers to provide a safe, inclusive, and respectful working environment. Health and Safety First: Suppliers are... --- > Advantage general terms and conditions - Published: 2023-06-08 - Modified: 2025-08-07 - URL: https://advantage.nz/legal/ General Terms and Conditions of Service These General Terms set out the terms and conditions on which Advantage provides Products and Services. We may occasionally change these terms and conditions on our website. “Advantage, we, us” means Advantage Limited. “Business Day” means Monday to Friday inclusive, excluding national public holidays and applicable provincial anniversary days. “Loss” means a loss, claim, action, damage, liability, cost, charge, expense, penalty, compensation, fine or outgoing suffered, paid, or incurred. “Products” means all hardware, related equipment, Software and all other goods or property which are supplied by us to you (or any of your Related Companies). “Related Company” has the meaning given in the Companies Act 1993, read as if the expression includes any body corporate and any company incorporated under the law of any jurisdiction. “Services” means all services which are supplied by us to you (or any of your Related Companies) and includes Hardware & Software sales, IT Security services, network design and integration services, server hosting, IT consulting services or any specific services agreed in a SOW. “Software” means all system software, application software, software tools and software utilities which are supplied by us to you (or any of your Related Companies) and includes any software provided as part of a Product or Service. “SOW” means a statement of work, quote, or order form. In these General Terms, unless the context requires otherwise, a reference to a clause number is to a clause of these General Terms. Supply of Products and Services... --- > Advantage provides Microsoft-related products and services for Microsoft 365, Azure, EntraID, Sharepoint and CoPilot. - Published: 2023-06-08 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/microsoft/ Gain access to leading Microsoft technology by working with a long standing and accredited Microsoft Partner. Microsoft offers a wide range of key solutions that cater to various industries and empower individuals and organisations to achieve their goals. Key solutions include:Microsoft Office 365: A comprehensive suite of productivity applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more. Office 365 enables seamless collaboration, document sharing, and communication across teams. Microsoft Azure: A powerful cloud computing platform offering infrastructure, platform, and software services. Azure enables businesses to build, deploy, and manage applications and services globally, leveraging its scalability, security, and extensive range of tools. Microsoft Teams: A collaboration platform that brings together chat, video meetings, file sharing, and app integration into a single workspace. Teams facilitates effective remote collaboration and communication among teams of any size. Microsoft Power Platform: A low-code platform that enables the creation of custom business applications, workflows, and reports. The Power Platform consists of Power Apps for app development, Power Automate for workflow automation, and Power BI for data visualisation and analytics. Microsoft Azure AI: A suite of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) services that helps businesses leverage data and AI capabilities. This includes Azure Cognitive Services for adding intelligent features to applications, Azure Machine Learning for building ML models, and Azure Bot Services for creating chatbots. Microsoft SQL Server: A relational database management system that provides a secure and scalable platform for storing, managing, and analyzing data. SQL Server offers advanced data integration, analytics, and reporting... --- > Pulseway is an easy to use, complete remote monitoring and management (RMM) software, with automation, patching and remote control. - Published: 2023-06-08 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/pulseway/ Pulseway is a leading provider of remote monitoring and management (RMM) solutions for IT staff, that enables them to manage small to large infrastructures remotely, from a single location. The platform offers a range of tools and features that allow IT staff to monitor, manage, and maintain their IT infrastructure, whether it's on-premises, in the cloud, or a combination of both. FREE TRIAL Pulseway platform provides a comprehensive RMM solution, including:Real-time monitoring and alerting of the entire IT infrastructure, which allows IT staff to quickly detect and resolve issues,Remote access and control of all IT devices, which allows IT staff to manage and maintain their IT infrastructure, regardless of location,Automated patch management, which ensures that all devices are up-to-date and secure,Advanced analytics and reporting, which provides IT staff with insights and visibility into their IT infrastructure,Multi-platform support, which covers a wide range of technologies and platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, mobile devices, and cloud environments. In addition, Pulseway also offers a range of specialised solutions such as IT automation, IT documentation and reporting to name a few. Pulseway RMM solution helps IT staff manage small to large infrastructures remotely, from a single location. By providing real-time monitoring, remote access, and control, IT staff can quickly detect and resolve issues, ensure the security of their IT infrastructure and maintain compliance with ease. This solution enables IT staff to manage and maintain their IT infrastructure, regardless of location, freeing up time and resources, and allowing them to focus on more strategic projects.... --- > Exclaimer is easy to use, professional email signature software that's designed for Office 365 and Google Workspace. - Published: 2023-06-08 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/exclaimer/ Exclaimer is a leading provider of email branding solutions that help organisations to enhance their email communications and promote their brand. The platform offers a range of tools and features that allow you to create professional, branded email signatures, automated email responses, and other communications in minutes. Email branding is an essential component of an organisation's overall branding strategy, as it allows you to promote your brand and communicate a consistent message to your customers, partners, and other stakeholders through every email communication. With Exclaimer, you can easily create professional, branded email signatures, automated email responses, and other communications, without the need for IT or design skills. Exclaimer platform provides a comprehensive email branding solution, including:A user-friendly design editor that allows you to create professional, branded email signatures and automated email responses in minutes,Automated management and deployment of email signatures, which ensures that all email communications are consistent and on-brand,Advanced analytics and reporting, which provides you with insights and visibility into your email communications,Integration with leading email platforms such as Exchange, Office 365, and G Suite, which allows you to create, deploy and manage your email signatures, automated email responses and other communications. In addition, Exclaimer also offers a range of specialised solutions such as email disclaimer, email archiving and email encryption to name a few. Email branding is an essential aspect of company branding as it helps to communicate a consistent message and promote brand awareness through every email communication. With Exclaimer, organisations can create professional, branded email signatures,... --- > DMARC is an email-validation system that is designed to give email domain owners the ability to protect their domains from unauthorised use. - Published: 2023-06-08 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/powerdmarc/ PowerDMARC is a leading provider of DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) solutions that help organisations to protect their email domains from unauthorised use and phishing attacks. The platform uses advanced security intelligence and machine learning algorithms to analyse data from multiple sources, providing you with the information you need to understand and manage your DMARC posture. DMARC is an email-validation system that is designed to give email domain owners the ability to protect their domains from unauthorised use, including phishing and email spoofing. By publishing a DMARC policy, an organisation can tell receiving mail servers what to do with messages that fail DMARC evaluation. By implementing DMARC, organisations can make it much more difficult for attackers to use their domains in phishing and other malicious campaigns. PowerDMARC platform provides a comprehensive DMARC solution, including:Automated DMARC deployment, which allows you to quickly and easily implement DMARC on your domains,Advanced reporting and analytics, which provides you with the insights you need to understand the DMARC landscape and track your progress over time,Advanced forensic analysis that allows you to investigate and understand the sources of DMARC failures,Automated incident response that allows you to take action on DMARC failures, such as blocking themIntegration with other security solutions like SIEM, phishing simulation and incident response to create a more comprehensive security posture. The DMARC standard is an important step towards email authentication, and it's crucial to have it enabled in order to effectively protect your domains from unauthorized use, including phishing and email... --- > Mimecast works by using a series of filters to scan incoming email traffic and identify potential threats and stop them at the border. - Published: 2023-06-08 - Modified: 2026-01-15 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/mimecast/ Mimecast Email Filtering is a comprehensive security solution that protects your organisation's email systems from a wide range of threats. Mimecast's powerful email filtering technology uses advanced security intelligence and machine learning algorithms to detect and block malicious emails in real-time, ensuring that your inbox is always safe and secure. Mimecast's email filtering solution is designed to protect your organisation from a wide range of threats, including phishing attacks, malware, and ransomware. Our advanced threat detection capabilities include real-time URL rewriting, attachment sandboxing, and multi-layer anti-virus scanning to identify and block malicious emails before they can reach your inbox. In addition to advanced threat detection, Mimecast Email Filtering also offers a wide range of security controls to help you protect your email systems and data. These include multi-factor authentication, email archiving and e-Discovery, and data loss prevention capabilities. One of the key benefits of Mimecast Email Filtering is its ease of integration with your existing email infrastructure. It can be easily implemented as an additional layer of protection, without the need to reconfigure your email systems or disrupt your existing workflow. Mimecast Email Filtering also offers detailed reporting and analytics, which enables to monitor your email systems and identify potential threats, track key metrics such as spam, phishing, and malware detection rate. This enables you to quickly respond to potential threats and take proactive measures to improve your overall email security posture. With Mimecast Email Filtering, you can protect your organisation's email systems and data from a wide range of... --- > Yubico's solutions enable passwordless logins using the most secure form of passkey technology. - Published: 2023-06-08 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/yubico/ YubiKey is a physical security key that provides multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your online accounts and services. It is a small, durable device that allows you to secure your online accounts and protect your data from cyber threats. YubiKey can be used across a wide range of devices, including smartphones, laptops, and tablets. YubiKey uses a secure element chip and communicates using various standards, such as FIDO2, U2F, OTP, and smart card. This makes it easy to integrate with a variety of devices and services, including popular SaaS applications like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and many more. One of the key benefits of using YubiKey is that it provides an additional layer of security beyond just a password. It eliminates the need to remember multiple usernames and passwords, and makes it impossible for hackers to access your accounts even if they manage to obtain your login credentials. YubiKey also offers ease of use, it's small and portable, it does not require any software installation or batteries, and it can last for several years. It's also water and crush resistant. In addition, Yubico, the company that produces YubiKey, also offers different form factors such as USB-A, USB-C, NFC, Lightning that enables you to use the one that best fit your device. It also offers a software solution called YubiPlatform which is a cloud-based solution that enables you to secure your organisation's resources, such as systems and applications, with YubiKey multi-factor authentication (MFA) security platform. YubiKey provides a high level of... --- > Duo Security is a two-factor authentication system that provides an extra layer of security for your online accounts. - Published: 2023-06-08 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/duo/ Duo Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a powerful security solution that provides an additional layer of protection for your online accounts and services. Our MFA solution is designed to secure your organization's data and systems by requiring users to provide two or more forms of authentication before gaining access to sensitive information. Multi-Factor Authentication is critical for security because it significantly reduces the risk of cyber threats such as phishing, account takeovers, and other common forms of cyber attacks. By requiring users to provide multiple forms of authentication, MFA makes it much more difficult for cybercriminals to gain unauthorised access to sensitive information. Duo MFA supports a wide range of authentication methods, including one-time passcodes (OTP), push notifications, and biometric authentication, ensuring that it can be easily integrated into your existing systems and processes. The solution is also easy to use, and can be managed from a single, user-friendly dashboard, making it easy to track and manage user access and activity. The Duo MFA solution also offers a wide range of features and capabilities to help you protect your organization's data and systems. These include advanced threat detection and response capabilities, such as real-time monitoring and alerting, as well as detailed reporting and analytics to help you track key metrics such as authentication attempts and success rates. In addition, Duo MFA can be easily integrated with a wide range of popular SaaS applications, such as Office 365, G Suite, Slack, Salesforce, and many more. This allows you to secure your entire... --- > ExtraHop is a network detection and response (NDR) platform that provides real-time visibility and insights into your network traffic. - Published: 2023-06-08 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/extrahop/ ExtraHop is a network detection and response (NDR) platform that provides real-time visibility and insights into your network traffic. The platform uses advanced machine learning and behavioral analytics to detect and respond to threats in real-time, ensuring that your network is always safe and secure. Click here to learn more about how you can access the benefits of Extrahop through our Managed Network Detection & Response service. Network Detection and Response (NDR) is important because it provides you with the visibility and insights you need to quickly identify and respond to potential threats on your network. By continuously monitoring your network traffic in real-time, NDR solutions like ExtraHop can identify and alert you to suspicious activity and anomalies, so you can take action to neutralise threats before they can cause harm. The ExtraHop platform offers full visibility into all network traffic, including encrypted traffic, and uses machine learning-based threat detection to identify malicious activity and suspicious behavior. It provides real-time threat intelligence, which is an essential ingredient for incident response and investigations. The platform also comes with built-in response actions that can contain or quarantine a compromised endpoint. ExtraHop also offers a wide range of features and capabilities to help you protect your network, such as:ExtraHop Reveal(x) which is a powerful network detection and response solution that uses machine learning and behavioral analytics to detect and respond to threats in real-timeExtraHop Trace which is a network troubleshooting solution that enables you to quickly identify and resolve performance issues and service... --- > Palo Alto Networks is a provider of enterprise network security solutions. Their products include physical and virtual firewalls. - Published: 2023-06-08 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/palo-alto/ Secure your network with the powerful and advanced features of Palo Alto Firewall, the next-generation network security solution. Designed to protect your organisation from advanced cyber threats, Palo Alto Firewall offers comprehensive security measures, granular control, and seamless integration, ensuring the safety and integrity of your network infrastructure. Click here to learn how you can access the benefits of our Managed Firewall Service with Palo Alto. Key FeaturesNext-Generation Firewall (NGFW)Palo Alto Firewall goes beyond traditional firewall capabilities by providing advanced features like application awareness, user identification, and threat prevention. It allows you to create policies based on specific applications, users, and content, providing fine-grained control over network traffic. Threat PreventionPalo Alto Firewall is equipped with advanced threat prevention mechanisms to defend against known and unknown threats. It utilizes multiple security technologies, including antivirus, anti-malware, intrusion prevention, and URL filtering, to identify and block malicious activities in real-time. User IdentificationPalo Alto Firewall enables user identification through various methods, including integration with directory services such as Active Directory, LDAP, and Kerberos. This allows you to create policies based on user identities, ensuring that access to network resources is granted based on user roles and responsibilities. Secure Remote AccessWith Palo Alto Firewall, you can provide secure remote access to your network resources through features like GlobalProtect VPN. This allows remote employees and partners to securely connect to your network from any location, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity. Application ControlPalo Alto Firewall offers detailed visibility and control over network applications. It leverages App-ID technology... --- > Our managed services are designed to give you value for money, with flexible pricing options that can scale as your business grows. - Published: 2023-06-08 - Modified: 2025-09-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/client-partners/sme-solutions/ We understand that Small and Medium business have unique IT needs and expectations from a managed services provider. WE OFFER Cost-effective solutions Our managed IT services are designed to give you value for money, with flexible pricing options that can scale as your business grows. Reliable IT support We recognise that your business relies heavily on IT Infrastructure and that you may not have the in-house expertise to manage your IT requirements. Our Managed IT is a proactive service that is both reliable and responsive, helping to minimise downtime. Proactive monitoring & maintenance We use the latest resources to proactively monitor and maintain your IT systems. This means that we can identify and fix potential problems before they cause downtime or other costly disruptions. Scalability & flexibility We understand that your needs may change. so our managed services are designed to be flexible and scalable. We can tailor our services to your requirements, so you can be sure you're getting the most out of our solution. Data security & backups We understand that protecting your sensitive data is critical. Our full suite of in-house managed security solutions can help you meet your needs for robust security, data encryption, firewalls, endpoint protection, and data backups. Cloud services & remote access Advantage can help you be more flexible, mobile, and collaborative with our suite of cloud-based solutions. Our team of experts can help you leverage the benefits of cloud and remote work solutions. Expertise & consultation Advantage is a trusted advisor to... --- > Detect and respond to threats more effectively and minimise potential damage to your network and sensitive data with MNDR. - Published: 2023-06-06 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-network-detection-response-mndr/ Detect and respond to threats more effectively, reducing the risk of successful cyberattacks and minimising potential damage to your network and sensitive data with Managed Network Detection and Response (MNDR). Detect and respond to threats more effectively, reducing the risk of successful cyberattacks and minimising potential damage to your network and sensitive data with Managed Network Detection and Response (MNDR). Our service Utilising leading technology, the AdvantageProtect SOC continuously monitors your network for signs of malicious activity, verifying alerts and triaging to your internal team. Full network and incident response, containment and support is available if required. Enhance your security posture Contact us if you would like to learn more about how you can enhance your security posture with Advantage Protect MNDR and benefit from:Early threat detectionImproved incident responseEnhanced threat intelligenceNetwork visibility and asset managementCompliance and regulatory supportInsider threat detectionContinuous monitoring and threat hunting Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Find out how AdvantageProtect Managed Web Application Firewall (WAF) protects your web applications from various attacks. - Published: 2023-06-06 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-web-application-firewall-waf/ If you operate web applications or have an online presence, you’d likely benefit and improve your security with a Web Application Firewall (WAF). A WAF is designed to protect web applications from various types of attacks, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), cross-site request forgery (CSRF), and other web vulnerabilities. If you operate web applications or have an online presence, you can benefit from using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to improve your security. A WAF can help protect your web-applications from attacks like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), cross-site request forgery (CSRF). Our service SMEs and enterprises can get industry-leading web application and DDoS mitigation solutions from our vendor partners, such as Radware and Imperva. The solution is managed by the Advantage Security Operations Centre and includes:Implementation and onboarding supportAdds, moves and changesTechnical supportOur comprehensive web application protection solution offers robust security measures to safeguard web applications from a broad spectrum of threats and ensure their availability. We implement your Web Application Firewall (WAF) using industry best practices, providing our customers with the utmost protection against cyber threats. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- - Published: 2023-06-06 - Modified: 2025-09-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/threat-intelligence-as-a-service-tiaas/ Gain access to valuable intelligence on emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and potential risks to your digital assets. All without costly investment in developing in-house threat intelligence and capability. TIaaS leverages advanced technologies, data analysis and expert insights to deliver actionable threat intelligence to help organisations enhance their security posture and make informed decisions. Gain access to valuable intelligence on emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and potential risks to your digital assets without costly investment in developing in-house threat intelligence and capability. TIaaS leverages advanced technologies, data analysis, and expert insights to deliver actionable threat intelligence to help organisations enhance their security posture and make informed decisions. Our service AdvantageProtect Security experts map specific risks to your organisation:Identifying TTPs or technical exploits relevant to you due to organisational structure, vertical, location or services used. Crafting detection rules and mitigations based on these identified issues. Perform threat hunts based on identified risks, concerns or theories and report on results. Monitor threat actors and incidents of interest for new developments that are relevant to your organisation. Monitor darknet information exchanges for information and credentials related to your organisation or being sold or traded. Six reasons why you need Advantage Protect TIaaS Access to experts in threat intelligence analysisComprehensive and timely threat dataProactive threat detectionContextual insightsReduced false positivesCost-effectiveness – no need to hire and train staff in this specialised skill Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > VMaaS: Improve your security posture, reduce breach risk, and ensure compliance with industry-leading Tenable technology. - Published: 2023-06-06 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/vulnerability-management-as-a-service-vmaas/ We proactively identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors. AdvantageProtect VMaaS is underpinned by industry-leading Tenable technology that supports an improvement in overall security posture, reduces the risk of breaches and supports compliance with industry regulations. By adopting VMaaS, you get access to expert cyber-security consultancy – freeing up your internal resources to focus on your core business objectives. AdvantageProtect VMaaS uses industry-leading Tenable technology to improve your security posture, reduce the risk of breaches, and help you comply with regulations. With VMaaS, you get access to expert cybersecurity consultancy so you can focus on your core business. Keep your organisation safe from threats by identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before they are exploited. VMaaS uses industry-leading Tenable technology to improve security posture, reduce breach risk and ensure compliance. The service provides actionable insights and risk prioritisation so organisations can focus on fixing critical vulnerabilities and strenghthening their defences. It includes vulnerability scanning, roadmapping, and regular engagement with your dedicated security advisor, business stakeholders, and internal security teams. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Advantage Phishing Detection and Response delivered by our SOC, provides a platform for protecting your business from cyber-attacks. - Published: 2023-06-05 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-phishing-detection-response-pdr/ Advantage’s managed Phishing Detection & Response is underpinned by KnowBe4 and provides a one-stop, comprehensive platform to protect your business from cyber-attacks. As little as 15 minutes. That’s how long it could take our team of cyber-security experts at the Advantage Security Operations Centre (SOC) to detect and stop attacks on your network. Managed Phishing Detection & Response (PDR) service provides a one-stop, comprehensive solution for protecting your business from cyber-attacks. Our Security Operations Centre (SOC) team works 24/7 to detect and stop phishing attacks in as little as 15 minutes. Key benefits to managed Phishing Detection & Response Enables early identification and removal of phishing attacks in your network. Provides high-fidelity threat intelligence from global partners. Remedies threats in minutes before they can cause damage. Leverages analysts' expertise to proactively hunt for and identify phishing threats. Advantage's Managed Phishing Detection & Response uses best-of-breed technologies to identify and mitigate phishing attacks. It does this by:Detecting suspicious emails or websites using technology. Educating users about phishing attacks. Responding swiftly to phishing attempts to prevent data compromise. The service is further enhanced by a dedicated team of cybersecurity experts. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > 24x7 New Zealand based SOC delivering managed detection and response ([MDR] service across endpoints, servers, cloud and networks. - Published: 2023-06-05 - Modified: 2025-09-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-detection-response-mdr/ New Zealand Organisations are facing increasingly sophisticated attacks, designed to evade existing security controls. Becoming victim to cybercrime can result in ransomware attacks, stolen intellectual property and private data exfiltration or significant brand damage. MDR: The Essential Security Solution for businesses of all sizes. Organisations are facing increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. These attacks are designed to evade existing security controls and can result in significant damage, including ransomware attacks, stolen intellectual property and private data exfiltration.   Enterprise grade protection AdvantageProtect MDR uses SentinelOne technology to provide a complete security solution for your endpoints, servers, and networks. Our solution is designed to help improve your security posture and help you stay ahead of emerging threats. To ensure your business is protected, our New Zealand-based Security Operations Centre (SOC) monitors your environment 24x7x365 for threats. By identifying and responding to threats quickly and effectively, the risk of a cyberattack is significantly reduced. An MDR service is also a great way to augment your own security team. By leveraging the skills of our analysts, your team are freed up to focus on other priorities. Managed Detection & Response Data Sheet Why choose us? Advantage is the only SIREN-certified SentinelOne partner in New Zealand. The SIREN certification is the highest incident -response and containment certification available to SentinelOne partners. We have the only New Zealand based Security Operations Centre (SOC) that provides 24/7 MDR coverage using SentinelOne. We are also the only SentinelOne partner that provides NCSC Malware Free Networks threat intelligence (and other intelligence) via SentinelOne. AdvantageProtect MDR is the winning formula for businesses who want to stay ahead of cyber-threats and we are proud to be SentinelOne APJ Partner of the year 2023. Contact us If... --- > Our enterprise solutions include a suite of managed security solutions and we have extensive expertise in delivering complex IT projects. - Published: 2023-05-05 - Modified: 2025-11-12 - URL: https://advantage.nz/client-partners/enterprise-solutions/ A one-size-fits-all approach has no place in business technology. Our services and solutions are customised to meet Enterprise requirements. WE OFFER Expertise & specialisation Advantage has a strong track record with extensive expertise in delivering complex projects and managed services. We can help you overcome your business technology and security challenges. Scalability & flexibility Advantage Protect managed security services are scalable and flexible. Our solutions can therefore support increasing or decreasing workloads, without compromising performance or efficiencies. Proactive monitoring & maintenance We adopt a proactive approach to both monitoring and maintenance. A proactive approach ensures that downtime is minimised, performance is optimised, and business continuity is maintained. Security & compliance You need a Partner who takes information security as seriously as you do. Advantage is ISO27001 certified – security is ingrained in everything we do. 24/7 Support & rapid response Your business operates around the clock, and so do we. Advantage operates a 24/7 Security Operations Centre and Incident Response Service. Service Level Agreements (SLAs) We take the complexity out of technology. Our SLAs are easy to understand with clear performance metrics, response times, uptime guarantees, and penalties for non-compliance. Proven infrastructure & technologies Our partnership with the best vendors gives you access to the latest technology. Our team is highly certified and experienced in all technologies we support, so you can be sure you're getting the most out of your solution. Strategic partnerships Partnering with a technology leader who can work closely with your internal team is important. We... --- - Published: 2023-05-04 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/join-us/ Careers Working at Advantage Does Advantage feel like a good fit for you? Do you feel you have a lot to offer? If so, have a look at our current vacancies or email people@advantage. co. nz Developing Greatness We make a conscious effort not to pigeonhole you into a fixed career. We are constantly reinventing ourselves – developing and trialing new solutions. We work hard; have fun and we make a difference – what fuels your passion? Achieving Greatness We achieve great results, outcomes, and service standards through effective, efficient, and collaborative working with a value for money approach. Through unsurpassed on the job training and supplemental learning, we focus on your development and create the world-class team delivering value to our clients every day. Leading Greatness We work hard to inspire, empower, and support our team, enabling you to develop and grow personally and professionally. Team benefits ADVANTAGE PERKSAll staff enjoy membership of the perks programme offering discounts across a range of New Zealand retailers. BIRTHDAY LEAVEGet an additional day off with your birthday off. HEALTH INSURANCEFully paid health insurance to all full-time employees. FRUITAll our offices receive a weekly fresh order of fruit. EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMEYour wellbeing is our top priority. We provide all our team access to wellbeing specialists. PARENTAL LEAVE SUPPORTWe understand how important this time is. We provide parental leave support to assist our mothers and fathers to focus on what is most important. REFER A FRIEND BONUSRefer a friend or family member and we... --- - Published: 2023-02-23 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/cloud-services/private-cloud/ Private cloud is a form of cloud computing that delivers similar advantages to public cloud, including scalability and self-service, but through proprietary architecture. Private cloud is a form of cloud computing that delivers similar advantages to public cloud, including scalability and self-service, but through proprietary architecture. Extra security for mission-critical operations Private cloud is a single tenant compute infrastructure and environment created by using virtualisation software, meaning that you do not share resources with others. New Zealand businesses have been entrusting Advantage with their data and co-location infrastructure for more than a decade. Public cloud is not a fit for all business. For example, the risk of hosting a mission-critical workload in the public cloud might exceed an organisation’s risk tolerance. Total control and ownership Many of our clients, particularly in the medical, legal, and financial industries, are also concerned by the security and regulatory compliance concerns related to a multi-tenanted environment. For this reason, investing in private cloud often makes sense as it allows an organisation to realise the benefits of cloud computing while maintaining total control and ownership of its environment. We understand that TRUST is a vital ingredient for any business considering co-location of its ICT infrastructure. Advantage is ISO 27001 accredited and makes use of the very best leading-edge technology to ensure our offering delivers on what we promise. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- - Published: 2023-02-23 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/it-solutions/infrastructure-projects/ IT Infrastructure is the backbone of your business. It’s critical to ensure it is fit for purpose and up and running all the time. IT Infrastructure serves as the backbone to your business. It is crucial to ensure it is fit for purpose and up and running all the time. The right team for your project Skilled technical and project management resources are in short supply. Whether you require expert design, project management, delivery, or an end-end service, our team has the skills and experience to deliver the outcomes you need. We can also monitor and service your new infrastructure to maximise your investment. Advantage delivers We focus on business outcomes, we are thorough, and we adopt an approach that is grounded in practicality. Standing behind our work, we deliver what we say we will – on-time - and keep you informed. Every member of our team is committed to delivering an exceptional client experience - every time. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- - Published: 2023-02-23 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/it-solutions/managed-it-support/ Our Managed IT Solutions are a great choice if you are looking for an IT Partner that can meet your day-day IT needs, support the long-term growth of your business, and provide solid cyber-security protection across your endpoints and servers. Our Managed IT Solutions are a great choice if you are looking for an IT Partner that can meet your day-day IT needs, support the long-term growth of your business, and provide solid cyber-security protection across your endpoints and servers. Key benefits to our offering: 24x7 Monitoring and Alerting – we constantly monitor your systems and resolve known issues. 24x7x365 Support – Access support when you need it. Support Tools – get full visibility of support tickets utilising the leading service management tool – Connectwise. Experienced team – leverage the breadth of experience of our team. Advantage manages the IT needs of some of New Zealand’s leading organisations. Managed Support Agreements A Managed Support Agreement takes care of your day-day IT needs. The team is highly responsive and adopt a proactive approach to IT that prevents costly downtime. Unlike most other Managed Service Providers, there are added benefits in working with us:We are ISO27001 accredited, information security is front of mind in all our processes. Advantage has a fully staffed and highly skilled New Zealand based security operations centre offering a full suite of in-house cyber security services. An established data centre allowing you to leverage the benefits of private cloud and make use of our in-house disaster recovery services. Contact us today to learn how you can leverage the benefits of Advantage Manage. Managed IT Support data sheet Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will... --- > Having a technology platform that is flexible and supports remote working is increasingly important. We are here to help! - Published: 2023-02-23 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/it-solutions/micosoft-modern-workplace-and-365/ Ways of working have changed and teams are collaborating across multiple devices and locations. Having a technology platform that is flexible and supports remote working is increasingly important. Ways of working have changed and teams are collaborating across multiple devices and locations. Having a technology platform that is flexible and supports remote working is increasingly important. People first We understand that many businesses may not be equipped to offer this type of environment yet. We will work with you to assess your needs, adopting a people first approach, and help you create a platform that supports flexibility and collaboration across teams and maintains the security of your critical systems and data Ready for change Our design will be adaptable to ensure that as your business grows, and platforms change, your technology will be able to support the change. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- - Published: 2023-02-23 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/it-solutions/mobile-device-management/ Organisations are using internet-connected mobile devices more than ever. Organisations need to manage and build a framework around mobile-work whereby employees have access to the tools they need to stay on top of their work responsibilities wherever they are. Organisations are increasingly using internet-connected mobile devices. To ensure that employees can stay on top of their work responsibilities wherever they are, organisations need to manage and build a framework around mobile work. Managed access We understand that mobility support communication, collaboration, and productivity. However, it is important to limit access to critical data and content to reduce the risk of security breach. Remotely securing devices and quickly remediating vulnerabilities and bugs are key steps in ensuring the security of your network and the integrity of your data. Enhanced MDM We will work with you to deploy a suitable Mobile Device Management (MDM) software across all mobile devices. We can also manage the service for you if needed. To further enhance your MDM, we can offer SentinelOne Ranger. It delivers AI-powered XDR and provides on-device, adaptive, real-time mobile defence. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Cyber threats can strike anytime. Our incident response team holds vast experience in handling such incidents. - Published: 2023-02-23 - Modified: 2025-09-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/incident-response/incident-response-and-forensics/ Cyber threats can affect your business at any time – and they need an immediate response. Cyber threats can affect your business at any time – and they need an immediate response. Ready to respond Need help now? Contact us Our team of IR specialists have extensive experience in dealing with cyber incidents - from single user email account compromises through to large scale ransomware attacks. Our incident response team sits alongside our managed security team , so we are exposed to threats and incidents on a daily basis. This provides us with ongoing exposure to the latest security threats and trends. We have partnered with the world's leading providers of technical tooling, allowing our team to rapidly identify, contain and remediate threats to your business. Advantage acts as the New Zealand wide representative for a number of global security companies and legal providers. We have a team spread throughout New Zealand so we can respond to incidents quickly on-site. However we specialise in providing remote incident response support to improve the time-to-remediate your issue. Our services are most effective when we are engaged during the “good times” and we can get a good baseline to work from. However, we are available on demand for new clients in their time of need. Forensic analysis Advantage provides digital forensic services to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Our team has developed robust and forensically sound procedures for the acquisition, analysis and reporting of relevant artifacts to assist you with investigations. We use world class tooling and techniques that allow us to image and perform analysis on servers,... --- - Published: 2023-02-23 - Modified: 2025-09-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/it-solutions/our-it-services/ Our Manage Team is highly skilled and experienced and includes support desk, systems engineers, network engineers, and consultants based across New Zealand. We serve some of New Zealand’s most successful organisations. Our Manage Team comprises highly skilled and experienced support desk, systems engineers, network engineers, and consultants. Spread across New Zealand, we are proud to serve some of New Zealand’s most successful organisations. Supporting you for the long term Our clients understand that a true IT partner goes beyond the break/fix model and provides long-term solutions to business challenges and goals. Advantage ensures investment in information technology provides the maximum ROI to its stakeholders through IT roadmapping, planning and strategy. Committed to our customers We have a high customer satisfaction rate and the accolades to prove it. Testimony to our outstanding work, our very first client is still a client 25 years on! Advantage builds lasting & trusted relationships creating true partnerships. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Multi-layer security enables full-suite protection for cloud solutions such as Office 365, Workspace, Teams, Citrix Files and Slack. - Published: 2023-02-07 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/avanan/ Avanan’s AI protects cloud email and collaboration suites from cyber-attacks that evade default and advanced security tools. Its invisible, multi-layer security enables full-suite protection for cloud collaboration solutions such as Office 365, G-Suite, Teams, and Slack. Avanan's platform deploys in one click via API to prevent Business Email Compromise and block phishing, malware, data leakage, account takeover and shadow IT across the enterprise. Avanan replaces the need for multiple tools to secure the entire cloud collaboration suite, with a patented solution that goes far beyond any other Cloud Email Security Supplement. Courtesy of Avanan Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- - Published: 2023-02-07 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/armis/ Armis Security is a leading provider of agentless device security solutions for today’s hyper-connected enterprises. In today's digitally driven world, the proliferation of connected devices presents significant challenges to enterprise security. Traditional security solutions that rely on agents or signatures are simply not enough to keep up with the ever-evolving threat landscape. Armis Security provides a unique approach to device security that protects your organisation from the risks associated with unmanaged and IoT devices. Armis’ agentless security platform offers complete visibility and control over all devices in your environment, whether they are managed or unmanaged. With Armis, you can automatically discover every device on your network, assess its security posture, and enforce policies to prevent threats before they can do damage. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- - Published: 2023-02-07 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/cloud-services/cloud-development/ Advantage works with businesses across New Zealand to understand their strategic vision and identify a future-ready cloud solution that’s right for them. Advantage works with businesses across New Zealand to understand their strategic vision and identify a future-ready cloud solution that’s right for them. Modern approaches for business We believe that a modern workplace is anywhere you are! We will work with you to develop a robust cloud-migration strategy to guide your environments to the cloud. Talk to the experts Whether you are looking for a local private cloud solution, hybrid or multi-cloud approach, we have the experts to guide your cloud migration journey. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- - Published: 2023-02-07 - Modified: 2025-09-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/cloud-services/disaster-recovery/ Get peace of mind over your data protection, disaster recovery, and business continuity by having Advantage manage your backup and recoverability service. Get peace of mind over your data protection, disaster recovery, and business continuity by having Advantage manage your backup and recoverability service. Backup as a Service Backup as a Service (BaaS) gives you a fully managed solution that ensures backups occur and data integrity is maintained along with the software and support services you need. Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) gives you BaaS plus we will also orchestrate the recovery of IT operations through agreed-upon playbooks. Restoration of operations is completed within agreed upon timeframes to meet business objectives, reducing your risk of lost revenue due to downtime. By engaging us to assist with your backup strategy, you get: Clarity of procedures and schedules that outline the frequencies of backups and clarify the ownership and responsibilities for each process. Choice of backup options to satisfy the needs of your business in terms of the timing and frequency of backups. Redundancy of backup copies to ensure fast recovery. Protection of data copies and data by encrypting data in flight and at rest. Security with hardened, multi-layered controls to prevent unwarranted access and the lateral movement or loss of data. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Illumio reduces risk and increases cyber resiliency for modern organizations by providing visibility and protection of critical applications and data. - Published: 2023-02-07 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/illumio/ Illumio is a leading provider of micro-segmentation security solutions that protect your organisation's data center and cloud environments. The platform uses advanced security intelligence and machine learning algorithms to segment your network and protect your sensitive data and applications from cyber threats. Micro-segmentation is an important security technique that enables you to divide your network into smaller, security-controlled segments, or "micro-segments. "By creating these smaller segments, you can limit the spread of threats, and more easily contain and remediate security incidents. It also allows you to apply granular, context-aware security policies to your environment. Illumio platform provides real-time visibility of all network communication and enables you to create micro-segments based on user identity, application, and workload. This allows you to create a more dynamic security posture and respond to new threats as they emerge. The platform is also able to understand communication patterns of your systems and applications, automatically identifying and segmenting critical data. Our platform can be used to secure your data center, cloud, or both environments and can be seamlessly integrated with existing security infrastructure. This allows you to extend your current security capabilities and ensure that your sensitive data and applications are fully protected at all times. Illumio also offers a wide range of features and capabilities, including:Automated policy generation which allows you to quickly and easily create and enforce micro-segmentation policies,Real-time threat detection and response capabilities, which allow you to quickly identify and respond to potential threats and anomalies,Compliance reporting, which helps you to ensure that... --- - Published: 2023-02-07 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/attackiq/ AttackIQ is a leading provider of breach and attack simulation (BAS) solutions, which enable organisations to test and improve their security posture. Our platform uses advanced security intelligence and automated testing to simulate real-world cyber attacks, helping you identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) is an important security practice that helps organizations to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in their security posture. It allows you to test your security controls and response plans against a wide range of realistic cyber threats, helping you to identify and prioritize security gaps, and improve your overall security posture. AttackIQ platform offers a range of features and capabilities that allow you to test and improve your security posture, such as:Real-time attack simulations, which provide a realistic assessment of your security posture against a wide range of cyber threats,Automated testing and reporting, which allows you to quickly and easily identify vulnerabilities and track progress over time,Integration with a wide range of third-party security tools, including security information and event management (SIEM) systems, vulnerability scanners, and incident response platforms,Ability to replicate attacks and adversarial tactics used in real-world attacks, which allows you to test the effectiveness of your security controls against the most advanced threats. AttackIQ's BAS platform allows you to verify your security controls and incident response process, find vulnerabilities and misconfigurations and provides remediation guidance. This platform can be integrated with other security tools and platforms. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us.... --- > Tenable Identity Exposure enables you to see everything in your complex environment to prioritise risk mitigation. - Published: 2023-02-07 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/tenable/ Tenable is a leading provider of vulnerability management solutions that help organisations to identify, prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities in their IT environment. The platform uses advanced security intelligence and machine learning algorithms to scan your network and identify vulnerabilities in your systems, applications and devices. Click here to learn how you can unlock the benefits of Tenable through VMaaS. Vulnerability management is an important practice in cybersecurity as it enables organisations to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by cybercriminals. Without effective vulnerability management, organisations risk falling victim to cyber attacks that can lead to data breaches, service interruptions and reputational damage. Tenable's platform offers a wide range of features and capabilities that allow you to manage vulnerabilities across your IT environment, including:Vulnerability scanning and assessment, which identifies vulnerabilities in your systems, applications and devices,Prioritization of vulnerabilities based on risk, which enables you to focus on the most critical vulnerabilities firstIntegrated remediation guidance and automated workflows that allows you to quickly and easily remediate vulnerabilities,Advanced reporting and analytics, which enables you to track progress over time and identify trends in your vulnerability management program. The Tenable platform can discover vulnerabilities in any attack surface, including Cloud, IoT and OT environments. Additionally, it provides real-time threat intelligence and integration with other security tools, which enables security teams to have a holistic view of the security posture of their organisation and make informed risk management decisions. With Tenable, you can stay one step ahead of cyber attackers by continuously... --- > Anomali is a security operations platform harnessing the power of AI to deliver breakthrough threat detection, visibility and cyber exposure management. - Published: 2023-02-07 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/anomali/ Anomali is a comprehensive threat intelligence platform that empowers organisations to detect and respond to cyber threats quickly and effectively. The platform provides a single point of access for a wide range of threat intelligence sources, including open source, commercial, and proprietary feeds. Anomali's platform also includes a powerful analytics engine that enables you to correlate, investigate, and take action on threat intelligence data in real-time. Threat intelligence is an essential component of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. By providing organisations with the actionable intelligence they need to detect and respond to cyber threats, threat intelligence platforms like Anomali help organisations to stay ahead of cyber attacks, and protect their data, systems, and intellectual property. Anomali offers a wide range of features and capabilities to help you stay ahead of cyber threats, including:Real-time threat detection, which enables you to quickly identify and respond to potential threats and anomaliesAdvanced analytics and machine learning, which helps you to identify patterns and trends in threat dataAutomated workflows, which allow you to quickly and easily remediate threats and vulnerabilitiesIntegration with a wide range of third-party security tools, including security information and event management (SIEM) systems, endpoint protection, and incident response platforms, enables you to correlate threat intelligence with other data sources and gain a more comprehensive view of the threats facing your organisation. Anomali's platform offers a range of flexible deployment options, from on-premises, cloud-based, or a hybrid solution that allows organisations to choose the option that best fits their needs Contact us If you... --- > KnowBe4 is the world's largest security-awareness training and simulated phishing, that gives staff the tools they need to stop threats. - Published: 2023-02-07 - Modified: 2025-11-11 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/knowbe4/ KnowBe4 is a leading provider of phishing simulation and training solutions that help organisations to detect, report, and remediate phishing attacks quickly and effectively. The KnowBe4 platform uses advanced security intelligence and machine learning algorithms to identify and neutralise phishing threats, ensuring that your organisation is always protected from phishing attacks. Find out what percentage of your employees are Phish-prone Did you know that 91% of successful data breaches started with a spear phishing attack? Find out what percentage of your employees are Phish-prone™ with your free phishing security test. Plus, see how you stack up against your peers with the new phishing Industry Benchmarks! Phishing simulation and training is a critical component of an organisation's cybersecurity strategy, as it helps employees to recognise and report phishing attempts. By simulating phishing attacks and providing employees with the knowledge and skills they need to recognise and report phishing emails, organisations can greatly reduce their susceptibility to phishing attacks. The KnowBe4 platform provides a comprehensive phishing simulation and training solution which includes: Phishing templates that simulates real-world phishing attacks, allowing you to test the susceptibility of your employees to phishing attacks. Advanced reporting, provides detailed insights into employee susceptibility, including which employees are most susceptible to phishing attacks and which types of phishing attacks are most effective. Automated phishing attack remediation, which allows you to automatically remediate phishing attempts and respond to reported incidents. Automated phishing attack training that allows organisations to train employees on how to recognize and report phishing emails... --- > ProcessUnity is a great platform that allows to effectively manage and monitor risk from third party vendors and suppliers - Published: 2023-02-07 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/cybergrx/ CyberGRX is a leading provider of third-party cyber risk management solutions that help organizations to identify, assess, and mitigate cyber risks associated with third-party relationships. Our platform uses advanced security intelligence and machine learning algorithms to analyze data from multiple sources, providing you with the information you need to understand and manage third-party cyber risks. Third-party cyber risk management is an essential practice for organisations today, as the vast majority of cyber breaches result from vulnerabilities present in third-party relationships. By identifying and mitigating these risks, organisations can reduce their susceptibility to cyber attacks and protect their data, systems, and intellectual property. The CyberGRX platform provides a comprehensive third-party cyber risk management solution, including:Automated assessment, which allows you to quickly and easily identify and assess third-party cyber risks,Advanced analytics and reporting, which provides you with the insights you need to understand the third-party cyber risk landscape and track your progress over time,Integrated remediation workflows, which allow you to quickly and easily remediate third-party cyber risks. The platform also integrates with a wide range of security tools and systems, including incident response platforms, security information and event management (SIEM) systems, and vulnerability scanners, allowing you to correlate third-party cyber risk data with other data sources, and gain a more comprehensive view of the risks facing your organisation. CyberGRX's third-party cyber risk management solution provides the visibility, intelligence and workflows necessary to manage the cyber risks associated with third parties. It is a critical practice for organisations today to manage risks presented... --- > SentinelOne is a cloud-based security endpoint solution that provides a secure environment for businesses to operate - Published: 2023-02-07 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/sentinelone/ SentinelOne is a leading provider of endpoint protection solutions that use cutting-edge technology to detect and neutralise cyber threats in real-time. The platform uses advanced security intelligence, machine learning, and behavioural analysis to provide complete visibility and control over your endpoint security posture, from the device to the cloud. Click here to learn how you can leverage the benefits of SentinelOne through our Managed Detection & Response and Incident Response services. Endpoint protection is a critical component of an organisation's cybersecurity strategy, as it helps to safeguard the devices and systems that are most vulnerable to cyber threats. With SentinelOne, you can protect your endpoints from a wide range of cyber threats, including malware, viruses, and advanced persistent threats (APTs), using a single, integrated platform. The SentinelOne platform uses several cutting-edge technologies to protect your endpoints, such as:Real-time protection that detects and neutralizes threats in real-time. Advanced threat hunting and forensics, to investigate and stop the most sophisticated threats. Behavioural-based detection, that models the normal activity of devices to identify anomalies or malicious activity. Automated incident response, that allows to take action on a threat in an automated manner and even rollback malicious changes. In addition, the platform provides a single management console for visibility, control, and reporting across all endpoints, including on-premises, cloud, and mobile devices. The platform is designed to be lightweight, fast and efficient, ensuring that your systems and devices are always protected without impacting performance. SentinelOne's endpoint protection solution provides the visibility, intelligence, and automation necessary... --- > Radware is a global leader of application delivery and cyber security solutions for virtual, cloud and software defined data centers. - Published: 2023-02-02 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/radware/ Radware is a leading provider of cloud posture management solutions that help organizations to identify, assess, and mitigate cyber risks associated with their cloud deployments. Our platform uses advanced security intelligence and machine learning algorithms to analyse data from multiple sources, providing you with the information you need to understand and manage your cloud posture. Click here to learn more about how you can access the benefits of Radware through our Managed Web Application Firewall service. Cloud posture management is a critical practice for organisations today, as more and more business-critical applications and data are being moved to the cloud. By identifying and mitigating cloud risks, organizations can reduce their susceptibility to cyber attacks and ensure the security, compliance, and resilience of their cloud deployments. Radware's platform provides a comprehensive cloud posture management solution, including:Automated discovery, which allows you to quickly and easily identify and assess your cloud resources,Continuous security and compliance, which ensures that your cloud deployments are always secure and compliantAdvanced analytics and reporting, which provides you with the insights you need to understand the cloud risk landscape and track your progress over time,Integrated remediation workflows, which allow you to quickly and easily remediate cloud risksMulti-cloud support, which covers all major cloud providers, such as AWS, Azure, and GCPIn addition, Radware also provides a range of specialised cybersecurity solutions that are designed to protect specific industries and use cases, such as, critical infrastructure, healthcare, and financial services. Radware's cloud posture management solution provides organisations with the visibility, intelligence,... --- - Published: 2023-02-02 - Modified: 2024-06-23 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/consulting-services/ Solutions All Products Services Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Ensure a response when you need it most. Access AdvantageProtect Incident Response and Incident Retainer Services. - Published: 2023-02-02 - Modified: 2024-12-20 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/incident-response/ Cyber threats can affect your business at any time – and they need an immediate response. Solutions All Products Services Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us: National 0800 358 8999 International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Fortinet is a provider of next-generation firewalls and network security solutions for smb to enterprise firms. - Published: 2023-02-02 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/fortinet/ Fortinet understand the importance of having a secure network infrastructure. That's why they offer a range of firewalls that are designed to keep your business safe from cyber threats. Click here to learn how you can access the benefits of our Managed Firewall Service with Fortinet. Fortinet firewalls are not only easy to use but also cost-effective, scalable, and offer unparalleled performance and protection. Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, Fortinet firewalls can be customised to meet your specific security needs. With a range of models to choose from, you can select the perfect firewall for your organisation. Fortinet firewalls are equipped with advanced security features like VPNs, intrusion prevention systems, email security, and more. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Imperva Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a powerful security solution designed to protect your website and web applications from a wide range of cyber threats. - Published: 2022-06-19 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/imperva/ Imperva Web Application Firewall (WAF) is a powerful security solution designed to protect your website and web applications from a wide range of cyber threats. With Imperva WAF, you can rest easy knowing that your online assets are protected from malicious attacks, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other common web vulnerabilities. Click here to learn more about how you can access the benefits of Imperva through our Managed Web Application Firewall service. Imperva WAF uses advanced security intelligence and machine learning algorithms to detect and block threats in real-time, so you can be sure that your website is always safe and secure. Additionally, Imperva WAF integrates with Imperva's Cloud Security Platform, which provides a comprehensive view of your entire web application security posture, allowing you to identify and fix vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. One of the key features of Imperva WAF is its ability to provide protection without requiring any changes to your existing web infrastructure. This allows you to deploy our WAF quickly and easily, without the need for extensive configuration or re-architecting of your systems. Imperva WAF also offers a flexible deployment options, it can be deploy on-premises, in the cloud, or as a service. This allows you to choose the option that best fits your organization's needs and budget. In addition, Imperva WAF offers a variety of customisation options, including the ability to create custom security policies and security rules, so you can tailor our WAF to your specific security requirements. This... --- > Access 24x7 New Zealand based firewall monitoring and management and protect your network from cyberattacks. - Published: 2022-06-17 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/managed-firewall/ Firewalls are fundamental to protecting network traffic and the flow of sensitive data. They’re a key component to meeting compliance mandates, including PCI, GDPR etc. Our solution is delivered by a dedicated highly skilled team, focused on ensuring that all your security gaps are closed. Significantly reducing the risk of data breaches. Reduce the risk of cyberattacks and have your firewalls managed by our 24x7 New Zealand-based Security Operations Centre Active monitoring Our service provides 24x7 monitoring and management and helps protect your network from a wide range of cyberattacks, including DDoS, Malware and Phishing attacks. By monitoring your firewalls through our SOC, we can identify and respond to threats quickly, before they cause damage. Regular firewall audits are a key part of our service. They help to reduce the likelihood of network exposures and malicious activity going undetected. We use best-in-class tools to provide enhanced visibility of your network, vulnerability scanning technologies, and ensure that your firewalls are properly installed and working. All the essentials Key Inclusions to Our Managed Firewall service are set out below:Firewall monitored for security events 24/7 – ingestion of firewall logs into SIEM platformThreat intelligence, including NCSC’s Malware Free NetworksFirewall MAC changes completed by trained engineersWeekly offsite firewall configuration backup (when using Advantage management platform)Regular firmware upgrades6-monthly firewall audit4 basic change requests per monthMonthly reporting Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Fast and easy to use, the Netskope platform provides optimized access and real-time security for people, devices, and data anywhere they go - Published: 2022-06-17 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/netskope-the-sase-leader/ Netskope secures your apps and data in any situation or circumstance, whether it’s in the office, at home, or on the road. Work from anywhere you like without any sacrifices to network or security performance. Netskope is a leading provider of Secure Software-defined Perimeter (SDP) solutions, which enable organisations to protect their data and resources in the cloud. Our platform provides real-time visibility and control over your cloud usage, while also enabling secure access to your cloud applications and resources. Secure Software-defined Perimeter (SDP), also known as zero-trust network architecture, is an important security strategy that ensures only authorised users and devices can access sensitive data and resources. By shifting away from the traditional perimeter-based security approach, SDP enables organisations to create an additional layer of security for their cloud environment. Netskope's platform is built on a Zero Trust Security Model, which assumes that all access attempts are potential threats, and requires explicit validation of all requests to access a resource. The platform uses real-time traffic analysis, machine learning, and behavioral analytics to ensure that all access attempts are legitimate and secure. The platform offers a wide range of features and capabilities that allow you to control and secure your cloud environment, such as:Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) which allows you to identify and remediate cloud security risks and compliance issues. Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) which provides real-time visibility and control over cloud usage, including file and data sharing,Secure Software-defined Perimeter (SDP) which ensures secure and authenticated access to... --- - Published: 2022-06-16 - Modified: 2024-06-23 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/cloud-services/ Solutions All Products Services Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- - Published: 2022-06-16 - Modified: 2025-09-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/it-solutions/ In today's fast-paced business landscape, IT solutions are essential for keeping your business agile, secure, and efficient. Advantage offers a full spectrum of IT services designed to meet the unique needs of both enterprises and SMEs in New Zealand. From managed IT support to advanced infrastructure projects, we provide tailored solutions that enhance productivity, drive innovation, and secure your business’s digital environment. Our team of highly skilled systems engineers, network experts, and IT consultants are committed to delivering strategic, reliable business solutions that support day-to-day operations and long-term growth. Discover how our IT services can empower your business to stay ahead in a competitive market. Contact us OR Get in touch Solutions All Products Services Enterprise Solutions/SME Solutions Enterprise Solutions/SME Solutions Enterprise Solutions/SME Solutions Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Discover ISO27001-certified Managed Security Services from Advantage NZ. Get 24/7 protection with locally hosted SOC, MDR, SIEM, WAF, ZTNA, and more. Tailored cybersecurity for enterprises and SMEs across New Zealand. - Published: 2022-06-16 - Modified: 2026-01-15 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/managed-security-services/ Have the Advantage with our Security Services. Explore our Security Services to fortify your digital defences and safeguard your assets. All our managed security solutions are ISO27001 certified and supported 24/7 by our helpful NZ-based Security Operations Centre.  Our local expertise ensures your business stays ahead of cyber threats with tailored solutions that prioritise your safety, compliance, and resilience. From cloud security to business network safety, we’re here to safeguard your organisation with proactive managed cybersecurity you can rely on. Contact us OR Call now Get in touch Solutions All Products Services Enterprise Solutions/SME Solutions Enterprise Solutions/SME Solutions Advantage combines world-class cybersecurity services with the benefits of a local security provider in NZ. Our team is dedicated to delivering end-to-end security solutions that adapt as fast as the threats do. With managed services you can trust, we ensure your data and networks are secure, giving you peace of mind to focus on growth. Whether you need managed IT security, cloud security, or business network safety; Advantage has you covered. Contact us today to learn how our tailored, ISO27001-certified services can transform your approach to cybersecurity. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- - Published: 2022-06-15 - Modified: 2024-12-20 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-partners/ A key element of our success is the strategic collaboration with our trusted vendor partners. Our meticulous selection process ensures that the vendor-partners we choose are not only good today, but that they have the vision and ingenuity to continue to be great into the future. Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us: National 0800 358 8999 International +64 6 358 8999 --- > New Zealand’s trusted IT, cybersecurity, and managed services provider since 1986. Delivering secure, scalable solutions across NZ, Australia, and the Pacific. - Published: 2022-06-15 - Modified: 2025-11-28 - URL: https://advantage.nz/about/ Advantage is at the forefront of technology, striving to deliver greater value and results to our partners since 1986! As an organisation, we are very different to what we were nearly 4 decades ago. What has remained consistent and continues to shape our direction, is our values. They encapsulate everything we stand for. We are a team of 70 and we are growing. With offices located across the north island, we serve hundreds of clients spanning the breadth of New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific. We have an audacious vision; one that our talented and diverse team is dedicated to achieving. Exciting challenges lie ahead – new regions, technologies and the ever evolving world of cyber-security. Guided by our 4 core values, we will meet these challenges creatively! Our values encapsulate everything we stand for Our Vision To be a trusted and leading managed service, networking, and security provider. Our Purpose To create a world where IT just works, data is secure and where our partners can focus on their core business. Our Values CAREWe care about our partners – their success is our success. We care about our people – we recognize the value that each person contributes. We support others to grow in a way that brings out their best. TRUSTWe are honest, do what we say we will and do it with excellence. We are not afraid to have difficult conversations; we give and ask for feedback to improve ourselves and others. GROWTHWe work hard to grow... --- > New Zealand’s leading IT and cyber security provider. With 40+ years of experience, we deliver managed services, cloud solutions, and 24/7 threat protection. - Published: 2019-02-06 - Modified: 2025-12-17 - URL: https://advantage.nz/ We help you to securely navigate the ever-changing technology landscape to protect your brand and reputation We are proudly New Zealand owned and operated, with a history spanning nearly 4 decades. Delivering solutions spanning the breadth of IT and Cyber Security, we support organisations across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific. Read more CLIENT PARTNERS Who we partner with Whether you’re a SMB or an enterprise-level organisation, we have the tools and the team to elevate your technology Enterprise Solutions A one-size-fits-all approach has no place in business technology. Our services and solutions are customised to meet Enterprise requirements. Advantage has a strong track record and extensive expertise in managing complex IT environments, including a full suite of managed security solutions. If there is a challenge you are experiencing – we have seen it before and can solve it. Read more Read more Small and Medium Business Solutions We understand that Small and Medium businesses (SMB) have unique needs and expectations from a managed service provider. The Advantage offering is designed to provide value for money, flexible pricing options, and the ability to scale as your business grows. Read more OUR SOLUTIONS Tools & technology Our solutions span the breadth of IT and Cyber Security and can be tailored to suit your specific requirements. IT Solutions Managed Security Solutions Cloud Services Consulting Services Managed Connectivity Incident Response About Us Delivering results For nearly 4 decades, Advantage has been at the forefront of technology in New Zealand. Originally focused on PC... --- > Explore expert cybersecurity advice, IT strategies, and business insights from Advantage, New Zealand’s trusted managed security services provider. Stay ahead with advanced threat prevention, AWS partner updates, and practical guides for small businesses. - Published: 2019-02-06 - Modified: 2025-11-06 - URL: https://advantage.nz/info-advice/ Cybersecurity Insights & IT Strategies for NZ | Advantage Skip to content   Solutions IT Solutions Security Services Cloud Services Incident Response Consulting Services Networking Services Client Partners Enterprise Solutions SME Solutions White Label Services Vendor Partners AnomaliAristaArmisArubaAttackIQAuthSignalAvananCiscoCloudflareCyberArkCyberGRXDellDuoExclaimerExtraHopFortinetIllumioImpervaKnowBe4LogRhythmMicrosoftMimecastNetskopeNordPassOneWebOPSWATPalo AltoPowerDMARCPRTGPulsewayRadwareRecorded FutureRiskReconSentinelOneSilverfortTenableVeeamVMwareYubiCo Anomali Armis AttackIQ Avanan Cofense CyberGRX Duo Exclaimer ExtraHop Fortinet Illumio Imperva CyberArk KnowBe4 LogRhythm Microsoft Mimecast Netskope Palo Alto PowerDMARC Pulseway Radware SentinelOne Tenable YubiCo Info & Advice About Join Us Contact   × Search Solutions IT Solutions Security Services Cloud Services Incident Response Consulting Services Networking Services Client Partners Enterprise Solutions SME Solutions White Label Services Vendor Partners AnomaliAristaArmisArubaAttackIQAuthSignalAvananCiscoCloudflareCyberArkCyberGRXDellDuoExclaimerExtraHopFortinetIllumioImpervaKnowBe4LogRhythmMicrosoftMimecastNetskopeNordPassOneWebOPSWATPalo AltoPowerDMARCPRTGPulsewayRadwareRecorded FutureRiskReconSentinelOneSilverfortTenableVeeamVMwareYubiCo Anomali Armis AttackIQ Avanan Cofense CyberGRX Duo Exclaimer ExtraHop Fortinet Illumio Imperva CyberArk KnowBe4 LogRhythm Microsoft Mimecast Netskope Palo Alto PowerDMARC Pulseway Radware SentinelOne Tenable YubiCo Info & Advice About Join Us Contact   Solutions IT Solutions Security Services Cloud Services Incident Response Consulting Services Networking Services Client Partners Enterprise Solutions SME Solutions White Label Services Vendor Partners AnomaliAristaArmisArubaAttackIQAuthSignalAvananCiscoCloudflareCyberArkCyberGRXDellDuoExclaimerExtraHopFortinetIllumioImpervaKnowBe4LogRhythmMicrosoftMimecastNetskopeNordPassOneWebOPSWATPalo AltoPowerDMARCPRTGPulsewayRadwareRecorded FutureRiskReconSentinelOneSilverfortTenableVeeamVMwareYubiCo Anomali Armis AttackIQ Avanan Cofense CyberGRX Duo Exclaimer ExtraHop Fortinet Illumio Imperva CyberArk KnowBe4 LogRhythm Microsoft Mimecast Netskope Palo Alto PowerDMARC Pulseway Radware SentinelOne Tenable YubiCo Info & Advice About Join Us Contact   × Search Home Info & Advice Blog All Awards Business Case Studies Cybersecurity Events News Security October 1, 2025 Business, Cybersecurity, News, Security Login Security for Businesses: Advanced Strategies to Prevent Cyberattacks. Sometimes the first step in a cyberattack isn’t code. It’s a click. A single login involving one username and password... --- > No matter the size of your business, we have the tools, services and team to help you improve your security posture, and reach your goals. - Published: 2019-02-06 - Modified: 2026-01-15 - URL: https://advantage.nz/solutions/ No matter if you're a small business or an enterprise , we have the tools, services and the team to help you elevate your technology, improve your security posture, and reach your business goals. We'll keep you focused on what you do best: delivering value to your customers. OUR SERVICES What we do No matter your business size, we have the tools and the team to help you. IT Solutions Managed Security Solutions Cloud Services Consulting Services Managed Connectivity Incident Response Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- > Both enterprise and SME clients benefit from our solutions - we can elevate your technology and security to help you reach your goals. - Published: 2019-02-06 - Modified: 2025-09-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/client-partners/ Whether you're an enterprise business, Managed Service Provider or a Small Medium Enterprise, we'll elevate your technology and security to help you reach your goals. Enterprise Solutions A one-size-fits-all approach has no place in business technology. Our services and solutions are customised to meet Enterprise requirements. Advantage has a strong track record and extensive expertise in managing complex IT environments, including a full suite of managed security solutions. If there is a challenge you are experiencing – we have seen it before and we can help you solve it. Read more White Label Services With Advantage White Label Services, you can offer your customers a comprehensive security solution without having to invest in your own security infrastructure or expertise. With a track record spanning nearly 4 decades, and a host of industry certifications and awards, you can trust that we are leaders in our field. Read more SME Services We understand that Small and Medium Enterprise businesses have unique needs and expectations from a managed service provider. The Advantage SME offering is designed to provide value for money, flexible pricing options, and the ability to scale as your business grows. Read more Contact us If you have any questions, please talk to us. You can fill out the contact form and we will get back to you, or call us:National 0800 358 8999International +64 6 358 8999 --- --- ## Posts - Published: 2026-03-06 - Modified: 2026-03-06 - URL: https://advantage.nz/6-ai-guardrails-to-follow-before-it-becomes-a-risk/ AI has moved from novelty to normal almost overnight. Teams are using tools like ChatGPT to draft emails, summarise meetings, analyse data and speed up everyday work. In many cases, this experimentation is already happening whether leadership knows it or not. AI has moved from novelty to normal almost overnight. Teams are using tools like ChatGPT to draft emails, summarise meetings, analyse data and speed up everyday work. In many cases, this experimentation is already happening whether leadership knows it or not. And that’s the real issue. AI itself isn’t the risk. The risk is what happens when powerful, cloud‑based tools are adopted faster than the rules that govern their use. The rise of “Shadow AI” Most organisations are already dealing with a new form of shadow IT, often called Shadow AI. Employees sign up to free AI tools, install browser extensions, enable built‑in AI features, or paste information into public models without realising what happens to that data next. Unlike traditional applications, AI tools don’t just process information. They may store it, learn from it, or expose it in ways that are difficult to reverse. This creates genuine risk. Sensitive internal information, client data, credentials, or intellectual property can be unintentionally shared outside the organisation’s control. And it almost always happens with good intentions. Why “acceptable use” matters An AI acceptable use framework is about setting clear guardrails so teams can use AI confidently and safely. At its core, this comes down to a few key principles: Not all data is equal. Public information is very different from internal or restricted data, and AI tools must be treated accordingly. Not all AI tools are the same. Some are designed for enterprise use, others are consumer tools with very different privacy... --- - Published: 2026-03-05 - Modified: 2026-03-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/when-a-cyber-incident-becomes-a-public-trust-event/ At the end of last month, many of us were shocked to hear of another cyber attack on a healthcare platform, this time one affecting our aged community. The incident once again placed cyber security firmly in the public spotlight, highlighting just how vulnerable even trusted digital services can be. At the end of last month, many of us were shocked to hear of another cyber attack on a healthcare platform, this time one affecting our aged community. The incident once again placed cyber security firmly in the public spotlight, highlighting just how vulnerable even trusted digital services can be. Earlier this year, the confirmed breach affecting Manage My Health raised similar concerns about data security and system resilience. Together, these incidents serve as a timely reminder of how quickly confidence in trusted systems can be shaken. While investigations into these incidents are ongoing, the broader lesson extends far beyond healthcare. What these events illustrate is how rapidly a technical failure can escalate into an operational, governance and reputational crisis. This isn’t just a healthcare story. It’s a reminder of how deeply modern organisations depend on digital trust. Why healthcare incidents attract attentionCyber incidents in healthcare attract intense scrutiny for three main reasons:The data involved is deeply personalService availability directly affects vulnerable peoplePublic trust expectations are exceptionally highBut these risk factors are not unique to healthcare. Any organisation that is data‑rich, operationally dependent on technology, and heavily integrated with vendors carries similar structural risk. Healthcare draws attention because the human impact is immediately visible but the underlying exposure exists across every sector. In today’s environment, any organisation connected to the internet is a potential target. Attackers don’t only pursue large institutions, they pursue opportunity. The real differentiator is not whether an organisation will be targeted but how prepared it is... --- - Published: 2026-02-26 - Modified: 2026-03-06 - URL: https://advantage.nz/daily-cloud-security-check-up-6-simple-steps/ Moving to the cloud gives organisations speed, flexibility, and scale. But it also introduces new responsibilities. Cloud security isn’t a “set and forget” exercise. Small misconfigurations, left unchecked, can quickly turn into serious security incidents. Moving to the cloud gives organisations speed, flexibility, and scale. But it also introduces new responsibilities. Cloud security isn’t a “set and forget” exercise. Small misconfigurations, left unchecked, can quickly turn into serious security incidents. The good news is that effective cloud security doesn’t require hours of daily effort. In most environments, a short, consistent review is enough to identify issues early and prevent them from escalating. Building a simple daily routine is one of the most practical ways to reduce risk and maintain confidence in your cloud environment. Think of a daily cloud check‑up like basic hygiene for your infrastructure. Just 15 minutes a day can significantly reduce the likelihood of data leaks, outages, and costly remediation work. 1. Review Identity and Access Activity Start by reviewing identity and access logs. Look at who has logged in and confirm that access patterns make sense. Unusual locations, odd login times, or repeated failures are often early indicators of compromised accounts. Pay close attention to spikes in failed login attempts, which may signal brute‑force or credential‑stuffing attacks. Addressing these quickly can prevent attackers from gaining a foothold. This is also a good time to confirm that access is still appropriate. Remove accounts for former employees and ensure privileges align with current roles. Keeping identity access clean is one of the most effective cloud security controls. 2. Check Storage Permissions Many cloud data breaches happen because something was accidentally made public. A mis‑clicked sharing setting or overly broad permission can expose sensitive... --- - Published: 2026-02-18 - Modified: 2026-02-18 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advisory-increase-fraudulent-microsoft-teams-support/ Advantage is alerting customers and partners to a rise in fraudulent Microsoft Teams calls targeting New Zealand organisations. The activity involves social engineering tactics designed to trick users into granting unauthorised remote access to their devices. Advantage is alerting customers and partners to a rise in fraudulent Microsoft Teams calls targeting New Zealand organisations. The activity involves social engineering tactics designed to trick users into granting unauthorised remote access to their devices. Over the past week, several organisations have reported receiving Microsoft Teams calls from individuals impersonating internal IT staff or trusted contacts. In these cases, callers attempted to persuade users to install remote assistance tools, such as Quick Assist, under the guise of resolving an urgent technical issue. Importantly, no systems were compromised in the incidents reviewed by Advantage. In each instance, users recognised the activity as suspicious, reported it promptly, and did not grant remote access. A Shift in Attack Techniques These incidents highlight a growing shift away from traditional phishing emails toward real‑time collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Teams. By impersonating familiar contacts and creating a sense of urgency, attackers aim to bypass technical controls and exploit human trust. Across recent reports, we are seeing: Impersonation of internal staff or known contacts Requests to install remote support software Attempts to establish unauthorised remote access Targeting via collaboration platforms rather than email While this technique is not new internationally, it is appearing with increasing frequency within New Zealand organisations. Recommended Actions for Organisations Advantage recommends organisations take the following steps to reduce risk: Restrict Remote Access Tools - Ensure only approved remote support tools are permitted and that their use is limited to authorised personnel. Review Microsoft Teams External Access Settings - Confirm that... --- - Published: 2026-02-10 - Modified: 2026-02-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/save-money-wan-costs-without-sacrificing-performance/ WAN costs rarely creep up overnight. They grow quietly – site by site, contract by contract – until one day the network bill looks surprisingly large for something that “just works”. WAN costs rarely creep up overnight. They grow quietly – site by site, contract by contract – until one day the network bill looks surprisingly large for something that “just works”. The problem is that many WANs were designed for a very different world. Traditional architectures assumed office‑based staff, on‑premise applications, and predictable traffic patterns. Today, most traffic is heading straight to the cloud, and users expect fast, reliable access to SaaS platforms from everywhere. Yet the WAN often hasn’t caught up. One of the most common issues we see is organisations paying premium prices for static circuits sized for peak demand. These links might sit under‑utilised for most of the day, while still needing to handle worst‑case scenarios just in case. To maintain resilience, additional expensive circuits are layered on – multiplying cost without necessarily improving performance. A modern WAN approach flips this model on its head. By combining SD‑WAN with Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), traffic can be intelligently routed based on application needs and user context, rather than forcing everything through the most expensive network path. Cloud and SaaS traffic can break out locally and securely, while critical systems take the best available route at any given moment. Multiple lower‑cost links can be combined to deliver both resilience, performance, and secure access – without paying premium pricing everywhere. Another area often overlooked is contract and design drift. Over time, locations are added, bandwidth is increased, and services are renewed without reassessing whether they are still fit for... --- - Published: 2026-02-10 - Modified: 2026-02-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/the-mfa-level-up-why-sms-codes-are-no-longer-enough/ Multi‑Factor Authentication (MFA) has been a cornerstone of account security for years, and for good reason. Adding a second factor dramatically reduces the risk of account compromise. But not all MFA methods offer the same level of protection, and the threat landscape has moved on. Multi‑Factor Authentication (MFA) has been a cornerstone of account security for years, and for good reason. Adding a second factor dramatically reduces the risk of account compromise. But not all MFA methods offer the same level of protection, and the threat landscape has moved on. For many organisations, SMS one‑time codes are still the default. They’re familiar, easy to deploy, and certainly better than passwords alone. However, SMS was never designed as a secure authentication channel. Techniques like SIM‑swap fraud, number porting scams, and real‑time phishing have made SMS‑based MFA increasingly easy for attackers to bypass. In New Zealand, SIM‑swap scams remain a common fraud method, and once an attacker controls a phone number, SMS codes offer little protection. For organisations handling sensitive data or critical systems, SMS MFA is no longer enough on its own. Why Phishing‑Resistant MFA MattersModern attacks don’t just steal passwords, they trick users into handing over MFA codes in real time. To counter this, security is shifting toward phishing‑resistant MFA, which removes the need for users to type codes at all. Phishing‑resistant MFA relies on cryptographic authentication tied to a specific service or domain. One widely adopted approach is the FIDO2 standard, which uses public‑key cryptography to ensure login attempts only succeed on legitimate sites. Even if a user clicks a convincing phishing link, their credentials won’t work because the authentication request doesn’t match the real service. This significantly raises the bar for attackers and reduces the impact of human error – still one of the... --- - Published: 2026-02-04 - Modified: 2026-02-04 - URL: https://advantage.nz/https-advantage-nz-microsegmentation-containment/ When most organisations think about security, they focus on keeping attackers out. Firewalls, MFA, endpoint protection – all essential. But modern attacks assume something different: eventually, someone gets in. This is where microsegmentation becomes critical. When most organisations think about security, they focus on keeping attackers out. Firewalls, MFA, endpoint protection – all essential. But modern attacks assume something different: eventually, someone gets in. This is where microsegmentation becomes critical. From Perimeter Security to Containment Microsegmentation is the practice of breaking your network into smaller, tightly controlled segments, rather than treating it as one flat environment. A helpful way to think about this is a hotel keycard. Your key gives you access to the building and your room, but not every room, service area, or restricted space. Even if someone steals that key, their access is limited by design. In the same way, if an attacker compromises a single device or user account, microsegmentation limits what they can access next. Instead of moving freely across servers, applications, and data, they hit barriers at every step. Reducing Lateral Movement and Blast Radius Cert NZ regularly highlights that many serious breaches don’t happen because attackers get in. They happen because attackers are able to move sideways, escalating access until they reach high‑value systems. Once ransomware or malware spreads laterally, the damage multiplies quickly. Microsegmentation reduces that “blast radius”. A compromised user doesn’t automatically mean compromised servers. A breached application doesn’t expose the entire environment. Each segment enforces least‑privilege access, making attacks noisier, slower, and easier to contain. Why Microsegmentation Matters Now We’re seeing more conversations around microsegmentation right now because traditional network designs were built for trust and convenience, not modern threat models. As environments grow more complex... --- - Published: 2026-01-30 - Modified: 2026-01-30 - URL: https://advantage.nz/https-nz-government-marketplace-future-email-security/ Now officially listed under Secure Email Management and Administration - delivering email security and modern authentication services in partnership with PowerDMARC. The New Zealand Government Marketplace (Pae Hokohoko) has entrusted us with another panel appointment. Now officially listed under Secure Email Management and Administration - delivering email security and modern authentication services in partnership with PowerDMARC - this new listing sits alongside several other Marketplace panels we’re already part of, further illustrating our commitment to providing leading, future‑ready digital and cybersecurity solutions to government agencies across Aotearoa. SEEMail Decommission in 2026This milestone comes at a pivotal time for New Zealand’s public sector. With legacy SEEMail scheduled for decommissioning in 2026 and the Secure Government Email (SGE) framework mandating DMARC enforcement for all government domains, agencies are accelerating their transition to authentication-driven email security. As one of only two managed services providers listed on the Marketplace, Advantage provides agencies with a unique, end-to-end solution – from implementation and ongoing support to compliance alignment and risk reduction. The approved supplier status means government organisations can engage us directly, without the need for a lengthy tender process, streamlining procurement and accelerating time-to-value. The New Authentication Ecosystem for Email SecurityGovernment agencies need a future-ready authentication ecosystem to protect citizen trust and defend against phishing and impersonation, and our Marketplace listing enables agencies to adopt DMARC, SPF, DKIM, BIMI, and related standards quickly and securely, with Advantage as their local partner for delivery and support. Through the partnership with PowerDMARC – now also listed on the Marketplace – we deliver automated DMARC enforcement, visibility into unauthorised email sources, and robust defence against spoofing of agency identities.... --- - Published: 2026-01-15 - Modified: 2026-01-15 - URL: https://advantage.nz/vendor-rationalisation-technology-focused-guide-2026/ In 2026, vendor rationalisation – especially in technology – is about focusing on fewer, better-aligned partners who deliver real value, not just lower costs or big-brand recognition. Balancing Strategic Engagement, Value, and Resilience Across Technology and BeyondIn 2026, vendor rationalisation – especially in technology – is about focusing on fewer, better-aligned partners who deliver real value, not just lower costs or big-brand recognition. By choosing vendors with proven expertise, strong security, and genuine strategic alignment, organisations can boost agility, innovation, and resilience while avoiding over-dependence on any single supplier. Technology’s 2026 Business PrioritiesAs organisations enter 2026, senior executives face accelerating digital demands, heightened security risks, and pressure to maximise value. This is especially true across technology. While vendor rationalisation principles apply broadly, technology partnerships attract particular scrutiny due to their cost, complexity, and strategic impact. Delivering “more with less” depends on more than reducing spend. It requires vendor relationships that genuinely advance business outcomes. Strategic Advantages to Rationalising VendorsReducing vendor volume allows leaders to channel focus into partnerships that matter. Fewer suppliers enable deeper collaboration, clearer alignment between IT and business needs, and more consistent innovation. This principle applies not only to tech but across all functions. Streamlined vendor ecosystems reduce duplication, administrative effort, and operational noise. Big Brands vs Best Fit: What Really Matters? It’s tempting to view established, well-known technology vendors as the safest choice. After all, recognised brands can provide comfort to boards and stakeholders. However, it is important to remember that in technology, “big” doesn’t always mean “best fit. ”The best technology partners demonstrate proven delivery, domain expertise, strong security, and a commitment to your goals – not a push for the newest... --- - Published: 2026-01-14 - Modified: 2026-01-14 - URL: https://advantage.nz/future-for-networks-2026-roadmap-circuits-to-software/ Networking is changing fast. Old-school networks with fixed circuits and manual setups are being replaced by flexible, software-driven systems. For Kiwi businesses, this isn’t just a tech upgrade – it’s a smart move. Here’s why things are shifting and how you can stay ahead. From Circuits to Software - The 2026 Networking RoadmapNetworking is changing fast. Old-school networks with fixed circuits and manual setups are being replaced by flexible, software-driven systems. For Kiwi businesses, this isn’t just a tech upgrade – it’s a smart move. Here’s why things are shifting and how you can stay ahead. Why the Old Model Falls ShortOld networks relied on fixed circuits and static routes that couldn’t adapt when things changed. Every packet had to stop and check directions at each router, slowing everything down. Today, businesses need networks that can flex and reroute instantly - especially with cloud apps, remote work, and rising security demands. Enter SD‑WAN and BeyondUnderlay vs Overlay: Physical circuits still matter, but software layers let you choose the best path and keep data securePolicy-Based Routing: Prioritise traffic by app, so critical tools always run smoothlyLocal Internet Breakout: Speed up SaaS apps while staying secureCentralised Control: Manage everything from one dashboard – no more site-by-site headachesIdentity‑Driven SegmentationZero Trust isn’t just jargon, it’s a plan. Segment users and devices by identity (not IP) to reduce risk and make compliance easier. 3 Practical Steps for Q1Check your circuits: Know your bandwidth and where the gaps arePilot SD‑WAN: Test it at one branch before rolling it outStandardise segmentation: Start building Zero Trust nowOur Connect service brings these principles to life – designing, migrating, and managing modern networks with NZ‑based expertise and ISO‑aligned processes. From smart path selection to identity‑based security, we help you stay “always‑on”. Ready to explore... --- - Published: 2026-01-08 - Modified: 2026-01-08 - URL: https://advantage.nz/https-advantage-nz-incident-response-steps-to-avoid/ At the time of writing this article New Zealand is in the throes of a real-life ransomware incident on Manage My Health (MMH) – NZ’s largest patient portal. In this article, we’ll cover how these incidents typically happen and how Managed Detection & Response and a Security Operations Centre reduce the risk and impact. At the time of writing this article New Zealand is in the throes of a real-life ransomware incident on Manage My Health (MMH) – NZ’s largest patient portal. In late December MMH detected unauthorised access. Independent forensics indicate a specific module (Health Documents) was affected, not the entire platform, with 6–7% of ~1. 8 million users potentially having documents accessed. MMH has stated that the incident is contained, that login protections and storage have been strengthened, and notifications are being sent to practices and individuals, with a dedicated helpline being established. Health NZ has announced an urgent review to ensure lessons are learned and shared across the sector. Events such as this are becoming all too common. An NCSC Cyber Threat Report issued in Q4 last year, shows that cyber attacks are evolving rapidly in New Zealand, and no business is too small or “unimportant” to be a target. Financially motivated criminals, state-sponsored actors, and hacktivists are all active – and the risks are growing as global conflicts escalate and cybercrime tools become more accessible. For MMH and all the patients affected by this incident, this fact is now a very unfortunate reality. Responding over the holiday period, coordinating multi‑party notifications, and dealing with active extortion are uniquely challenging. But the lesson is universal – fast detection and disciplined response can change outcomes. In this article, we’ll cover how these incidents typically happen and how Managed Detection & Response (MDR) and a Security Operations Centre (SOC) reduce the risk and... --- - Published: 2025-12-18 - Modified: 2025-12-18 - URL: https://advantage.nz/managed-services-essentials-security-without-overhead/ Cybersecurity shouldn’t be overwhelming, or out of reach. For many organisations, especially small and medium businesses, building strong cyber defences in-house is expensive and complicated. Even larger enterprises struggle to find and keep the right talent for round-the-clock protection. That’s where managed security services come in. Cybersecurity shouldn’t be overwhelming, or out of reach. For many organisations, especially small and medium businesses, building strong cyber defences in-house is expensive and complicated. Even larger enterprises struggle to find and keep the right talent for round-the-clock protection. That’s where managed security services come in. What Are Managed Security Services? Managed services give you access to enterprise-grade tools and expert support without the need to build a full security team yourself. Delivered by specialist providers, these services let you boost your cyber defences while staying focused on what matters most – running your business. Why Managed Services MatterCyber threats never sleep, but most businesses can’t maintain a permanent internal security team. Managed services bridge this gap, offering continuous monitoring, rapid analysis, and fast response. For leaders, this means predictable costs, fewer staffing headaches, and peace of mind knowing professionals are always on call. For IT teams, it’s a chance to offload routine monitoring and focus on higher-value work. What Do Managed Services Include? While offerings vary by provider, most managed services cover:Managed Detection and Response (MDR): 24/7 monitoring and rapid response to threatsManaged SIEM: Collecting, correlating, and reporting on security dataSOC-as-a-Service: Access to a team of analysts so no need to build your own centreVulnerability Management: Regular scans and expert advice to fix weaknessesThese services are usually delivered via cloud platforms, making setup quick and scaling easy. Benefits for Every Business SizeSmall businesses: Get access to tools and expertise that would otherwise be out of reachMid-sized organisations: Free up... --- > How can a legal firm protect against data loss when blocking and traditional DLP techniques would restrict business operations? - Published: 2025-12-16 - Modified: 2025-12-16 - URL: https://advantage.nz/case-study-modernising-and-securing-connectivity-in-healthcare/ A leading health services provider with multiple brands faced challenges managing a complex network across several data centers and branch locations. A leading health services provider with multiple brands faced challenges managing a complex network across several data centres and branch locations. Their infrastructure was fragmented, costly, and difficult to secure and maintain. Objectives Consolidate six data centres into two regional hubs and two cloud environments Modernise branch connectivity with a secure, unified solution Standardise network infrastructure for consistency and security Establish scalable standards for future network builds Challenges Disparate technologies and locations created inefficiencies and security risks Outdated WAN solutions led to high costs and poor performance Ensuring secure, seamless access for third-party partners was essential Advantage led a comprehensive network redesign focused on consolidation, modernisation, and standardisation Data Centre Consolidation: Reduced six data centres to two regional hubs and two cloud environments, improving efficiency and security Branch Connectivity: Implemented a unified, secure connectivity solution across all brands, enhancing performance and reliability Infrastructure Standardisation: Adopted a single-vendor approach for LAN switching and wireless, ensuring consistent security and easier management Future-Proofing: Developed scalable standards for new network builds, including rack design and capacity planning Results Enhanced operational efficiency and reduced costs Improved network performance and reliability at all locations Streamlined management and stronger security controls Positioned for future growth with scalable, standardised infrastructure Advantage successfully modernised and secured this organisation's network, delivering improved performance, security, and operational efficiency — ready to support future growth. --- - Published: 2025-12-10 - Modified: 2025-12-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/compliance-essentials/ Cybersecurity isn’t just about locking down systems and data. It’s about earning trust. Regulators, customers, and partners all want proof that you’re handling information responsibly. That’s where compliance comes in. Cybersecurity isn’t just about locking down systems and data. It’s about earning trust. Regulators, customers, and partners all want proof that you’re handling information responsibly. That’s where compliance comes in. It’s the framework that keeps organisations accountable and shows the world you’re serious about security. The Real Cost of Non-Compliance Falling short on compliance can mean more than just fines. It can damage your reputation and close doors to new business. Increasingly, customers and partners want to see that you’re not just talking about security – you’re living it. Compliance frameworks help you prove that your approach is systematic, repeatable, and ready for audit. Key Standards and Frameworks to Know No matter your industry or location, some standards are widely recognised: ISO 27001: The global gold standard for information security management NIST Cybersecurity Framework: A flexible guide for identifying, protecting, detecting, responding, and recovering from threats CIS Controls: Practical steps for technical security NZISM: New Zealand’s playbook for public sector security Essential Eight (Australia): Baseline strategies every organisation should consider Even if these aren’t required for your business, aligning with them builds credibility and reassures stakeholders. How Monitoring, SIEM, and SOC Make It Real Compliance isn’t just about having policies. It’s about proving you follow them. That’s where security monitoring, SIEM (Security Information and Event Management), and SOC (Security Operations Centre) come in: Monitoring: Shows you’re actively watching for suspicious activity SIEM: Provides the logs, dashboards, and reports that demonstrate oversight and quick detection SOC: Puts real people behind the... --- - Published: 2025-12-04 - Modified: 2025-12-04 - URL: https://advantage.nz/incident-response-essentials/ No defence is perfect. From phishing and ransomware to insider misuse and cloud misconfigurations, security incidents are an unavoidable reality of doing business. What sets resilient organisations apart is how quickly and effectively they respond. No defence is perfect. From phishing and ransomware to insider misuse and cloud misconfigurations, security incidents are an unavoidable reality of doing business. What sets resilient organisations apart is how quickly and effectively they respond. --- - Published: 2025-11-17 - Modified: 2025-11-17 - URL: https://advantage.nz/soc-essentials-the-human-side-of-cyber-defence/ In our increasingly digital and interconnected world, it is easy to view cybersecurity as a battle fought by machines—artificial intelligence, cutting-edge software, and automated tools working tirelessly to defend our organisations. Yet, amid this technological arsenal, one element stands out as irreplaceable: human expertise. In our increasingly digital and interconnected world, it is easy to view cybersecurity as a battle fought by machines—artificial intelligence, cutting-edge software, and automated tools working tirelessly to defend our organisations. Yet, amid this technological arsenal, one element stands out as irreplaceable: human expertise. Nowhere is this more evident than in Security Operations Centres (SOCs), where people and technology work side by side to detect, respond to, and recover from cyber threats. This article delves into the essential role of the human element in SOCs, outlining what a SOC is, why it is indispensable, and how organisations can harness the power of people to bolster their cyber defences. --- > Protect your business logins with this guide to account security. Learn practical strategies like MFA, strong passwords, and access control. - Published: 2025-10-01 - Modified: 2025-10-01 - URL: https://advantage.nz/login-security-for-businesses-advanced-strategies-to-prevent-cyberattacks/ Sometimes the first step in a cyberattack isn’t code. It’s a click. A single login involving one username and password can give an intruder a front-row seat to everything your business does online. This guide looks at how to make life much harder for would-be intruders. The aim isn’t to drown you in tech jargon. Instead, it’s to give IT-focused small businesses a playbook that moves past the basics and into practical, advanced measures you can start using now. Sometimes the first step in a cyberattack isn’t code. It’s a click. A single login involving one username and password can give an intruder a front-row seat to everything your business does online. For small and mid-sized companies, those credentials are often the easiest target. According to MasterCard, 46% of small businesses have dealt with a cyberattack, and almost half of all breaches involve stolen passwords. That’s not a statistic you want to see yourself in. This guide looks at how to make life much harder for would-be intruders. The aim isn’t to drown you in tech jargon. Instead, it’s to give IT-focused small businesses a playbook that moves past the basics and into practical, advanced measures you can start using now. Why Login Security Is Your First Line of Defense If someone asked what your most valuable business asset is, you might say your client list, your product designs, or maybe your brand reputation. But without the right login security, all of those can be taken in minutes. Industry surveys put the risk in sharp focus: 46% of small and medium-sized businesses have experienced a cyberattack. Of those, roughly one in five never recovered enough to stay open. The financial toll isn’t just the immediate cleanup, as the global average cost of a data breach is $4. 4 million, and that number has been climbing. Credentials are especially tempting because they’re so portable. Hackers collect them through phishing emails, malware, or even breaches at unrelated companies. Those details end... --- > Advantage NZ joins AWS Channel Partner Private Offer Program to deliver value-added security solutions via AWS Marketplace. - Published: 2025-09-30 - Modified: 2025-10-01 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantage-joins-aws-channel-partner-private-offer-program-via-nextgen/ Managed security services provider Advantage is drawing attention to its appointment as an AWS Channel Partner Private Offer partner through distributor NEXTGEN. The agreement makes available various software solutions through the AWS Marketplace platform, enhancing Advantage's ability to deliver value-added solutions to its clients. Furthering its quest to provide IT that just works, managed security services provider Advantage is drawing attention to its appointment as an AWS Channel Partner Private Offer partner through distributor NEXTGEN. The agreement makes available various software solutions through the AWS Marketplace platform, enhancing Advantage's ability to deliver value-added solutions to its clients. Advantage Executive Director Brad Pearpoint says the company has long sought to deliver frictionless access to essential technology and services. “This is a further step towards optimisation, not only easing access through the popular AWS Marketplace, but also combining purchases to unlock volume discounts. ” The AWS Channel Partner Private Offer (CPPO) program enables AWS partners like Advantage to offer customised, discounted private offers through the AWS Marketplace, explains NEXTGEN ANZ Strategic Partnerships & Alliances VP Lynne Jeffery. “Of course, Advantage already procures SentinelOne via our platforms, so the alignment with AWS represents a consolidation and simplification of the route to market. ” For organisations with committed spend agreements, where predetermined annual spend is committed to AWS in exchange for volume-based discounts, failure to meet targets results in financial penalties. Through CPPO, Advantage now bundles its specialized services, such as SentinelOne endpoint protection and Netskope secure access service edge (SASE) solutions, into these private offers. Purchases count toward the customer's AWS committed spend, with the resulting higher cumulative totals combining to avoid penalties while accessing premium security tools at competitive rates. This partnership builds on the established collaboration Advantage enjoys with AWS and aligns with the recent... --- > Cyber security is critical for NZ businesses. Discover how Advantage helps organisations stay ahead of evolving cyber threats. - Published: 2025-09-10 - Modified: 2025-09-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/the-importance-of-cyber-security-in-2025/ We interviewed Brad Pearpoint about why Cyber Security is a core pillar of Advantage. He talks about the fact that security is a business-critical issue for businesses across all sectors and that every organisation, regardless of size, is facing growing pressures to protect data, ensure continuity of business and meet changing compliance requirements. He outlines how Advantage is responding to this issue with a client-first approach. SUMMARY: We interviewed Brad Pearpoint about why Cyber Security is a core pillar of Advantage. He talks about the fact that security is a business-critical issue for businesses across all sectors and that every organisation, regardless of size, is facing growing pressure to protect data, ensure continuity of business and meet changing compliance requirements. He outlines how Advantage is responding to this issue with a client-first approach. Why has Advantage made cyber security a core focus, and how is it helping New Zealand businesses tackle today’s IT challenges? With nearly 40 years of experience, Advantage recognised early on that cyber security is not just a technical issue – it's vital to business resilience, reputation and trust. As threats like cyberattacks, phishing and regulatory pressures grow more complex, especially with the rise of cloud and remote work, many Kiwi organisations – particularly SMEs – struggle to keep up. That's why we’ve embedded security into every layer of our services, offering end-to-end IT and cyber solutions including 24/7 SOC monitoring, endpoint protection and governance support. Our deep local roots and global partnerships ensure scalable, enterprise-grade protection tailored to the evolving needs of NZ businesses across all sectors. How are cyber threats evolving in the current landscape and what new ideas are helping us stay ahead? Cyber threats are evolving rapidly. They are becoming more targeted, more automated, and often leveraging social aspects to bypass traditional defences. We’re seeing a rise in sophisticated phishing campaigns, supply chain attacks, and ransomware-as-a-service models that lower... --- > Learn what makes a good password and why passphrases beat complexity. Protect your accounts and stop breaches with simple, strong password strategies. - Published: 2025-09-03 - Modified: 2025-09-03 - URL: https://advantage.nz/what-makes-a-good-password-and-why-this-is-important/ Strong passwords are the first step to protecting your online accounts—but not all passwords are created equal. In this blog, we reveal why the seemingly complex “PE#5GZ29PTZMSE” isn’t as secure as you think, why a passphrase like “Stop Hammer Time!” wins, and how to check if your own credentials have already been exposed in breaches. Plus, we explore the next critical step in cybersecurity: enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA). Passwords are often the first line of defence in protecting your online accounts—but not all passwords are created equal. So, what makes a good password? In last month’s Newsletter one-question quiz, we asked: Which of these is the strongest password? Qwerty123! P@ssw0rd PE#5GZ29PTZMSE Stop Hammer Time! ToyotaCorolla99 At first glance, you might be drawn to the one packed with numbers and symbols, but the answer might surprise you. The Answer Was... . For those of you who answered, “Stop Hammer Time! ” – well done! You nailed it! (That’s the last hammer and nail pun for this article). For those who selected “PE#5GZ29PTZMSE” which does have some of the right attributes – it was a bit of a trick answer! At face value this password looks great; but what if we told you that according to sources such as HaveIBeenPwned (more about them further on) this password had been seen in breaches over 200,000 times globally! So, you can bank on the fact that the threat actors out there have this password in their special lists/dictionaries to test when trying to break into an account. So what made this a strong password? At a basic guideline – this passphrase contained capital letters, lowercase and special characters (being the exclamation point at the end as well as the spaces between each word) – combined with a total of 17 characters. This ticks several of the recommended complexity features to make things that bit harder for threat actors to guess or break... --- > A typo sandwich, AI dev hallucination, slopsquatting, and you - Published: 2025-08-22 - Modified: 2025-08-22 - URL: https://advantage.nz/a-typo-sandwich-ai-dev-hallucination-slopsquatting-and-you/ Never in all my life did I imagine I had that headline in me, and yet, here we are. With that acknowledgement aside, let’s get straight into it. Slopsquatting. Never in all my life did I imagine I had that headline in me, and yet, here we are. With that acknowledgement aside, let’s get straight into it. Slopsquatting. That’s the cybersecurity term if not ‘du jour’, well, then certainly the one catching my attention and funny bone right now. But, as always in cybersecurity, that which starts out amusing often surfaces a darker side and fast. Before we tackle that neologism for the ages, lets rewind to a much more relatable example. Put yourself back behind the keyboard when you were, say, deal hunting for artisanal coffee beans or maybe a vintage lava lamp. All it took was one wrongly keyed letter and rather than ‘CoffeeEmporium. com,’ you entered ‘CofeeEmporium. com’. Not only is/was that a very easy mistake to make, but bam! You were greeted by a page hawking discount socks or (sometimes) worse. While you may not have known it then (or, come to think of it, even now) you’d just stumbled into the wild, wacky world of typosquatting. All it is, really, is some cunning individual who has had the foresight to register an awfully similar domain for a bit of bait ‘n switch action, making you the meat in a typo sandwich. At this point I’m not 100% sure which is worse, that miscreants do this, or that it works. Anyway, typosquatting has now become the spiritual graddaddy to the infinitely more... something? Amusing? Fascinating? ... slopsquatting. Let’s go boldly, then, into slopsquatting, first by... --- > Keep your business secure and productive with a smart IT refresh plan. Reduce downtime, boost performance, and future‑proof your tech. - Published: 2025-08-04 - Modified: 2025-08-04 - URL: https://advantage.nz/why-every-business-needs-an-it-refresh-plan/ Nothing throws your day off like a frozen screen or a sluggish computer. If you run a small business, you’ve probably dealt with outdated tech more than once. Sure, squeezing extra life out of old equipment feels economical, but it often costs more in the long run. Nothing throws your day off like a frozen screen or a sluggish computer. If you run a small business, you’ve probably dealt with outdated tech more than once. Sure, squeezing extra life out of old equipment feels economical, but it often costs more in the long run. Small businesses lose approximately 98 hours per year, equivalent to 12 working days, due to technology concerns such as slow PCs and outdated laptops. That’s why having an IT refresh plan matters. It keeps your team running smoothly, avoids unexpected breakdowns, and helps you stay secure. Regardless of whether you outsource your IT services or handle them in-house, a solid refresh strategy can save time, stress, and money down the line. Why Having a Strategy in Place is Important It’s easy to ignore aging hardware until the moment it fails. But when things start breaking down, you’re forced to scramble for upgrades, face frustrating delays and even explain to your team and clients why things are slow. The risks of not planning include: Unexpected downtime: Even one broken laptop can stop an entire day of work. Productivity tanks: Outdated tech runs slower, crashes more often, and just can’t keep up. Security risks go up: Older systems miss out on key updates, leaving you exposed. Compliance issues: Especially if your business needs to meet certain tech standards or regulations. A little planning now can save you from a lot of headaches later. 4 Simple Strategies for a Smarter IT Refresh Plan Big budgets and... --- > Qantas/New World/next please: Being hacked isn’t that big a deal. What you do after, is. - Published: 2025-07-24 - Modified: 2025-07-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/being-hacked-isnt-that-big-a-deal-what-you-do-after-is/ So, in recent times we’ve seen airline Qantas falling victim to a cyberattack which hit a third-party contact centre platform potentially exposing personal details of up to 6 million customers. On the NZ side of the ditch, New World took an arrow to the knee with a password spraying attack. Qantas/New World/next please: Being hacked isn’t that big a deal. What you do after, is. So, in recent times we’ve seen airline Qantas falling victim to a cyberattack which hit a third-party contact centre platform potentially exposing personal details of up to 6 million customers. On the NZ side of the ditch, New World took an arrow to the knee with a password spraying attack. Flown Qantas? Shopped New World? That means probably you’re involved. Perfect time to panic? Maybe. Or maybe not. What’s becoming abundantly clear from this latest spate of incidents is that being hacked these days probably isn’t all that exciting or a that big of a deal. People are still shopping and flying. Instead, the response is where the mark is made, and that applies equally whether you’re Qantas, or Joe Blogs who once kangaroo hopped across the ditch. Now, while we do advise the organisations with which we work on how they should respond, it isn’t for us to dictate to Qantas or New World. I’ll have a go at lecturing you instead, though, so keep reading. What’s happened in the wake of these dastardly deeds? Your inbox is buzzing with worried emails from family, your colleagues are fretting about identity theft, Mum’s on the phone scared witless, lock up the children and let out the dogs. No, actually none of that’s happened. Cutting through the noise, being “hacked” is generally nothing like catastrophe for the majority of affected customers. What’s more, your data’s probably... --- > Master remote work security strategies in 2025. Learn how to protect your data, team, and compliance with the latest tools and frameworks. - Published: 2025-07-15 - Modified: 2025-07-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/remote-work-security-strategies/ The landscape of remote work has transformed dramatically over the past several years. What began as a reactive shift to keep operations going during a major global disruption has now solidified into a permanent mode of working for many organisations, especially small businesses. The landscape of remote work has transformed dramatically over the past several years. What began as a reactive shift to keep operations going during a major global disruption has now solidified into a permanent mode of working for many organisations, especially small businesses. If you're running a business in this evolving digital landscape, it's not enough to rely on good intentions or outdated security protocols. To stay protected, compliant, and competitive, your security measures must evolve just as quickly as the threats themselves. In this article, Advantage dives into advanced, up-to-date remote work security strategies tailored for 2025 to help you secure your business, empower your team, and protect your bottom line. Whether you're managing customer data in the cloud, coordinating global teams, or simply offering hybrid work options, today's remote operations come with complex security demands. What is the New Remote Reality in 2025? Remote and hybrid work has evolved from trends into expectations, and for many, they're deal-breakers when choosing an employer. According to a 2024 Gartner report, 76% of employees now anticipate flexible work environments as the default. This shift, while offering more flexibility and efficiency, also creates new vulnerabilities. With employees accessing sensitive data from homes, cafés, shared workspaces, and even public Wi-Fi networks, businesses face an expanded and more complex threat landscape. Remote work in 2025 isn't just about handing out laptops and setting up Zoom accounts. It's about crafting and implementing comprehensive security frameworks that account for modern-day risks. Everything from rogue devices and... --- - Published: 2025-07-03 - Modified: 2025-07-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/client-advisory-july-2025/ On Friday, 30th June 2025, Qantas confirmed a cyber incident affecting one of its offshore third-party contact centres. Approximately six million customer records were accessed, exposing personal information including names, contact details (email and phone number), Date of Birth and frequent flyer numbers. No financial or authentication credentials (such as passwords or card data) were determined to be accessed at this time. Background: On Friday, 30th June 2025, Qantas confirmed a cyber incident affecting one of its offshore third-party contact centres. Approximately six million customer records were accessed, exposing personal information including names, contact details (email and phone number), Date of Birth and frequent flyer numbers. No financial or authentication credentials (such as passwords or card data) were determined to be accessed at this time. The intrusion vector appears to have been a “vishing attack” – vishing is a form of social engineering where a threat actor impersonates an internal stakeholder over the phone to manipulate a service desk / front line agent into resetting MFA or granting access to internal systems. Indicators suggest the threat actor group known as Scattered Spider (also known as UNC3944, Octo Tempest, and Scatter Swine) were involved. This group is known for its agile, social engineering heavy tactics and a focus on high-value sectors. Their shift toward aviation marks a concerning escalation in tactics and targeting having previously targeted financial and insurance sectors. Are you seeing any indicators of increased threat activity linked to Scattered Spider (UNC3944)? Over the past quarter, there has been observed an increase in chatter and technical indicators tied to Scattered Spider’s tradecraft such as: •Increased scanning activity targeting helpdesk systems, ticketing portals, and MFA endpoints. (i. e. cloud based / internet exposed ITSM tooling) •Attempts to enumerate staff directories and simulate internal IT calls to third-party vendors or customer service providers •Reports from global threat intel providers suggest heightened activity in... --- > Is your data protected? Learn how to create a backup and recovery plan for small business success so downtime never stands in your way. - Published: 2025-06-30 - Modified: 2025-07-04 - URL: https://advantage.nz/the-ultimate-backup-and-recovery-plan-for-small-businesses/ What would happen if your business lost all its data tomorrow? Would you be able to recover, or would it grind your operations to a halt? Every small business runs on data, which includes customer information, financial records, communications, product files, and more. Yet data security often falls to the bottom of the to-do list. What would happen if your business lost all its data tomorrow? Would you be able to recover, or would it grind your operations to a halt? Every small business runs on data, which includes customer information, financial records, communications, product files, and more. Yet data security often falls to the bottom of the to-do list. One in every three small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand experienced at least one cyber-attack in the last six months, according to recent research by the National Cyber Security Centre. Scoop NZ reported up to 132,000 New Zealand small business leaders have been targeted by cyberattacks, with 29% reporting financial losses as a result. Here's the good news. Protecting your data from disaster doesn't require a dedicated IT team or an enterprise budget. With the right strategy, tools, and a little foresight, you can implement a backup and recovery plan that minimises downtime and gives you peace of mind. In this blog post, Advantage will discuss practical and easy-to-follow advice to help you protect your most valuable business asset: your data. How Important Are Regular Backups? Let's put it bluntly. If you don't have regular backups, your business is one unexpected event away from potential collapse. Whether the threat is a hard drive failure, an employee mistake, or a flood that wipes out your office, losing data can derail your business overnight. And it's not just about catastrophic events. Everyday occurrences (like someone accidentally deleting a file or clicking on a malicious link)... --- > Another day, another data scare: Lessons from the 16 billion password hack that wasn’t.... - Published: 2025-06-30 - Modified: 2025-07-04 - URL: https://advantage.nz/lessons-from-the-16-billion-password-hack-that-wasnt/ Those who’ve tracked my ramblings over the years will note a measure of (shock, horror) cynicism in the FUD seemingly churned out as a byproduct of the infosec industry. And here we are again; Those who’ve tracked my ramblings over the years will note a measure of (shock, horror) cynicism in the FUD seemingly churned out as a byproduct of the infosec industry. And here we are again; I’ve made a couple of mentions on LinkedIn recently about the daft latest ‘big breach’ in the news. I had to fight not to put ‘news’ in parentheses. Because, we’ve been hit with yet another headline screaming disaster: “16 billion passwords hacked! ” Cue the panic, the frantic calls from your gran worried her Google’s been ‘got’ and the inevitable flood of clickbait articles. As a CFO, you’re probably eyeing your inbox, wondering if you need to overhaul the entire security stack. Spoiler alert: you don’t. This so-called mega-breach is about as real as a unicorn stampede, and it’s time we stopped falling for these overblown security scares. Let’s unpack this, reflect on why these stories keep bubbling up, and channel a bit of that old fable, ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf’, to make sense of it all. First, the “16 billion password hack. ” Apocalyptic, right? Two passwords for every human on the planet, snatched by some shadowy cybercriminal mastermind. Except, as anyone with a shred of infosec nous can tell you, this isn’t a fresh hack. It’s a recycled mishmash of old credential dumps, info leaks, ancient breaches, and data scraps that have been floating around the dark web for years. No one’s out there cracking 16 billion vaults in one go. Instead, a... --- > We’ve mastered remote efficiency, but is human connection in digital workspaces being lost? Discover why it matters. - Published: 2025-06-08 - Modified: 2025-07-04 - URL: https://advantage.nz/human-connection-in-digital-workspaces/ Over the past few years, we’ve become experts in digital efficiency. We join calls from home offices, cars, cafes. We screen-share, voice-chat, and message in real-time. Work, it seems, has never been more connected. But in a business context the more digitally connected we become, the greater the potential for human disconnection. Why Human Connection is Essential in Today’s Digital Landscape Over the past few years, as digital workspaces have become central to how we collaborate, maintaining genuine human connection in digital workspaces has become both more important and more challenging. Platforms like Teams, Zoom, and Meet have become our boardrooms, watercoolers, and client meeting spaces. We join calls from home offices, cars, and cafes. We screen-share, voice-chat, and message in real time. Work, it seems, has never been more connected. But in a business context the more digitally connected we become, the greater the potential for human disconnection. There is a different kind of trust that gets built when you are sitting across from someone. You get to read the room, not just the words. You pick up on body language, tone, and energy that you just don’t get through a laptop screen. Here is what I mean: You can tell when someone is actually on board, not just nodding politely. You can feel when a conversation is going well. You laugh easier. You listen better. You leave the room with a stronger sense of where you stand. Over the years, we have seen how much easier it is to build long-term partnerships when there’s a real, human connection at the start. People want to know who they’re working with. They want to trust you and that doesn’t always come through in a calendar link and a screen-share. Remote work is useful, accessible, and effective. But maybe we’ve gone too far... --- > Deepfake scams are targeting CFOs. Discover how a simple verbal password can stop AI-driven fraud before it costs your business millions. - Published: 2025-05-25 - Modified: 2025-07-04 - URL: https://advantage.nz/better-a-safeword-than-a-sorry-one/ From the wonderfully complex defining most of infosec, we swiftly move to the wonderfully simple. Better a safeword, than a sorry one. From the wonderfully complex defining most of infosec, we swiftly move to the wonderfully simple. What you say, matters. Every word, in some cases, because a verbal password is emerging as a powerful measure against one of the most sophisticated hacks happening today: AI generated deepfakes, combined with spearphishing. Let’s find out why, all the while reflecting on a new paradox emerging in the cybersecurity world. Now, as a CFO, infosec is (or should be) right up there alongside Excel as a priority. Yes, yes, we know you have fancier calculators than that, but we also know you can’t look past a spreadsheet. As the individual entrusted with safeguarding your organisation’s financial integrity, you’re one of the biggest phish in the company pond, essentially featuring a huge target on your back. It’s the old story of hackers concentrating their efforts where they might get the biggest payoff. Social engineers are one thing, and these days most can recognise these attempts at violating the integrity of individuals and the systems they’re responsible for. Most CFOs are quite adept at spotting and fending off spearphishing attempts: the spoofed email ‘from the CEO’ insisting on a rushed payment to a new ‘supplier’. The thornier problem is the AI-generated deepfake. Instead of the easily identified fake email, the urgent request for a large transfer to close a deal comes from an (apparently) authentic voice on the phone, complete with plausible context. You’re in a hurry - who isn’t, these days - so you go... --- > In a crowded cybersecurity market full of noise and fear-based selling, finding a partner that truly fits your business is key. - Published: 2025-05-15 - Modified: 2025-07-04 - URL: https://advantage.nz/lost-in-the-noise-true-partnership/ The cybersecurity industry is more crowded than ever- especially in managed services. endless vendors, countless products, and new buzzwords appearing faster than you can say "zero trust." Businesses are left facing so many options that choosing the right one becomes nearly impossible. A quote from one of our Partners got us thinking... “The cybersecurity space is crowded with companies, offerings and angles – and sometimes all you get peddled is fear to grab your attention. Amidst all the noise it can be difficult to filter out the chaff, so having a cyber partner with a concerted focus on security who is also the right size and fit for us gives us confidence. ” — Matthew Dodd, Group Manager IT Operations, Sealord Why Fit, Not Fear, Should Guide Your Cybersecurity Partnership The cybersecurity industry is more crowded than ever- especially in managed services. endless vendors, countless products, and new buzzwords appearing faster than you can say "zero trust. " Businesses are left facing so many options that choosing the right one becomes nearly impossible. And amid this crowded landscape, something troubling has taken hold: fear-based selling. As Dodd aptly said, “sometimes all you get peddled is fear to grab your attention. ” It’s true: some companies still lead with fear to drive urgency. Scare-first marketing. It grabs attention, sure, but often at the cost of trust. And when every vendor is claiming to have the answer, how do you know who’s genuinely here to help? This is the heart of the issue. It’s not about finding the loudest voice. It’s about finding the right fit. A provider who makes things clear, keeps it real, and backs it up through actions - not slogans. Let’s be honest: for many businesses, engaging with large cybersecurity... --- > Because the dark web is decentralised and private, it is very hard to get rid of data that is already there. - Published: 2025-05-05 - Modified: 2025-05-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/can-my-data-be-removed-from-the-dark-web/ Personal data protection is more important than ever in this digital world. The dark web is a secret part of the internet that is very dangerous because it is often used for illegal things like selling personal information. Personal data protection is more important than ever in this digital world. The dark web is a secret part of the internet that is very dangerous because it is often used for illegal things like selling personal information. Because the dark web is decentralised and private, it is very hard to get rid of data that is already there. This article will go into detail about how hard it is to get data off of the dark web, how to keep your personal information safe, and other ways to make your online safety better. We'll talk about what the dark web is, how hard it is to get rid of data, and what you can do to protect your identity. What Is the Dark Web and How Does It Work? The dark web is a part of the internet that regular search engines don't crawl, so you need special tools to get there. This site is famous for giving people a lot of privacy, which can be good or bad. It gives you privacy and can be used for good things, like keeping private messages safe, but it's also a hub for bad things, like cybercrime and data dealing. Because of its secrecy, the dark web makes it hard to find and delete data that has already been shared. Networks like Tor make the dark web possible by encrypting data and sending it through multiple nodes to hide the names of users. Anonymity is both a good and a bad... --- > Every morning, I stand before my coffee machine, a humble supplicant seeking caffeine. Sound familiar? Probably because you find yourself in much the same position. - Published: 2025-05-01 - Modified: 2025-06-16 - URL: https://advantage.nz/the-zen-of-zero-trust-why-even-my-coffee-machine-insists-on-an-identity-check/ Every morning, I stand before my coffee machine, a humble supplicant seeking caffeine. Sound familiar? Probably because you find yourself in much the same position (though in your home, not mine). But the coffee machine is wiser than it appears: It doesn’t care that I’ve spent years navigating the wilds of cybersecurity while exploring select espressos from Brazil and beyond. Every morning, I stand before my coffee machine, a humble supplicant seeking caffeine. Sound familiar? Probably because you find yourself in much the same position (though in your home, not mine). But the coffee machine is wiser than it appears: It doesn’t care that I’ve spent years navigating the wilds of cybersecurity while exploring select espressos from Portugal and beyond. It demands proof: align the pod, press the button, don’t botch the brew. I swear it’s judging me, and you know what? I’m starting to think it’s got the right idea. My coffee machine is a master of zero trust, a philosophy less about tech and more about life’s quiet insistence on asking, “Who are you, really? ” And the distance—both physical and logical—between it and the smart refrigerator means these appliances have taken zero trust one step further, achieving Zero Trust with Segmentation (ZTS). ZTS is the next step in the evolution of the zero trust concept, and it does what it sounds like: by segmenting trust, access to one device or part of the network, domestic or otherwise, doesn’t mean access to another. We’ve recently partnered with Illumio for this technology, which responds to a commonality in modern cyber threats—they want to move. Illumio ZTS ensures that if a gremlin sneaks into the coffee machine, it can’t waltz over to the fridge or the toaster. Illumio ZTS maps how your devices talk to each other and sets up strict rules to block unauthorised access. Containment reduces ‘blast radius’... --- > Cybersecurity operates under a similarly puzzling principle: a system might be both secure and compromised until someone tests it thoroughly enough to find out - Published: 2025-03-17 - Modified: 2025-03-17 - URL: https://advantage.nz/schrodingers-breach-the-uncertainty-principle-in-cybersecurity/ A throwaway joke got me thinking recently. Any system that appears secure might just be that way because it hasn’t yet been compromised. And as we say in this game, there’s only two types of companies out there, those that have been breached and those that don’t know they’ve been breached. A throwaway joke got me thinking recently. Any system that appears secure might just be that way because it hasn’t yet been compromised. And as we say in this game, there’s only two types of companies out there, those that have been breached and those that don’t know they’ve been breached. First, the joke. Dickens says ‘It was the best of times; it was the worst of times’. To which Schrödinger replies, ‘Nice, nice. ’ Dads of the world, draw nearer. Now, what’s that got to do with anything? Well, as all you quantum mechanics enthusiasts out there know, Schrödinger's Cat is a thought experiment involving a hypothetical kitty in a box. The cat may be alive, or it might not be. It exists in a state of superposition—both alive and dead—until the box is opened and its fate observed. Cybersecurity operates under a similarly puzzling principle: a system might be both secure and compromised until someone tests it thoroughly enough to find out, or a hacker gets in. Call it Schrödinger's Breach—the notion that a network, application, or database only appears secure because it hasn’t been breached yet, but its true state remains uncertain until a determined adversary pries it open. Even then, absolute certainty eludes us, as the absence of a breach today doesn’t guarantee safety tomorrow. Yes, that’s some Christopher Nolan-level trickery. This paradox defines the modern cybersecurity landscape. We erect defences including stuff like firewalls, encryption, intrusion detection systems, and Malware Free Networks (which Advantage uses)... --- > Ever get the feeling that your instincts are saying one thing, while everyone else seems to be saying quite another? - Published: 2025-02-18 - Modified: 2025-02-18 - URL: https://advantage.nz/psy-ops-and-you-is-the-matrix-just-real-life/ Ever get the feeling that your instincts are saying one thing, while everyone else seems to be saying quite another? Turns out there may be a very good reason for that, and that reason might just have emerged thanks to DOGE. Ever get the feeling that your instincts are saying one thing, while everyone else seems to be saying quite another? Turns out there may be a very good reason for that, and that reason might just have emerged thanks to DOGE. Hold on to your handbags, because this is an absolute doozy called Large Scale Social Deception. What could possibly go wrong with that, right? Before we get to the finer details of who or what that distinctly Orwellian phrase is all about, let’s have a quick recap. You may recall a certain rocket man/electric car guy popping up in the recent United States election. Emerging from that is Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, now part of the recently sworn in second Trump administration. Now, regardless of how you feel about that administration (and I very much appreciate that it is EXTREMELY polarising), it’s arguable that never in the history of fresh governments have we seen such dramatic pace of execution. Particularly from DOGE, which despite the cute name is rapidly demonstrating that it has teeth. Sharp ones. Among the dastardly deeds uncovered by DOGE is what appears to be a real-life example of what conspiracy theorists call a ‘psy-op’. Except the targets aren’t ‘the enemy’, but you. And me. Maybe all of us. Psy-ops aren’t conspiracy theory by any means. Indeed, you’ll find plenty of info out there: short for psychological operation, it is a military operation aimed at influencing the emotions, motives, reasoning, and behaviour of individuals,... --- > Advantage continues beefing up its executive suite on the trajectory to becoming an international MSSP serving the wider Pacific region. - Published: 2025-02-16 - Modified: 2025-06-17 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantage-further-strengthens-up-executive-suite-with-sales-director-appointment/ With Sales Director Jannine Wilkinson joining the company early in 2025, Advantage continues beefing up its executive suite on the trajectory to becoming an international managed security services provider serving the wider Pacific region. With Sales Director Jannine Wilkinson joining the company early in 2025, Advantage continues beefing up its executive suite on the trajectory to becoming an international managed security services provider serving the wider Pacific region. As a versatile technology industry operator, Advantage is a key contender for a market growing at double-digit pace in the near and mid-term. Wilkinson joins the company after 15 years at Kordia, where she finished as channel manager for a division providing managed security services. Welcoming Wilkinson to the company, Advantage Chief Operating Officer Luele Driescher says senior executive experience is essential in driving its ambition to better serve local and international customers. “Right now, we’re a mid-tier growth company with a roadmap towards scale across New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and further afield. Jannine brings a strong track record in security and related technology sales, and with her leadership we expect to further drive our reach along with an expanding solutions portfolio. ” Late in 2024, Advantage appointed Gary Botha as Technical Director in a newly created position; Wilkinson’s position, too, represents an elevation in sales leadership. “Fifteen years is a long time at one company, and it was the search for a new challenge which brought me to Advantage,” Wilkinson says. “The company is poised and positioned for positive change, and I’m applying my experience in cyber and networks to help build momentum and scale, while bringing strategic rigour to our sales capability. ” She emphasises effective solutions delivery and customer satisfaction, aiming to... --- > Telecom Fiji has engaged Advantage for the delivery of its Advantage Protect MDR service, which incorporates SentinelOne technology. - Published: 2024-12-08 - Modified: 2024-12-18 - URL: https://advantage.nz/telecom-fiji-partners-with-leading-cybersecurity-provider-for-mdr/ Telecom Fiji has partnered with Advantage New Zealand to enhance its cybersecurity product portfolio through a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service powered by SentinelOne technology. Telecom Fiji has partnered with Advantage New Zealand to enhance its cybersecurity product portfolio through a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service powered by SentinelOne technology. SentinelOne is an advanced cybersecurity software that detects and stops cyber threats like ransomware in real time before they cause damage. Through MDR, or Managed Detection and Response and this partnership with Advantage, Telecom Fiji will be able to provide real-time 24/7 x 365 cyber threat detection, response and mitigation services supported by Artificial Intelligence and human expertise keepings its customers digital assets secure. Shalvin Narayan, Head of ICT at Telecom Fiji, says “In the event of an adverse cybersecurity incident, confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all potentially impacted. Digital information and connectivity today are essential for business and society, so our duty to every customer is to maintain systems and networks with the highest possible confidentiality, integrity and availability. This ensures the continuous delivery of digital services and business operations that aren’t impacted by online threats. ” Narayan adds that Telecom’s partnership with Advantage was based on its proven capabilities and reputation, including ISO 27001 certification and multiple industry awards, such as being named SentinelOne APJ Partner of the Year on several occasions. MDR is one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity services as organizations look to identify and fend off threats before breaches cause interruption, damage, or loss. Gartner, Inc. has predicted that 50 percent of all enterprises will have adopted MDR services for their cybersecurity by 2025, while Fortune Business Insights has indicated... --- > Gary Botha has joined Palmerston North-headquartered national cybersecurity and managed services specialist Advantage as Technical Director. - Published: 2024-12-01 - Modified: 2025-06-17 - URL: https://advantage.nz/gary-botha-returns-to-advantage-as-technical-director/ Seasoned information security professional Gary Botha has joined Palmerston North-headquartered national cybersecurity and managed services specialist Advantage as Technical Director. Seasoned information security professional Gary Botha has joined Palmerston North-headquartered national cybersecurity and managed services specialist Advantage as Technical Director. Botha, who originally hails from South Africa and started his career in New Zealand with Advantage, has returned to the company after a brief hiatus where he served as Cyber Resilience Lead for a major insurance provider, and takes up the newly created position in January 2025. Advantage General Manager Luele Driescher welcomes Botha back into the fold. “We always encourage our people to do what’s best for them, and Gary has grown as a person and as a professional through his recent moves. We were sad to see him leave some years ago but are thrilled to have him back in a leadership position where he’ll make an impact for all Advantage customers as Technical Director. ” Driescher says it is on the back of substantial growth that the Technical Director role has become necessary. “In this position Gary will drive our innovation efforts and add further depth to our leadership team, helping manage the expansion the company has experienced over the past three years. Innovation, technology and technical excellence are key to our future success, and as Technical Director Gary joins a wider number of newly created Senior Leadership Team roles, including Sales- and Finance Director. ” Driescher herself has seen an evolution of her General Manager role, which sees her promoted to Chief Operating Officer effective January (though she refers to the change as a ‘rebrand’). “It’s... --- > How can a legal firm protect against data loss when blocking and traditional DLP techniques would restrict business operations? - Published: 2024-11-24 - Modified: 2024-11-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/minter-ellison-rudd-watts-boosts-security-and-performance-for-its-hybrid-workforce/ How can a legal firm protect against data loss when blocking and traditional DLP techniques would restrict business operations? MinterEllisonRuddWatts (MERW) is a leading full-service law firm operating out of Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand. The firm provides clients with access to internationally recognized and experienced legal and business advisers across a wide range of practice areas and industry sectors. MERW is part of the MinterEllison Legal Group, which is one of the largest full-service legal groups in the Asia-Pacific region. Having moved most of its IT to the cloud, law firm MinterEllisonRuddWatts (MERW) was experiencing issues with its residual on-premises hardware, which included web filtering, internet security, and VPN systems. Remote connectivity was complicated and unreliable, as users had to connect to on-premises firewalls before routing to the cloud. “We allow our people to work from home, so we needed to vastly improve the performance of remote access,” says Nigel Stevenson, Chief Information Officer at MERW. Read more --- > One of the most important things to remember about hackers, miscreants, malcontents, criminals and the like is that they’re not stupid. - Published: 2024-11-24 - Modified: 2024-11-24 - URL: https://advantage.nz/dont-let-emotions-get-the-better-of-you-this-festive-season/ One of the most important things to remember about hackers, miscreants, malcontents, criminals and the like is that they’re not stupid. One of the most important things to remember about hackers, miscreants, malcontents, criminals and the like is that they’re not stupid. Many are considerably more antisocial than the immediate crime of trying to infiltrate your organisation, or your bank account already implies, and have the manipulative traits of a, if not psychopath, then certainly a sociopath. Sociopaths are highly adept at manipulating people and taking advantage of psychological weak spots. And there’s no better weak spot than when your blood is up: emotions cloud better judgement, as anyone who has ever been angry knows all too well. The term ‘narcissism’ is bandied about frequently these days as a component of sociopathy – or, indeed, the more diagnostically correct ‘antisocial personality disorder’. Often, narcissism is a loftily handed down diagnosis from singularly unqualified armchair psychologists on those they don’t like, narcissism is quite prevalent in today’s look-at-me social media milieu. I bring this up because narcissists are something all of us are likely to have encountered at one time or another. And, of course, everyone is likely to have a degree of narcissism in their character, which might be more or less prevalent at any given time or station in life. This is why Daily Mail articles on ‘how to spot the narcissist’ attract so much attention, generating endless comments from those who see this trait so readily in others, if not themselves (self-awareness is SO important). Of course, for those who need the quickest of refreshers, Narcissus is the Greek... --- > There are many types of malware. One of the most common is called “malvertising” and run on Google for hours before they are removed. - Published: 2024-11-07 - Modified: 2024-11-07 - URL: https://advantage.nz/malvertising-is-on-the-rise-watch-out-for-google-searches/ There are many types of malware. One of the most common is called “malvertising.” It crops up everywhere. Including social media sites and websites. You can also see these malicious ads on Google searches There are many types of malware. One of the most common is called “malvertising. ” It crops up everywhere. Including social media sites and websites. You can also see these malicious ads on Google searches. Two things are making malvertising even more dangerous. One is that hackers use AI to make it very believable. The other is that it’s on the rise, according to Malwarebytes. In the fall of 2023, malvertising increased by 42% (month over month). It’s important to inform yourself about this online threat. Knowledge is the power to protect yourself. Especially when it comes to malicious cybercriminals. Below, we’ll help you understand malvertising. We’ll also give you tips on identifying and avoiding it. What Is “Malvertising? ” Malvertising is the use of online ads for malicious activities. One example is when the PlayStation 5 was first released. It was very hard to get, which created the perfect environment for hackers. Several malicious ads cropped up on Google searches. The ads made it look like someone was going to an official site. But instead, they went to copycat sites. Criminals design these sites to steal user credentials and credit card details. Google attempts to police its ads. But hackers can often have their ads running for hours or days before they’re caught. These ads appear just as any other sponsored search ad on Google. Google is not the only site where malvertising appears. It can appear on well-known sites that have been hacked. It can also appear on... --- > Something occurred to me after stumbling across a satisfying takedown of a hacker operation by a YouTube scam investigator. - Published: 2024-10-22 - Modified: 2024-10-22 - URL: https://advantage.nz/the-hacker-next-door/ Something occurred to me after stumbling across a satisfying takedown of a hacker operation by a YouTube scam investigator. Something occurred to me after stumbling across a satisfying takedown of a hacker operation by a YouTube scam investigator. Now, while these kinds of vigilante scambusters are popular on the vid sharing platform, what stood out about this particular operation was the fact that the scammers are working out of an office in Johannesburg, South Africa. In a well-heeled area, and a flash office suite. Why’s that shocking? Well, for starters, it’s no secret that there are a ton of South Africans here in New Zealand – go ahead and make your own jokes about Yarpies and braais, we’re on board with it! (as most of you know, I hail from Joburg). Then, of course, there’s the fact that several local businesses including telecoms operator 2degrees use contact centre services out of South Africa. We know the accent, even if not all of us love it. Add to that we often tend to think of hackers as basing themselves in an obscure East European country, perhaps out of Russia, maybe China, Indonesia, or India. The general tendency, fuelled by those endless ‘The Matrix’ styled visuals of hooded hackers accompanying almost every ‘beware the scammers’ stories on news websites, is that scammers aren’t like us. They’re mysterious and threatening. They are distant and anonymous, veiled by the internet, carrying out attacks separated by the distance of oceans, using the refuge of foreign jurisdictions, and having little in common with us beyond an interest in our money. Watching Agent G9 go about... --- > Microsoft 365 is a powerful suite of tools, but to get the most out of it, it’s important to optimise settings. - Published: 2024-09-11 - Modified: 2024-09-11 - URL: https://advantage.nz/essential-settings-to-maximize-your-microsoft-365-experience/ Microsoft 365 is a powerful suite of tools. It helps to enhance productivity and collaboration. This is especially true for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Microsoft 365 is a powerful suite of tools. It helps to enhance productivity and collaboration. This is especially true for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs). But to get the most out of Microsoft 365, it’s important to optimize its settings. Otherwise, you may only be using a fraction of the power you have. Ready to get more from your M365 business subscription? This blog post will guide you through essential settings to power up your use of Microsoft 365. 1. Optimize Email with Outlook Features Set Up Focused Inbox Focused Inbox helps you manage your email more efficiently. It separates important emails from the rest. To enable it, go to the View tab in Outlook and select Show Focused Inbox. Or in New Outlook, visit View > View Settings. This setting ensures you see the most important messages first. Customize Email Signatures A professional email signature can enhance your brand. Create signatures for new emails and replies. Include your name, position, company, and contact information. See how to set up Outlook signatures here. Organize with Rules Email rules help automate organization. They can also free you from inbox chaos. Create rules to move emails to specific folders or mark them as read. This reduces clutter and keeps your inbox organized. 2. Enhance Collaboration with Teams Set Up Channels Channels in Teams organize discussions by topic or project. Create channels for different teams or projects. Name the channel and set its privacy level. This helps keep conversations focused and organized. It... --- > Advantage is adding satellite connectivity from Sat.One , bringing new enterprise-grade internet options to organisations across New Zealand - Published: 2024-08-19 - Modified: 2024-08-19 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantage-introduces-enterprise-leo-connectivity-with-sat-one/ Palmerston North-based national solutions provider Advantage is adding satellite connectivity from Sat.One to its portfolio, bringing new enterprise-grade internet options to organisations across New Zealand Palmerston North-based national solutions provider Advantage is adding satellite connectivity from Sat. One to its portfolio, bringing new enterprise-grade internet options to organisations across New Zealand. Sat. One is the master ANZ distributor of Eutalsat OneWeb Low Earth Orbit satellite. Where appropriate, Advantage will recommend Sat. One connectivity as part of solutions delivered to its customers. Advantage Managing Director Brad Pearpoint says the goal is introducing stable connectivity anywhere in New Zealand with service level guarantees. “Where Sat. One differs is that its connectivity options are specifically designed for business use and supplied with associated support and assurances. ” There are two prominent use cases for this kind of connection. The first is as a fully redundant link, independent of any terrestrial network. “When Hurricane Gabrielle hit Gisborne, the cellular and fibre networks went down, leaving those areas stranded from a connectivity point of view,” Pearpoint notes. “With Sat. One as a failover, organisations in the region would have maintained their communications. ” The second use case is rural connectivity. Despite industry and government initiatives, the cost of extending land-based solutions to New Zealand’s sparsely populated regions remains prohibitive. “At the same time, our primary industries are among the biggest export earners and comprise 7 percent of GDP. With better connectivity, the full power of information technology is put within the reach of every Kiwi business – whether in Auckland, or out in Muzzle Station,” Pearpoint says. Perth-headquartered Sat. One offers connectivity from several satellite constellation operators, including Eutalsat OneWeb.... --- > In a week of wins for Advantage New Zealand, the company was named SentinelOne Asia Pacific Japan Partner of the Year. - Published: 2024-08-19 - Modified: 2024-08-21 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantage-nz-wins-sentinelone-apj-partner-of-the-year/ In a week of wins for Advantage New Zealand, the company was named SentinelOne Asia Pacific Japan Partner of the Year, while also leading the pack in signing up for the vendor’s Singularity Platform service located in a new virtual data centre in Australia In a week of wins for Advantage New Zealand, the company was named SentinelOne Asia Pacific Japan Partner of the Year, while also leading the pack in signing up for the vendor’s Singularity Platform service located in a new virtual data centre in Australia. With this new service, Advantage is enhancing its offerings to companies for the delivery of Extended Detection and Response (XDR) solutions underpinning better cybersecurity. Advantage managing director says winning the APJ-wide award for the second time running is satisfying. “APJ is a pretty wide region and there’s no shortage of competition in the other SentinelOne providers,” he noted. “We take a dual focus at Advantage: the security of our customers is top priority. Achieving that depends on a similarly sharp focus on our vendors; only the best software and services are good enough but achieving optimal results rests on investing our time and effort in certification, training, and capability. It’s a two-way street and securing this award again this year shows we’re in the driver’s seat. ” However, there’s no time for complacency in the cybersecurity space which is why Advantage was the ‘first cab off the rank’ in signing up for Singularity Platform. As it is now delivered from SentinelOne’s new Sydney-based virtual data centre, Singularity Platform offers complete data localisation for Local Compliance and adherence to data Residency laws and regulations. Jason Duerden, Regional Director, ANZ at SentinelOne said that as cyberattacks become more widespread and complex, it is imperative for organisations to have... --- > The office landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Gone are the days of sterile cubicles and monotonous routines. - Published: 2024-08-03 - Modified: 2025-06-17 - URL: https://advantage.nz/top-6-smart-office-trends-to-adopt-for-an-improved-workflow/ The office landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Gone are the days of sterile cubicles and monotonous routines. Today's smart offices are hubs of innovation. They’re designed to empower employees, optimize workflows, and foster collaboration. The office landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Gone are the days of sterile cubicles and monotonous routines. Today's smart offices are hubs of innovation. They’re designed to empower employees, optimize workflows, and foster collaboration. This shift is driven by technology. Including smart features that seamlessly integrate into the physical workspace. But with so many options available, where do you begin? Here are the top six smart office trends you should consider adopting. They can power productivity and boost employee satisfaction. 1. Internet of Things (IoT) Devices Connected Office Equipment IoT devices are revolutionizing the workplace. These devices connect office equipment, allowing them to communicate and operate more efficiently. For example, smart printers can alert you when they need more paper or toner. Smart coffee machines can ensure a fresh brew is ready when you arrive. IoT devices help automate mundane tasks, saving time and reducing stress. Smart Lighting and Climate Control Smart lighting and climate control systems can adjust based on occupancy and time of day. These systems use sensors to track the environment and make adjustments. This ensures optimal comfort while reducing energy costs. Employees work better in a well-lit, comfortable space. Automating these adjustments improves office efficiency. Enhanced Security IoT devices can also enhance office security. Smart locks and cameras provide real-time monitoring and control. You can grant access remotely or receive alerts if something unusual occurs. This provides peace of mind and ensures your office remains secure. 2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning Personalized Workspaces... --- > Next-generation authentication and digital identity provider Authsignal builds value proposition on AdvantageMDR protection. - Published: 2024-07-22 - Modified: 2025-06-17 - URL: https://advantage.nz/authsignal-put-operations-with-advantage/ As a company providing authentication services for some of New Zealand’s iconic companies, Authsignal had just one specification for its Managed Detection and Response partner: be the best. As a company providing authentication services for some of New Zealand’s iconic companies, Authsignal had just one specification for its Managed Detection and Response partner: be the best. That’s why it chose Advantage and SentinelOne for a proven team delivering a market leading solution in this crucial discipline. As a result, Authsignal provides its solutions with confidence to companies in industries including financial services, marketplaces, contact centres, and more. Situation Having tried the rest, Soong says Authsignal was ready to try the best. “As a company providing security-related services ourselves, our value proposition is built using the strengths and technologies of suppliers where necessary and appropriate,” he says. “With a laser-focus on what we do well – convenient next generation multifactor authentication – we need partners and solutions that can allow us to focus on our core expertise. ” “It’s obviously crucial that we should be unimpeachably secure in everything we do. After all, that’s what our value proposition rests on. ” Having scoured the market for an appropriate MDR partner, he says both SentinelOne and Advantage rose to the top. “Basically, we look to Gartner and other analysts for vendor recommendations, and SentinelOne has been a leader in the Magic Quadrant for three years straight. ” And Advantage, he says, was on Authsignal’s radar thanks to factors including being named SentinelOne APJ Partner of the Year. “Across all Asia Pacific and Japan? That’s the sort of ‘best’ we like working with. ” A further endorsement, he adds, is Advantage’s... --- > We’ve seen a definite increase in the number and frequency of our clients (and organisations in general) conducting cybersecurity audits. - Published: 2024-07-17 - Modified: 2024-07-17 - URL: https://advantage.nz/security-audits-are-on-the-rise-and-thats-a-very-good-thing-for-everyone/ We’ve seen a definite increase in the number and frequency of our clients (and organisations in general) conducting cybersecurity audits. Some notes from the trenches this week; we’ve seen a definite increase in the number and frequency of our clients (and organisations in general) conducting cybersecurity audits. In some cases this is linked or related to the quest for cybersecurity insurance, and in others it is just plain good corporate governance at work. Either way, regular audits are highly advisable, routinely necessary, and a foundation stone in enduringly good cybersecurity. And governance, of course. Now, you don’t need me to tell you the depressingly familiar story of cyber risk if not constantly increasing, then certainly being something of a constant. Our industry does tend a bit toward the hyperbolic, so I prefer looking at the threat landscape as something of a constant rather than a burgeoning tower of Babel with no end in sight. Easier to merely accept ‘yes, these things happen all the time, and also yes, it can and probably will happen to me/you at some point’. What that point is, and how it happens, is really the open question. It is also this question that a regular security audit directly addresses. One of the patently obvious things about infosec risks is that they evolve. Paradoxically, even as new and exciting (not necessarily in a good way) threats emerge, is that a lot of the old and plain dull ones persist. You know what I mean: a good old DDoS attack, an unpatched Windows 7 machine lurking somewhere in the background, the 12345 password to a crucial server,... --- > Protect yourself from the next-gen scam: Phishing 2.0, powered by AI. Learn about the dangers and find out how to stay safe. - Published: 2024-07-08 - Modified: 2024-07-08 - URL: https://advantage.nz/phishing-2-0-how-ai-is-amplifying-the-danger-and-what-you-can-do/ Phishing has always been a threat. Now, with AI, it's more dangerous than ever. Phishing 2.0 is here. It’s smarter, more convincing, and harder to detect. Understanding this new threat is crucial. Phishing has always been a threat. Now, with AI, it's more dangerous than ever. Phishing 2. 0 is here. It’s smarter, more convincing, and harder to detect. Understanding this new threat is crucial. A recent study found a 60% increase in AI-driven phishing attacks. This is a wake-up call that phishing is only getting worse. Here’s how AI is amplifying phishing and what you can do to protect yourself. The Evolution of Phishing Phishing began simply. Attackers sent out mass emails. They hoped someone would take the bait. The emails were often crude, using poor grammar and obvious lies were common. Many people could spot them easily. But things have changed. Attackers now use AI to improve their tactics. AI helps them craft convincing messages. It also helps them target specific individuals. This makes phishing more effective. How AI Enhances Phishing Creating Realistic Messages AI can analyze huge amounts of data. It studies how people write and speak. This helps it create realistic phishing messages. These messages sound like they come from a real person. They mimic the tone and style of legitimate communications. This makes them harder to spot. Personalized Attacks AI can gather information from social media and other sources. It uses this information to create personalized messages. These messages mention details about your life. They might reference your job, hobbies, or recent activities. This personalization increases the chances that you'll believe the message is real. Spear Phishing Spear phishing targets specific individuals or organizations. It's more sophisticated... --- > Looking for a more local flavour to its IT support, Palmerston North’s Central Business Innovation didn’t have far to go. - Published: 2024-06-21 - Modified: 2024-06-21 - URL: https://advantage.nz/central-business-innovation-chooses-advantage-goes-local-with-it-support/ Looking for a more local flavour to its IT support and service, Palmerston North’s Central Business Innovation didn’t have far to go in finding the ideal partner. Central Business Innovation operations with Advantage Looking for a more local flavour to its IT support and service, Palmerston North’s Central Business Innovation didn’t have far to go in finding the ideal partner. That’s because it selected Palmerston North-headquartered Advantage to take on the job – and it hasn’t looked back since. Thanks to the partnership, CBI has direct control of its technology infrastructure destiny, and a partner capable of addressing the installation and configuration requirements of its customers when necessary. Situation While CBI had enjoyed suitable support from its previous managed services provider, a change in business structure and a desire for a local supplier emerged. Rob Irvine, Operations Manager and Co-Owner of CBI, says Advantage came highly recommended. “Essentially, we wanted to work with an MSP which is ‘on the ground’, so to speak, and ready to help with our internal IT systems from a strategic and operational point of view. ” Irvine explains that as an FBNZ business partner to Fujifilm Business Innovation (FBNZ), CBI does more than merely sell printers. “Document production systems aren’t a case of dropping a machine and leaving. Generally, these solutions are deeply integrated into line-of-business software and processes, creating added value which helps our customers achieve their goals efficiently with cost optimisation. ” This, adds Irvine, means CBI requires appropriate internal IT systems, including mobile and flexible working solutions, to get its work done effectively. Solution That’s where, Irvine explains, Advantage comes into the picture. “We’d had a historical awareness of... --- > Think I.T. operations with AdvantageHow outsourced security delivers for Managed Services Provider Think I.T. - Published: 2024-06-17 - Modified: 2025-06-08 - URL: https://advantage.nz/how-outsourced-security-delivers-for-managed-services-provider-think-i-t/ With the data security of medical clients a key concern for Auckland-headquartered managed services provider Think I.T., the company turned to Advantage for the integration of its AdvantageProtect and AdvantageMDR solutions into its service offerings. With the data security of medical clients a key concern for Auckland-headquartered managed services provider Think I. T. , the company turned to Advantage for the integration of its AdvantageProtect and AdvantageMDR solutions into its service offerings. As a result, Think I. T. and its clients today benefit from security levels contributing to peace of mind, with all aspects of information security ably handled by Advantage expertise combined with software from vendors including LogRythm and SentinelOne. Situation With most of its clients largely reliant on what he describes as ‘standard antivirus products’, Think I. T. CEO Kerry Wilson says he sought a more comprehensive approach. “There were too many incidences of our clients being hit with infections and compromises, so we wanted to move up a couple of levels,” he relates. Several options presented themselves, one of which was establishing its own Security Operations Centre complementing Think I. T. ’s existing Network Operations Centre. “We include security in every product or solution we offer all our clients; it’s an essential component of responsible operations,” he notes. “However, a dedicated SOC is a specialist function. ” Another was partnering with ‘hyperscale’ cloud providers. “Neither of these options was particularly attractive. The first, while feasible, wasn’t practically desirable as we aren’t sufficiently large to justify the investment in infrastructure and personnel, and it would take time. The second left the risk of inadequate support – when dealing with overseas entities where you’re effectively just a number, it meant the possibility of not... --- > CSF 2.0 is a comprehensive update that builds on its predecessor. It offers a more streamlined and flexible approach to cybersecurity. - Published: 2024-06-10 - Modified: 2024-06-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/a-simple-guide-to-the-updated-nist-2-0-cybersecurity-framework/ Staying ahead of threats is a challenge for organizations of all sizes. Reported global security incidents grew between February and March of 2024. They increased by 69.8%. It’s important to use a structured approach to cybersecurity. Staying ahead of threats is a challenge for organizations of all sizes. Reported global security incidents grew between February and March of 2024. They increased by 69. 8%. It’s important to use a structured approach to cybersecurity. This helps to protect your organization. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) created a Cybersecurity Framework (CSF). It provides an industry-agnostic approach to security. It's designed to help companies manage and reduce their cybersecurity risks. The framework was recently updated in 2024 to NIST CSF 2. 0. CSF 2. 0 is a comprehensive update that builds upon the success of its predecessor. It offers a more streamlined and flexible approach to cybersecurity. This guide aims to simplify the framework as well as make it more easily accessible to small and large businesses alike. Understanding the Core of NIST CSF 2. 0 At the heart of CSF 2. 0 is the Core. The Core consists of five concurrent and continuous Functions. These are: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. These Functions provide a high-level strategic view of cybersecurity risk as well as an organization's management of that risk. This allows for a dynamic approach to addressing threats. Here are the five Core Functions of NIST CSF 2. 0. 1. Identify This function involves identifying and understanding the organization's assets, cyber risks, and vulnerabilities. It's essential to have a clear understanding of what you need to protect. You need this before you can install safeguards. 2. Protect The protect function focuses on implementing... --- > New Zealand’s Advantage has become the first Cloudflare partner in the Asia Pacific region to qualify for the vendor’s Zero Trust Managed Services Program - Published: 2024-06-05 - Modified: 2025-06-17 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantage-makes-mark-as-first-cloudflare-zero-trust-mssp/ New Zealand’s Advantage has become the first Cloudflare partner in the Asia Pacific region to qualify for the vendor’s Zero Trust Managed Services Program, with the support of its distribution partner Dicker Data New Zealand’s Advantage has become the first Cloudflare partner in the Asia Pacific region to qualify for the vendor’s Zero Trust Managed Services Program, with the support of its distribution partner Dicker Data. After passing stringent criteria, Advantage is now certified to deploy and manage Cloudflare Zero Trust solutions along with first level support. As a seasoned Managed Security Services Partner (MSSP), Advantage offers Cloudflare as a managed solution combined with the National Cybersecurity Centre’s Malware Free Networks threat intelligence feed. American vendor Cloudflare is known for its content delivery network services, cloud cybersecurity, DDoS mitigation, Domain Name Service, and ICANN-accredited domain registration services. As of 2022, the company was used by around 20 percent of the internet for its web security services. Advantage managing director Brad Pearpoint says the company’s singular focus on delivering ‘secure IT that just works’ has led to this Asia Pacific-wide first with Cloudflare. “While this is a decent milestone for our company, the real advantage, so to speak, is how Cloudflare Zero Trust technology benefits our customers,” he notes. Advantage, explains Pearpoint, has added Cloudflare’s Zero Trust security platform to its arsenal to increase visibility, eliminate complexity, and reduce risks as remote and office users connect to applications and the Internet. “We’ve seen a steady and sustained move into the cloud by organisations across New Zealand. At the same time, flexible ‘work from anywhere’ arrangements have proliferated since the pandemic and are here to stay. ” This changes the cyber security challenge, with cloud-accessed... --- > Probably the most promising of all the artificial intelligence solutions mushrooming onto the scene is Microsoft’s Copilot. - Published: 2024-06-05 - Modified: 2025-06-17 - URL: https://advantage.nz/why-copilot-is-probably-the-most-promising-of-any-ai/ Probably the most promising of all the artificial intelligence solutions mushrooming onto the scene is Microsoft’s Copilot. Probably the most promising of all the artificial intelligence solutions mushrooming onto the scene is Microsoft’s Copilot. There’s a ton of interest across the board, too, with the recent webinar we hosted together with Dicker Data drawing a substantial and highly engaged audience. The overriding impression we got from this session is just how powerful Copilot potentially is – and it also showed what you’ll need to do to get lasting value from an intriguingly capable tool. It’s not hard to see why people are interested, but there are a couple of quite significant caveats, all covered in the webinar. The biggest is that unlike the #Copilot you’ve probably experimented with on your personal PC or via Microsoft’s Bing search engine, Copilot at work doesn’t arrive ready to use. Not only will it require some (potentially quite significant) customisation and configuration, but there are entirely new security challenges too. Since Satya Nadella announced it with some fanfare late in 2023, Copilot has looked like exactly the sort of thing we all need to make our lives easier: a ‘turbocharged’ assistant working on our own data, emails, documents and so on, as well as publicly available data resources, helping us get more done faster and with less hassle. And make no mistake, demonstrated in a ‘lab’ setting, Copilot is a thing of beauty. Among our favourite features are summaries of lengthy email chains (hallelujah) relating to a single task or topic, or the automated creation of a PowerPoint presentation. After all,... --- > SentinelOne® and Advantage Partner to Deliver Next-Generation of Managed Detection and Response - Published: 2024-06-03 - Modified: 2025-06-17 - URL: https://advantage.nz/sentinelone-and-advantage-partner-to-deliver-next-generation-of-managed-detection-and-response/ Companies unleash power of generative AI to transform security operations across New Zealand The future of managed detection and response will be driven by generative artificial intelligence, and SentinelOne (NYSE: S), a global leader in AI-powered security, and Advantage, the trusted and leading New Zealand managed service, networking and security provider, are joining forces to deliver it to enterprises across New Zealand today. The long-time partners today announced that Advantage will integrate SentinelOne’s PurpleAI, the industry’s most advanced AI security analyst, into its cutting-edge managed detection and response (MDR) service, empowering organisations of all sizes to defend against AI-driven attacks with AI-driven solutions. “Many vendors are talking about generative AI, but SentinelOne is actually delivering it with an AI-security analyst that is transforming the way security operations work,” said Brad Pearpoint, Managing Director, Advantage. “Together, with our managed service offerings, we can make top-tier Security Operations Centers (SOC) a reality for every business. ” With SentinelOne technology at its core, the Advantage Protect MDR service is a turnkey solution that provides organisations with enterprise-grade protection across their endpoints, servers and cloud environments. With the integration of Purple AI, Advantage can augment the skills of its security team and supercharge their efforts through an advanced AI security solution that not only creates complex data queries from natural language, but anticipates what security analysts need to do and recommends next steps. “With SentinelOne, we can effectively leverage the power of machine learning and behavioural analysis to dramatically accelerate mean time to investigation (MTTI) and mean time to remediation (MTTR) and identify and neutralise attacks for... --- > Here’s a sign that ransomware and other shenanigans aren’t going anywhere: getting cybersecurity insurance is much harder. - Published: 2024-05-29 - Modified: 2024-05-29 - URL: https://advantage.nz/cyber-insurers-are-singing-from-the-same-song-sheet/ Here’s a sign that ransomware and other shenanigans aren’t going anywhere: getting cybersecurity insurance is much harder. And that applies regardless of the size of your business. Here’s a sign that ransomware and other shenanigans aren’t going anywhere: getting cybersecurity insurance is much harder. And that applies regardless of the size of your business. When insurance professionals get involved, you can be quite sure of a couple of things. One is that they understand risk very well. The other is that they will only underwrite risks where there is a better than reasonable prospect of profit. After all, in the absence of this approach, insurers wouldn’t be profitable nor would their businesses be sustainable. I’ve written on cyber insurance previously, essentially endorsing it as a pretty good idea for any and every organisation. The justification is simple: everyone is a target, and cybersecurity insurance is a great safety net on the one hand, and a preventative measure on the other. Safety net because if it does go pear shaped and you’re hacked, you’ve got an organised response in your corner. Preventative measure because those underwriters will assess your environment carefully before taking on the risk. Essentially, they’ll tell you ‘straight’ if you’re excessively exposed, and you won’t get that cover you want. This provides an excellent opportunity for tightening up those areas the prospective insurer says are lacking, and so reducing the risk your organisation faces. We recently hosted a webinar with a couple of our vendor representatives (Silverfort and SentinelOne – we combine their software in our solutions, and the vendors themselves work together on threat detection and prevention) along with a representative from a major... --- > Advantage delivers automated penetration testing with AttackIQ to New Zealand-wide building supplies and home improvement retailer, Mitre 10 - Published: 2024-05-13 - Modified: 2025-06-08 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantage-delivers-automated-penetration-testing-with-attackiq/ After engaging Advantage to run a weekly breach and attack simulation, Mitre 10 has taken their continuous security control visibility to the next stage, utilising the regular tests to update their play books and work with their SOC to adapt to various responses. Mitre 10 operations with Advantage While essential in assuring the reliability and safety of the information technology systems powering trading, Mitre 10’s penetration testing regime was manual, cumbersome, and therefore costly. When managed security services provider Advantage recommended an automated option powered by AttackIQ, the New Zealand-wide building supplies and home improvement retailer was quick to recognise the benefit. After engaging Advantage to run a regular breach and attack simulation, Mitre 10 has taken their continuous security control visibility to the next stage utilising the regular tests to update their playbooks and work with their SOC to adapt to various responses. Click to read full case study --- > Feeling overwhelmed running your small business? Copilot for Microsoft 365 can help! Discover 4 ways to boost productivity & streamline tasks. - Published: 2024-05-07 - Modified: 2024-05-07 - URL: https://advantage.nz/4-ways-small-businesses-can-leverage-copilot-for-microsoft-365/ What are some of the key differentiators that can propel small businesses forward? They include efficiency, productivity, and innovation. Microsoft has expanded the availability of one of its most dynamic tools to SMBs. A tool that can be a real game-changer for growth. What are some of the key differentiators that can propel small businesses forward? They include efficiency, productivity, and innovation. Microsoft has expanded the availability of one of its most dynamic tools to SMBs. A tool that can be a real game-changer for growth. Copilot for Microsoft 365 is a powerful new addition to the M365 suite. It was first offered to enterprise customers only. But Copilot is now open to businesses of all sizes. As long as they have Microsoft 365 Business Standard or Business Premium. Microsoft has positioned Copilot to revolutionize the way SMBs work. This innovative AI tool empowers users to generate creative content. It also streamlines workflows and unlocks new levels of productivity. Let's explore the exciting possibilities Copilot unlocks for your growing business. How Copilot Streamlines Workflows Copilot leverages the power of large language models (LLMs). LLMs are AI models trained on massive datasets. This enables Copilot to understand natural language and generate contextual responses. It offers intelligent suggestions and content within your Microsoft 365 applications. Here's how Copilot translates this technology into real-world benefits for your small business: Effortless Content Creation Struggling with writer's block or repetitive tasks like email writing? Copilot can suggest text responses and complete sentences. It can even draft entire emails based on your initial input. With just a few guiding prompts, your team can: Craft compelling marketing copy Write concise customer service responses Create dynamic PowerPoint presentations Enhanced Productivity Copilot automates repetitive tasks and streamlines workflows by offering intelligent suggestions.... --- > How We Have Enhanced Our Information Security in the Past Two Years - Published: 2024-05-06 - Modified: 2024-05-06 - URL: https://advantage.nz/how-we-have-enhanced-our-information-security-in-the-past-two-years/ ISO27001 is an international standard that specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system (ISMS). What is ISO27001 and why it matters ISO27001 is an international standard that specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system (ISMS). An ISMS is a framework of policies, procedures and controls that helps organisations protect their information assets from various threats and risks. Achieving ISO27001 certification demonstrates that an organisation has implemented best practices for information security and has undergone rigorous audits by an independent body. This gives customers confidence that their data is handled securely and responsibly by the organisation. How we have evolved since 2022 We obtained our ISO27001 certification in 2022, after about an 18-month process of reviewing and improving our information security processes and controls. Since then, we have not rested on our laurels, but have continued to enhance our ISMS. Some of the steps we have taken include: Updating our risk assessment and treatment plan regularly to identify and address new and emerging threats and vulnerabilities Conducting internal and external audits to monitor and measure our progress and compliance Further enhancing our training and awareness programs to our staff to ensure they understand and follow our information security policies and procedures Implementing new technologies and tools to improve our information security capabilities and resilience Engaging with our customers and stakeholders to communicate our information security commitments and achievements What this means to our customers Our information security journey is not only about meeting a standard, but about delivering value and trust to our customers. By enhancing our... --- > Advantage inks partnership with Getac, set to introduce ruggedised computing solutions for use in high-impact environments. - Published: 2024-05-02 - Modified: 2024-05-09 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantage-inks-partnership-with-getac-ruggedised-computing-solutions/ Technology solutions provider Advantage is targeting specialist computing in demanding industries including military, emergency services, marine and retail by striking up a partnership with rugged device manufacturer Getac Advantage, a technology solutions provider, has announced its partnership with Getac, a multinational manufacturer of rugged device solutions, to provide rugged computing solutions to demanding industries, including defence, emergency services, marine, and retail in New Zealand. Advantage will supply the full range of devices, from Windows and Android laptops, tablets, and even rugged servers, along with Getac’s management software solutions. Douglas Jewson, strategic accounts manager, Advantage said, “Advantage identified a market opportunity for rugged computing solutions and recognised Getac as a leading provider of rugged mobile technology. While critical industries like defence and emergency services are obvious candidates, Getac devices are suitable for a wide range of industries and agencies operating across New Zealand. From farms to oil and gas, rugged computing, combined with our extensive connectivity, extends the advantages of remote working deeper into the field than ever before. ” While better known as a managed security services provider (MSSP), Advantage has considerable experience and a lengthy track record in providing ‘general’ managed services and support. Additionally, it offers hardware solutions ranging from deskside devices to server-side devices, including networking and security appliances. Douglas Jewson said, “Advantage also has existing experience and capability with rugged devices within the sales team. We understand the devices, their use cases, and the customers for whom rugged computing provides considerable value-add. ” Getac, a Taiwanese manufacturer, is globally recognised as a leader in rugged mobile technology and intelligent video solutions. Its product range includes laptops, tablets, software, body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, interview... --- > Complete visibility into endpoint-to-server interactions; Reduces vulnerability risk and proactively prepares for breaches - Published: 2024-04-18 - Modified: 2024-04-18 - URL: https://advantage.nz/overland-footwear-reduces-vulnerability-risks-with-illumio/ Overland’s security is up against the unique challenges of a retail environment. Anyone can walk up to a point-of-sale system and try to gain access when no one’s looking, a problem that’s amplified when staff share passwords to serve customers quickly. Business goals Founded in 1948, family-owned and operated retailer Overland Footwear prides itself on delivering top quality, craftmanship, and design. In recent years, this has led them to focus on sustainability and safety efforts that benefit both the planet and their customers. As part of building a more sustainable business model, Overland swapped their traditional printed signage for digital signage, allowing them to save trees while centralizing pricing management. In the process, they also installed cameras in stores to further improve customer safety and employee training. However, Overland’s IT team knew these new devices introduced new security risks. They wanted to be confident their systems were secure against potential breaches. That’s when Das Goonatilaka, IT Manager at Overland, reached out to Steve Smith, Regional Executive at managed service provider Advantage, to get help with finding a solution that could reduce Overland’s attack surface and ensure continued operations even during a breach. Technology challenges Overland’s security is up against the unique challenges of a retail environment. Anyone can walk up to a point-of-sale system and try to gain access when no one’s looking, a problem that’s amplified when staff share passwords to serve customers quickly. Overland also must consider the frequent changes to store staff where security training needs to be balanced with serving customers. Goonatilaka recognized that connecting hundreds of third-party devices to the company's traditional flat network increased risk even more. But with a small team and limited budget, re-engineering the network to separate environments wasn’t an option. “Our... --- > Netskope Named a Leader in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Security Service Edge - Published: 2024-04-18 - Modified: 2024-04-18 - URL: https://advantage.nz/netskope-named-a-leader-in-the-2024-gartner-magic-quadrant-for-security-service-edge/ Secure, optimized work from anywhere is already recognized as a necessity and a primary business opportunity for all IT teams. SSE successfully enables this by converging Web Proxy (SWG), ZTNA, CASB, and DLP into one, powerful, high-performing solution. Secure, optimized work from anywhere is already recognized as a necessity and a primary business opportunity for all IT teams. SSE successfully enables this by converging Web Proxy (SWG), ZTNA, CASB, and DLP into one, powerful, high-performing solution. In the new report, you can find out how we were positioned Highest in Ability to Execute and Furthest to the right in Completeness of Vision. You will also get an understanding of: The broad market trends driving adoption of SSE The criteria used to position vendors within the Magic Quadrant The approach taken by vendors when converging secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), and zero trust network access (ZTNA) components Read more --- > Mis- and disinformation are fundamental tools for hackers…and there’s nothing we can or should do about it - Published: 2024-04-14 - Modified: 2024-04-14 - URL: https://advantage.nz/mis-and-disinformation-are-fundamental-tools-for-hackers/ Something interesting caught my eye, and it is the intersection between misinformation, disinformation, and cyber security and the World Economic Forum’s perceived level of the threat we all face. Something interesting caught my eye, and it is the intersection between misinformation, disinformation, and cyber security and the World Economic Forum’s perceived level of the threat we all face. Those of us in this business know that for hackers, cunning uses of information are the name of the game in getting past defences, often forming the basis for one of the most powerful of all attacks – social engineering. It’s interesting because, of course, probably most if not all hacks start with some form of disinformation (that’s deliberately using false information with the purpose of misleading). In its simplest form, disinformation is duping people, which you’ll recognise as occurring every time a Nigerian prince promises enormous sums of money in exchange for being his friend. It’s also interesting because certain governments around the world have waded into misinformation/disinformation by viewing it as a societal problem to be solved via bureaucratic bodies like our very own Disinformation Project. Former PM Jacinda Ardern even spoke out against mis/disinformation at the United Nations General Assembly some time ago. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the World Economic Forum has waded into the debate from a cybersecurity perspective. The WEF, of course, is something of a polarising body these days, as it is unelected and yet commands considerable influence on political policy and strategy across the world. Some people like that, others not so much. But whatever your views of the WEF, it is fair to say it holds some sway and has a major voice. Let’s see... --- > Have you ever seen a video of your favorite celebrity saying something outrageous? Then later, you find out it was completely fabricated? - Published: 2024-04-08 - Modified: 2024-04-08 - URL: https://advantage.nz/learn-how-to-spot-the-different-types-of-deepfakes/ Have you ever seen a video of your favorite celebrity saying something outrageous? Then later, you find out it was completely fabricated? Have you ever seen a video of your favorite celebrity saying something outrageous? Then later, you find out it was completely fabricated? Or perhaps you've received an urgent email seemingly from your boss. But something felt off. Welcome to the world of deepfakes. This is a rapidly evolving technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI). It does this to create synthetic media, often in the form of videos or audio recordings. They can appear real but are actually manipulated. People can use deepfakes for creative purposes. Such as satire or entertainment. But their potential for misuse is concerning. Deepfakes have already made it into political campaigns. In 2024, a fake robocall mimicked the voice of a candidate. Scammers wanted to fool people into believing they said something they never said. Bad actors can use deepfakes to spread misinformation. As well as damage reputations and even manipulate financial markets. They are also used in phishing attacks. Knowing how to identify different types of deepfakes is crucial in today’s world. So, what are the different types of deepfakes, and how can you spot them? Face-Swapping Deepfakes This is the most common type. Here the face of one person is seamlessly superimposed onto another's body in a video. These can be quite convincing, especially with high-quality footage and sophisticated AI algorithms. Here's how to spot them: Look for inconsistencies: Pay close attention to lighting, skin tones, and facial expressions. Do they appear natural and consistent throughout the video? Look for subtle glitches such as... --- > Through this collaboration, Advantage is further addressing supply chain and third-party risk for its customers around the country. - Published: 2024-03-25 - Modified: 2025-06-08 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantage-expands-relationship-with-mastercards-riskrecon-targets-supply-chain-and-third-party-risk/ Specialist national Managed Security Services provider, Advantage, has deepened its relationship with Mastercard’s RiskRecon cyber risk management platform by becoming New Zealand’s first official reseller. Specialist national Managed Security Services provider, Advantage, has deepened its relationship with Mastercard’s RiskRecon cyber risk management platform by becoming New Zealand’s first official reseller. Through this collaboration, Advantage is further addressing supply chain and third-party risk for its customers around the country. RiskRecon is a Mastercard cybersecurity solution which assesses and manages cybersecurity threats across third party vendors and suppliers. RiskRecon's automated and continuous scanning technology helps monitor the cybersecurity performance of a business’s vendors, 3rd party organisations, and suppliers by scanning their public facing systems and analysing the cybersecurity risk posture of those systems. Advantage Auckland regional manager Steve Smith, notes that the company has enjoyed a partnership with third party risk management vendor ProcessUnity for several years. “This is a dedicated third-party risk management platform which uses a portion of RiskRecon. Having seen RiskRecon in action, we saw the benefit of adding it to our portfolio in full, providing our customers continuous external visibility of their risk, and the potential risks their supply chain partners may introduce. ” Supply chain breaches occur when cyber attackers exploit a vulnerability in one organisation (a supplier or customer) as an intermediate step, later compromising data and assets at other points in the supply chain. Detecting these incidents is difficult owing to added complexity of the interrelation of linked but separate technology systems. As a result, the global average time of detection and containment is 277 days. “The longer the detection time, the more potential damage an attacker can cause,” says... --- > Don’t QR yourself into a quandarySometimes you just have to admire the scammers. Now it’s QR codes, curiosity, and while it may or may not kill the cat, it could quite possibly smash your wallet. - Published: 2024-03-17 - Modified: 2024-03-18 - URL: https://advantage.nz/dont-qr-yourself-into-a-quandary/ Sometimes you just have to admire the scammers. Now it’s QR codes, curiosity, and while it may or may not kill the cat, it could quite possibly smash your wallet. Sometimes you just have to admire the scammers. Now it’s QR codes, curiosity, and while it may or may not kill the cat, it could quite possibly smash your wallet. Or, as those of us in the infosec industry are liable to say, worse. From one QR scan, scammers could quite feasibly make it all the way into the company’s crown jewels. Check out this article on the Advantage website. You know how those QR codes are all over everything these days? (long after the time we all thought ‘that’ll never catch on’. ) That’s because QR codes have, in fact, caught on. For example, plenty of restaurants these days sport a code on the table; scan to order. Unless of course, the scammers have been and replaced the code with one taking you to a spoof website that looks like the real thing. Place your order, and boom! A stack of money leaves your bank account, and no filet mignon for you. As the linked piece so ably points out, ‘QRuisity’ can cause all kinds of trouble. Scammers have figured out that all it takes to get someone onto a dodgy website is putting a QR code in the right place, and the victim enthusiastically does the rest. You can see the potential in this hack. Combine the QR code with a ‘too good to be true’ offer, place it somewhere folks will have their guard down (like the bathrooms of a pub or restaurant? At a concert or... --- > QR codes are everywhere these days. You can find them on restaurant menus, flyers, and posters. - Published: 2024-03-10 - Modified: 2024-03-10 - URL: https://advantage.nz/be-careful-when-scanning-qr-codes/ QR codes are everywhere these days. You can find them on restaurant menus, flyers, and posters. QR codes are everywhere these days. You can find them on restaurant menus, flyers, and posters. They’re used both offline and online. QR codes are convenient and easy to use. You just scan them with your smartphone camera. You’re then directed to a link, a coupon, a video, or some other online content. With the rise in popularity of QR codes comes an unfortunate dark side. Cybercriminals are exploiting this technology for nefarious purposes. Scammers create fake QR codes. They can steal your personal information. They can also infect your device with malware or trick you into paying money. It's crucial to exercise caution when scanning QR codes. This emerging scam highlights the potential dangers lurking behind those seemingly innocent squares. Image source: Adobe Stock The QR Code Resurgence QR codes were originally designed for tracking parts in the automotive industry. They have experienced a renaissance in recent years. As a result, they’re used as a form of marketing today. They offer the convenience of instant access to information. You simply scan a code. They’ve become an integral part of various industries, including retail and hospitality. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are quick to adapt. A new phishing scam has emerged, exploiting the trust we place in QR codes. How the Scam Works The scammer prints out a fake QR code. They place it over a legitimate one. For example, they might stick it on a poster that advertises a product discount or a movie. You come along and scan the fake QR... --- > In the digital age, data is the lifeblood of businesses. But there is a dark underbelly of this data-centric landscape. It’s the persistent threat of data breaches. - Published: 2024-02-26 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://advantage.nz/how-a-data-breach-can-cost-your-business-for-years/ In the digital age, data is the lifeblood of businesses. But there is a dark underbelly of this data-centric landscape. It’s the persistent threat of data breaches. The repercussions of a data breach extend far beyond the immediate aftermath. In the digital age, data is the lifeblood of businesses. It fuels operations, decision-making, and customer interactions. But there is a dark underbelly of this data-centric landscape. It's the persistent threat of data breaches. The repercussions of a data breach extend far beyond the immediate aftermath. They often haunt businesses for years. Only 51% of data breach costs occur within the first year of an incident. The other 49% happen in year two and beyond. Image source: IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023 We’ll take a look at the long-term consequences of a data breach. As well as examine a real-world example. You’ll see how a single breach can have enduring implications. Ones that impact a business's reputation, finances, and regulatory standing. The Unseen Costs of a Data Breach Introduction to the First American Title Insurance Co. Case The 2019 cybersecurity breach at First American serves as a stark illustration. It reminds us of the far-reaching consequences of a data breach. In this case, the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) imposed a $1 million fine. Cybersecurity sites announced the fine in the fall of 2023. The company’s fine was for failing to safeguard sensitive consumer information. The breach exposed over 880 million documents. These files contained personal and financial data. The breach represented a significant violation of data protection standards. This is one example of how costs can come long after an initial breach. Here are some other ways security incidents can haunt businesses for years.... --- > The symbiotic relationship between AI and cybersecurity has become pivotal, check out these 7 trends that are sweeping the Cybersecurity Realm. - Published: 2024-02-19 - Modified: 2024-02-19 - URL: https://advantage.nz/these-7-ai-trends-are-sweeping-the-cybersecurity-realm/ Relentless digital innovation has defined the last few years. The symbiotic relationship between AI and cybersecurity has become pivotal. Especially when it comes to safeguarding sensitive information and digital assets. Relentless digital innovation has defined the last few years. The symbiotic relationship between AI and cybersecurity has become pivotal. Especially when it comes to safeguarding sensitive information and digital assets. As cyber threats evolve in complexity, AI has emerged as a formidable ally. It empowers organizations with advanced tools and techniques. Helping them to stay one step ahead of malicious actors. In this exploration, we delve into cutting-edge AI trends. The trends that are reshaping the cybersecurity realm. As well as fortifying defenses against an ever-expanding array of cyber threats. The Rise of AI in Cybersecurity As cyber threats grow in sophistication, traditional measures face challenges in keeping pace. This is where AI steps in. It offers a dynamic and adaptive approach to cybersecurity. Machine learning algorithms, neural networks, and other AI technologies analyze vast datasets. They do this at unprecedented speeds. They identify patterns and anomalies that might elude human detection. 58% of security professionals expect a completely new set of cyber risks in the coming years. The integration of AI in cybersecurity doesn't replace human expertise. It enhances it. This allows security professionals to focus on strategic decision-making. All while AI handles the heavy lifting of data analysis and threat detection. AI Trends Sweeping the Cybersecurity Realm 1. Predictive Threat Intelligence AI is revolutionizing threat intelligence by enabling predictive capabilities. Machine learning algorithms analyze historical data, current threats, and emerging patterns. It does this to predict potential future cyber threats. This proactive approach allows organizations to put in... --- > Have you seen the story of the Hong Kong banker taken for $25 million after someone deepfaked the entire company board on a video call. - Published: 2024-02-14 - Modified: 2024-02-14 - URL: https://advantage.nz/hackers-deepfaked-an-entire-company-board-on-a-video-call/ You may have seen the incredible story of the Hong Kong banker taken for $25 million after someone deepfaked the entire company board on a video call. Hackers Deepfaked the entire company board on a video call. First, the millions, 25 of them. You may have seen the incredible story of the Hong Kong banker taken for $25 million after someone deepfaked the entire company board on a video call. Check out the story right here on my LinkedIn, and you’ll note my comment: - Technology has come a long way but I am not sure if I believe this story. There’s a couple of things here. The first is that we should always maintain some level of scepticism with all the ‘fake news’, misinformation and disinformation flying around out there. There’s a lot of it where AI is concerned (the sky is falling, we’ll all be redundant this time next year, etc. ), and yes, this is a technological groundswell which has implications for humanity which may range from the sublime to the ridiculous. Sublime might be Elon Musk’s robot folding your clothes. Ridiculous might be someone falling for a deepfake discussion with the board. The story goes that an unnamed exec working at an unnamed company wired $25 million after scammers staged ‘an authentic looking video call with multiple members of the company’s leadership team’. Apparently the deepfakes were created using publicly available footage, with even the voices copied, with instructions for wiring a hefty $25 million made while avoiding interactive conversation. Plausible? $25 million wire out of the blue with no cross checks? These execs feature in publicly accessible materials including their likenesses and... --- > Well folks, there it is. The Mother of All Breaches, with a staggering 26 billion electronic records leaked. That’s about 3 or 4 records for every living person. - Published: 2024-01-31 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/lessons-from-a-galactic-breach-and-the-pig-butcher/ Well folks, there it is. The Mother of All Breaches, with a staggering 26 billion electronic records leaked. That’s about 3 or 4 records for every living person, if you were to simply divide the number of records with the estimated world population. Well folks, there it is. The Mother of All Breaches, with a staggering 26 billion electronic records leaked. That’s about 3 or 4 records for every living person, if you were to simply divide the number of records with the estimated world population. So big is the breach, in fact, that at least one writer reached for a whole new bag of superlatives, going stellar by describing it as ‘supermassive’. Read all about it here. This tells us a couple of things, or perhaps more accurately, reminds us of them. Nothing is truly secure unless locked in a safe and buried 6 feet under (rendering it useless, of course). Nobody’s details, records, emails, credentials, or anything else, could be said to be truly secure. Now, what do we make of that? Do we simply throw up our hands in despair and walk away? Might feel like a reasonable course of action, given how much time, effort, technology, and money is invested in securing information. But the reality is we can’t. The game is, and has always been, taking reasonable steps, taking precautionary measures, making yourself the least appealing target out of the endless opportunities available to the bad actors. Back in South Africa, for example, where the domestic security situation is quite different to what we enjoy in New Zealand, the approach is simple: make your house more secure than anyone else on the street, and burglary is less likely. Hilariously (perhaps, to some), we used to say it’s like... --- > Artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool. It can enhance the productivity, efficiency, and creativity of your staff. - Published: 2024-01-15 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/protect-staff-from-ai-with-these-9-rules/ Artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool. It can enhance the productivity, efficiency, and creativity of your staff. But AI also comes with some challenges and risks. Businesses need to address and manage these to use AI effectively. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool. It can enhance the productivity, efficiency, and creativity of your staff. But AI also comes with some challenges and risks. Businesses need to address and manage these to use AI effectively. Establishing clear and ethical guidelines, or "AI rules," for staff interaction is essential. Otherwise, you may not know when AI is being used for business data. Employees may also be scared to use AI without direction. This can leave them missing out on incredible time savings. 64% of businesses expect AI to increase productivity. In this article, we will share some tips for setting up AI rules for your staff. These tips can help you harness the benefits of AI while avoiding the pitfalls. Define the scope and purpose of AI use. Before you introduce AI to your staff, you need to have a clear vision. Know what you want to achieve with AI. As well as how it aligns with your business goals and values. You also need to communicate this vision to your staff. Explain how AI will support their work and improve their outcomes. This will help you set realistic expectations and avoid confusion or frustration. Establish ethical principles and guidelines. AI can have significant impacts on your staff, customers, and partners. As well as society at large. So, you need to ensure that your AI use is ethical, fair, transparent, and accountable. You can do this by developing a set of ethical principles and guidelines. They should reflect... --- > Hackers don’t go on leave – even if the rest of the world does. Don’t let them have a Christmas bonus this year, or any other. - Published: 2023-12-07 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/hackers-dont-go-on-leave-even-if-the-rest-of-the-world-does/ While you’re decking the halls with holly and reveling in the long-awaited holidays, other folks are hard at work through their ‘busy time’. It’s not just the hospitality industry expecting a bumper Christmas either – hackers, scammers, and other online miscreants see December and January as one of the most potentially lucrative periods of the year. Why that is, is nothing more than an exercise in common sense and a clear look at incentives and opportunity. Looking at incentives for anyone often helps to see the world as it is, rather than how we would like it to be. So it is with online malcontents. We already know their major driving force is money, hence ransomware’s prevalence. Of course, we must also contend with the disgruntled employees, the politically motivated, and the quite simply crazy, but more often than not the incentive is clean and simple. You’re getting hit so someone else can profit. December and January are when guards are let down. People take their eye off the ball. It’s been an exhausting year, we can’t quite believe where the time has gone, by Gum I need a rest, and so on. To the hacker, that’s opportunity. Not only that, but especially in New Zealand and Australia, Dec/Jan is our summer holidays. We shut down like few other places on Earth. Everyone is down at the beach and it is glorious. Glorious for the hackers, too. Because our eyes are off the ball (unless it’s a volleyball) and there’s a skeleton staff in the office, if anyone at all. Meanwhile, the updates and patches keep coming for all that Software as a Service, the applications, the infrastructure, and everything else we rely on for the other 345 days of the year. With everyone on the beach, but most of the systems and technology still running...... --- > The global cost of a data breach last year was USD $4.45 million. This is an increase of 15% over three years. - Published: 2023-12-04 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/2024-emerging-technology-threats/ The global cost of a data breach last year was USD $4.45 million. This is an increase of 15% over three years. As we step into 2024, it's crucial to be aware of emerging technology threats. The global cost of a data breach last year was USD $4. 45 million. This is an increase of 15% over three years. As we step into 2024, it's crucial to be aware of emerging technology threats. Ones that could potentially disrupt and harm your business. Technology is evolving at a rapid pace. It’s bringing new opportunities and challenges for businesses and individuals alike. Not all technology is benign. Some innovations can pose serious threats to our digital security, privacy, and safety. In this article, we’ll highlight some emerging technology threats to be aware of in 2024 and beyond. Data Poisoning Attacks Data poisoning involves corrupting datasets used to train AI models. By injecting malicious data, attackers can skew algorithms' outcomes. This could lead to incorrect decisions in critical sectors like healthcare or finance. Some actions are vital in countering this insidious threat. These include protecting training data integrity and implementing robust validation mechanisms. Businesses should use AI-generated data cautiously. It should be heavily augmented by human intelligence and data from other sources. 5G Network Vulnerabilities The widespread adoption of 5G technology introduces new attack surfaces. With an increased number of connected devices, the attack vector broadens. IoT devices, reliant on 5G networks, might become targets for cyberattacks. Securing these devices and implementing strong network protocols is imperative. Especially to prevent large-scale attacks. Ensure your business has a robust mobile device management strategy. Mobile is taking over much of the workload Organizations should properly track and manage how these devices... --- > Breached or stolen passwords are the bane of any organization’s cybersecurity. Passwords cause over 80% of data breaches. - Published: 2023-11-05 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/sharing-passwords-with-employees-has-always-been-a-risk/ Breached or stolen passwords are the bane of any organization’s cybersecurity. Passwords cause over 80% of data breaches. Hackers get in using stolen, weak, or reused (and easily breached) passwords. Breached or stolen passwords are the bane of any organization’s cybersecurity. Passwords cause over 80% of data breaches. Hackers get in using stolen, weak, or reused (and easily breached) passwords. But passwords are a part of life. Technologies like biometrics or passkeys haven’t yet replaced them. We use them for websites, apps, and more. So, companies need a secure way to share passwords with employees. As well as help them manage those passwords more effectively. Cybersecurity threats are rampant and safeguarding sensitive information has never been more critical. Properly managing passwords securely is a top priority. At the same time, employees deal with more passwords than ever. LastPass estimates that people have an average of 191 work passwords. Since you can’t get around passwords, how do you share them with employees safely? One solution that has gained popularity in recent years is using password managers. Let’s explore the benefits of password managers next. We'll also delve into why it's one of the most secure ways to share passwords with employees. Why Use a Business Password Management App? Password managers give you a secure digital vault for safeguarding passwords. The business versions have setups for separating work and personal passwords. They also have special administrative functions so companies never lose a critical password. Here are some of the reasons to consider getting a password manager for better data security. Centralized Password Management A primary advantage of password managers is their ability to centralize password management. They keep employees from using weak,... --- > In the pulsating digital landscape, every click and keystroke echoes through cyberspace. The battle for data security rages on. - Published: 2023-11-05 - Modified: 2026-02-18 - URL: https://advantage.nz/left-and-right-of-boom-where-do-your-cybersecurity-strategy-sit/ In the pulsating digital landscape, every click and keystroke echoes through cyberspace. The battle for data security rages on. In the pulsating digital landscape, every click and keystroke echoes through cyberspace. The battle for data security rages on. Businesses stand as both guardians and targets. Unseen adversaries covet their digital assets. To navigate this treacherous terrain takes a two-pronged approach. Businesses must arm themselves with a sophisticated arsenal of cybersecurity strategies. On one side, the vigilant guards of prevention (Left of Boom). On the other, the resilient bulwarks of recovery (Right of Boom). Together, these strategies form the linchpin of a comprehensive defence. They help ensure that businesses can repel attacks. And also rise stronger from the ashes if breached. In this blog post, we’ll explain how to organise your cybersecurity approach into Left and Right of Boom. What Do “Left of Boom” and “Right of Boom” Mean? In the realm of cybersecurity, "Left of Boom" and "Right of Boom" are strategic terms. They delineate the proactive and reactive approaches to dealing with cyber threats. "Left of Boom" refers to preemptive measures and preventative strategies. These are things implemented to safeguard against potential security breaches. It encompasses actions aimed at preventing cyber incidents before they occur. "Right of Boom" pertains to the post-breach recovery strategies. Companies use these after a security incident has taken place. This phase involves activities like incident response planning and data backup. Together, these terms form a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. They cover both prevention and recovery aspects. The goal is to enhance an organisation's resilience against cyber threats. Left of Boom: Prevention Strategies User Education... --- > % . It integrates security measures into the very foundation of a system, app, or device. It does this from the start. - Published: 2023-11-02 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/secure-by-design-is-a-modern-cybersecurity-approach/ Cybersecurity has become a critical foundation upon which many aspects of business rely. Whether you’re a large enterprise or small business, network security is a must. Cyberattacks can have long-term consequences. Secure by Design is a modern cybersecurity approach. It integrates security measures into the very foundation of a system, app, or device. It does this from the start. Cybersecurity has become a critical foundation upon which many aspects of business rely. Whether you’re a large enterprise or small business, network security is a must. Cyberattacks can have long-term consequences. The frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks continue to increase. In 2022, IoT malware attacks saw a sobering 87% increase. Attack volume is also ramping up due to the use of AI. It’s essential to shift from a reactive to a proactive cybersecurity approach. One such approach that has gained prominence is "Secure by Design" practices. International partners have taken steps to address commonly exploited vulnerabilities. A recent advisory highlights Secure by Design principles. This collaborative effort underscores the global nature of the cybersecurity threat landscape. As well as the need for coordinated action to protect critical infrastructure. In this article, we'll explore what it takes to put in place Secure by Design principles. And explain why they are paramount in today's cybersecurity landscape. Today’s Modern Cyberthreats Cybersecurity threats have evolved significantly over the years. Gone are the days when just installing an antivirus could protect your computer. Today, cybercriminals use highly sophisticated tactics. The potential impact of an attack goes far beyond the inconvenience of a virus. Modern cyber threats encompass a wide range of attacks, including: Ransomware: Malware that encrypts your data and demands a ransom for decryption. One of... --- > This Cyber Smart Week (30 October - 5 November), we're supporting CERT NZ to highlight the importance of staying secure online and showing New Zealanders what's at stake when they don't get their online security right. - Published: 2023-10-29 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/cyber-smart-week-is-here/ This Cyber Smart Week (30 October - 5 November), we're supporting CERT NZ to highlight the importance of staying secure online and showing New Zealanders what's at stake when they don't get their online security right. This Cyber Smart Week (30 October - 5 November), we're supporting CERT NZ to highlight the importance of staying secure online and showing New Zealanders what's at stake when they don't get their online security right. CERT NZ has found that despite being aware of cyber security risks, New Zealanders aren’t necessarily taking the simple actions that can protect them. For this year's Cyber Smart Week, CERT NZ is showing how easy it is to be exposed online through a photo exhibition featuring real people who have suffered the consequences of cybercrime. The EXPOSED exhibition features larger-than-life portraits of real people targeted by attackers while going about their lives online. These New Zealanders are sharing their stories to highlight the impact of these incidents and to encourage others to protect themselves online. The EXPOSED exhibition is open to the public from Tuesday 31 October – Thursday 2 November, 10am – 4 pm at Auckland’s Tuesday Club, 42 Airedale Street, Auckland CBD. You can also view it online. Take steps to get your online security right Here are some easy steps you can follow to stay safe and in control of all your things online: Create long, strong and unique passwords. Passphrases (random phrases of four or more words, for example coffeecountsasameal or mapsshouldbesouthsideup) make for the best passwords. They’re easy to remember but hard for attackers to crack. Turn on two-factor authentication 2FA is a unique code sent to your phone or taken from an app that only you have... --- > There’s a long and successful history and well-understood principles underpinning the now-familiar concept of outsourcing IT or any other specialist function to ‘the professionals’. - Published: 2023-10-18 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/division-of-labour-why-msps-need-an-mssp-partner/ Ah, outsourcing. There’s a long and successful history and well-understood principles underpinning the now-familiar concept of outsourcing IT or any other specialist function to ‘the professionals’. It works because it makes sense: not an expert in , but is essential? Hand it to those who are the experts. It works for general IT. And it works for security, too. Ah, outsourcing. There’s a long and successful history and well-understood principles underpinning the now-familiar concept of outsourcing IT or any other specialist function to ‘the professionals’. It works because it makes sense: not an expert in , but is essential? Hand it to those who are the experts. It works for general IT. And it works for security, too. It isn’t only individual businesses recognising the necessity for an outsourced specialist handling their security requirements, although that is a big proportion of our business. Increasingly, we’re seeing Managed Services Providers, to which technology support is handed, themselves handing on a portion of that work to even more specialised specialists. That may seem like some Inception-level mind-bender, though it is anything but. Security is a big deal for every company, and it is also a highly specialised field. There have been multiple cases of MSPs falling foul of a hack, with the resultant contagion drawing in multiple government agencies and corporate companies. This MSP, like any other, has a lot on its plate. Most of the work of these companies is in supporting people with their computers, software, and deskside gadgets like printers and so on. They’ll also get involved in some strategic stuff, like cloud migrations, infrastructure and architecture, roadmaps. Within and surrounding all that is security; security, of course, encompasses technology, process and people. It is also far less procedural than most other IT disciplines, and it is subject to even more rapid and unpredictable change than the industry... --- > New Zealand-based IT consulting firm Advantage was recently awarded the NZ-wide Innovation Award at the Reseller News Innovation Awards. - Published: 2023-10-18 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantage-wins-nz-wide-innovation-award-for-the-third-year-in-the-row/ New Zealand-based IT consulting firm Advantage was recently awarded the NZ-wide Innovation Award at the Reseller News Innovation Awards. The award recognizes partners that deliver innovative solutions to their customers headquartered outside of the three most-populated metropolitan areas in the country. New Zealand-based IT consulting firm Advantage was recently awarded the NZ-wide Innovation Award at the Reseller News Innovation Awards. The award recognizes partners that deliver innovative solutions to their customers headquartered outside of the two most-populated metropolitan areas in the country. Advantage wins this award for work with an automation partner to implement a managed detection and response (MDR) solution to mitigate cyber risk delivered out of Advantage’s Security Operations Centre. The company boasts a 25-year history and runs its IT and networking services largely out of the regional HQ in Palmerston North. The NZ-wide Innovation Award is a testament to Advantage's commitment to providing innovative and effective IT solutions to its customers. The company's unconventional approach to technology consulting and implementation has helped it to become a market-leading specialist in its field. "I'm really proud of the Advantage team and what we have achieved over the last 12 months," said Advantage Managing Director Brad Pearpoint. "Receiving this award for the third year, validates that our hard work is paying off. We look forward to continuing to bring innovative solutions to our customers and partners over the coming year. " The Reseller News Innovation Awards is an annual event that recognizes the most innovative companies and individuals in the New Zealand IT industry. The awards are judged by a panel of industry experts and are based on criteria such as innovation, creativity, and impact. About Advantage Advantage is a leading IT consulting firm in New Zealand. The company specializes in... --- > Imagine you’re working away on your PC and see a Windows update prompt. Instead of ignoring it, you take action. After all, you want to keep your device safe. - Published: 2023-10-04 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/is-the-latest-windows-update-really-from-microsoft/ Imagine you’re working away on your PC and see a Windows update prompt. Instead of ignoring it, you take action. After all, you want to keep your device safe. But when you install what you think is a legitimate update, you’re infected with ransomware. Imagine you’re working away on your PC and see a Windows update prompt. Instead of ignoring it, you take action. After all, you want to keep your device safe. But when you install what you think is a legitimate update, you’re infected with ransomware. That’s the nightmare caused by an emerging cybersecurity threat. Cybercriminals are constantly devising new ways to infiltrate systems. They encrypt valuable data, leaving victims with difficult choices. Once ransomware infects your system, your PC is pretty useless. You either have to pay a ransom or get someone to remove the malware. As well as install a backup (if you have one! ). One such variant that has emerged recently is the "Big Head" ransomware. It adds a new layer of deception by disguising itself as a Windows update. In this article, we'll explore the ins and outs of Big Head ransomware. Including its deceptive tactics. We well as how you can protect yourself from falling victim to such attacks. The Big Head Ransomware Deception Ransomware attacks have long been infamous for their ability to encrypt files. This renders them inaccessible to the victim until a ransom is paid to the attacker. In the case of Big Head ransomware, the attackers have taken their tactics to the next level. The attack masquerades as a Windows update. Big Head ransomware presents victims with a convincing and fake Windows update alert. Attackers design this fake alert to trick users. They think that their computer is undergoing a legitimate Windows... --- > White labeling security services can be a great way for you to improve your offering and grow your business. - Published: 2023-09-14 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/why-managed-service-providers-msps-partner-with-advantage-to-deliver-security-services-to-their-customers/ Advantage’s white label service allows you to offer your customers high-quality security services under your own brand, growing your brand and increasing your revenue without having to invest in resources and costly infrastructure and tools. The Challenge Many MSPs face a number of challenges when it comes to delivering security services, including: Finding qualified talent: It can be difficult to find and retain qualified security professionals, especially in smaller markets. Keeping up with the latest threats: The threat landscape is constantly evolving, and it can be difficult for MSPs to keep up with the latest threats. Providing a comprehensive offering: MSPs may not be able to offer a comprehensive security offering, which could leave their customers exposed to risk. Managing costs: The cost of delivering security services can be a challenge for MSPs. The Benefits of Partnering with Advantage Partnering with Advantage helps MSPs overcome these challenges and deliver comprehensive security services to their customers. Advantage offers a number of benefits to its MSP partners, including: A deep bench of security experts: Advantage has a deep bench of security experts who can help MSPs stay up-to-date on the latest threats and provide comprehensive security solutions to their customers. A wide range of security solutions: Advantage offers a wide range of security solutions that can be tailored to the specific needs of MSPs and their customers. A flexible and scalable platform: Advantage's platform is flexible and scalable, so MSPs can easily add or remove security services as needed. Competitive pricing: Advantage offers competitive pricing that helps MSPs grow their businesses. The AdvantageProtect White Label Solution Advantage's AdvantageProtect white label solution allows MSPs to offer their customers a comprehensive security solution without having to invest in their... --- > There’s a bit of a global cost of living crisis going on and everyone’s feeling the pinch. Even the hackers. - Published: 2023-09-12 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/spare-a-dark-thought-for-the-hackers-doing-it-hard-too/ There’s a bit of a global cost of living crisis going on and everyone’s feeling the pinch. Even the hackers. There’s a bit of a global cost of living crisis going on and everyone’s feeling the pinch. Even the hackers. Desperate times, they say, call for desperate measures and we’ve seen evidence of that as hackers step up their efforts with sometimes quite ingenious methods. What hasn’t changed is that they’re after the same thing; your hard-earned cash, which they want to turn into their filthy lucre. What the straitened circumstances mean for all of us on the right side of the law is quite simple: hypervigilance is essential. Both in your personal and professional life. While we’re generally inclined to think of hackers as being a bit like the cool and mysterious denizens of Mr. Robot, the reality is a lot more Glengarry Glen Ross. While Mr. Robot is a lot fresher in the memory and tracks the machinations of Christian Slater in the eponymous role and Rami Malek as cybersecurity engineer Elliot Alderson, Glengarry Glen Ross is a far older film. Made in the 1990s, it’s a view into the misery of washed-up middle-aged salespeople pushing unappealing real estate using various dubious telesales methods. The adaptation of David Mamet’s play of the same name sees those salespeople resorting to increasingly dodgy tactics as desperation takes hold. Their jobs are on the line. They’ll do anything to close a deal. And if they don’t close, they’re fired. Depressing? You bet. But this is a lot more like the hacker of today than the hip, cool, Rami Malek and Christian... --- > Advantage hires senior talent, continues to build Security Consulting division - Published: 2023-09-12 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantage-hires-senior-talent-continues-to-build-security-consulting-division/ Advantage hires senior talent, continues to builds Security Consulting division Hot on the heels of being named top SentinelOne partner for the entire Asia Pacific/Japan region, managed security services specialist Advantage has continued its hiring spree by bringing on board Christophe Demoor as a security consultant in its Auckland office. Christophe brings with him extensive experience in the infosec industry, including at executive and Senior Leadership Team level, and has ambitious plans for the Advantage consulting division. Advantage Auckland Region general manager Steve Smith, alongside whom Christophe will predominantly work, says the company’s focus on excellence starts with its people. “Christophe is a significant addition to our team generally, and our consulting division in particular. Well versed in the operational aspects of security, he is also proven in building, leading and managing teams; with effective security for the enterprise resting heavily on teamwork, we’re looking forward to an enhanced experience for our customers. ” Hailing from Belgium and married to a Kiwi, Christophe started and spent most of his career in Europe, though New Zealand isn’t entirely unfamiliar: he worked with the Dairy Board in Wellington from 2001-2002 as a Network and Security Engineer. On return to Europe, he spent two years at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then worked for a decade in retail with the Delhaize Group in his native Belgium as Security Team Lead and Network and Security Manager, then took a position in telecom with Telenet as Manager Security Engineering and subsequently Infrastructure and Security Strategy Manager. Before returning to New Zealand, Christophe held the... --- > White labeling security services can be a great way for you to improve your offering and grow your business. - Published: 2023-08-31 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/grow-your-msp-through-white-labeling/ Advantage’s white label service allows you to offer your customers high-quality security services under your own brand, growing your brand and increasing your revenue without having to invest in resources and costly infrastructure and tools. As a Managed Services Provider (MSP), you know that cybersecurity is a top priority for your customers. But with so many different security solutions available, it can be difficult to know which ones are right for your customers, and even more difficult to develop a highly skilled and competent team. Qualified and experienced cyber security resources are in short supply and lets face it, this is a highly specialised field that requires a focused effort. That's where Advantage can help. Advantage’s white label service allows you to offer your customers high-quality security services under your own brand, growing your brand and increasing your revenue without having to invest in resources and costly infrastructure and tools. How does white labeling work in cybersecurity? In the context of cybersecurity, white labeling can be used to offer a variety of services to your customers. Most commonly, our MSP partners (resellers) are looking for: • Managed Detection & Response underpinned by the world’s leader in XDR technology @SentinelOne. • Incident Response Services Of course, by partnering with a leading and highly accredited MSSP, there are several other services you can access. Advantage offers a full suite of Cyber Security and Incident Response services, and our team are all based in-country. Benefits to you There are many benefits to white labeling: • Increased revenue: increase your revenue by expanding your offering • Enhanced customer experience: offer your clients a more comprehensive and integrated security solution, delivered by security teams based within ANZ. • Reduced risk:... --- > Advantage named SentinelOne APJ Partner of the Year for the second year running, Steve Smith named Top Sales Person of the Year. - Published: 2023-08-27 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantage-named-sentinelone-apj-partner-of-the-year/ For the second year running, Advantage New Zealand has featured prominently in security vendor SentinelOne’s Partner Awards, taking out the Asia Pacific Japan Partner of the Year, with Advantage Auckland Regional Manager Steve Smith further accelerating the company’s accolades by being named Top APJ Sales Person of the Year. Advantage named SentinelOne APJ Partner of the Year, Steve Smith named Top Sales Person of the Year For the second year running, Advantage New Zealand has featured prominently in security vendor SentinelOne’s Partner Awards, taking out the Asia Pacific Japan Partner of the Year, with Advantage Auckland Regional Manager Steve Smith further accelerating the company’s accolades by being named Top APJ Sales Person of the Year. The awards were made at SentinelOne’s APJ Partner Summit 2023 in Danang, Vietnam. Just 12 months prior, Advantage won the Partner of the Year award for SentinelOne’s ANZ region. Headquartered in Palmerston North and with a growing national presence, managed security and ICT services specialist Advantage has delivered meteoric growth for California-headquartered SentinelOne in New Zealand. It has achieved results through hard work and dedication, investing in the vendor by upskilling and building the necessary capacity to generate and meet market demand. This includes becoming the first and only SIREN-certified (SentinelOne Incident Response Engineer) partner in New Zealand; the only partner with a local Security Operations Centre (SOC) providing SentinelOne MDR; and the only partner providing GCSB Malware Free Networks within the SentinelOne platform. Smith says Advantage has incorporated the vendor’s machine learning technology into customer facing solutions in its quest to create secure environments for organisations across the country. “In just three years, SentinelOne has become a foundational part of our managed security services. Its technology has allowed us to scale our business rapidly by augmenting human resources with AI capabilities, ensuring that... --- > 6 Reasons Access Management Has Become a Critical Part of Cybersecurity - Published: 2023-08-01 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/access-management-has-become-a-critical-part-of-cybersecurity/ Cybersecurity has become paramount for businesses and individuals alike. Cyber threats abound, and data breaches and malware attacks are costly. Attacks come from all vectors, including the cloud tools you use every day. The average employee uses 36 cloud-based services daily. Managing access to sensitive data and resources has become crucial. It's a vital piece to maintaining robust security. One breached account in a business app can lead to significant consequences. Login credentials are lucrative for hackers. Various online accounts can be a goldmine on the dark web. For example, an email administrator login can fetch between $500 to $140,000. You need to ensure you're addressing access management in your cybersecurity strategy. Otherwise, you could suffer serious financial consequences. Not to mention the loss of reputation that comes with a data breach. We’ll look at six reasons access management has become essential to good data security. It plays a pivotal role in safeguarding valuable assets and ensuring data integrity. Why Identity & Access Management (IAM) Should Be a High Priority Mitigating Insider Threats Insider threats can result from malicious actions or unintentional errors. They can come from employees within an organization or their breached accounts. IAM solutions enable businesses to install granular access controls and permissions. This ensures that employees have access only to the data necessary for their roles. By minimizing excessive privileges organizations can reduce insider threats. Access management also provides visibility into user activities. It enables businesses to detect and respond to suspicious behavior in real time. Strengthening Data Protection Data breaches can have severe consequences for businesses. They can lead to things like: Reputational damage Financial losses Regulatory penalties Permanent closure for those that can’t recover Effective access management... --- > Why Xuba outsources security to Advantage. Success rests on the right assets and the right people, with the right products and the right technology. - Published: 2023-07-30 - Modified: 2024-03-18 - URL: https://advantage.nz/why-xuba-outsources-security-to-advantage/ Hamilton-headquartered managed services provider Xuba knows all about the smartest way of delivering key support services: you partner with a specialist. Why Xuba outsources security to Advantage Hamilton-headquartered managed services provider Xuba knows all about the smartest way of delivering key support services: you partner with a specialist. With so much resting on security, particularly in the delivery of remote services, the smart people at Xuba have outsourced their managed detection and response requirements to Advantage. As a result, Xuba itself and its clients are assured of heighted security with the AdvantageProtect XDR service enabled by a combination of Netskope and SentinelOne technology, coupled with Advantage’s seasoned security expertise. Conceived from a shared vision for faster, smarter IT technology coupled with bright spark, cut above the rest IT support service, Xuba believes in ‘quick’ and ‘quality. Passionately committed to doing IT things better, Xuba prides itself on helping its clients sleep at night. That comes down to a clever team with 15 years in the industry and IT in the blood, the team creates lasting bonds by learning their client’s business and delivering trouble-free enabling services and technologies. Situation Xuba managing director Jarrod Dowd says that while his company takes a cheerful approach to the delivery of services for its customers, data security is deadly serious. “We have multiple key customers for which the security requirements are strict and must be maintained to the highest level. Our payoff line is that our clients should sleep well at night and that means having trust in us, in everything we provide. Outsourcing some aspects of the security, quite frankly, means better security and... --- - Published: 2023-07-09 - Modified: 2024-02-05 - URL: https://advantage.nz/what-is-zero-click-malware-how-do-you-fight-it/ In today's digital landscape, cybersecurity threats continue to evolve. They pose significant risks to individuals and organizations alike. One such threat gaining prominence is zero-click malware. This insidious form of malware requires no user interaction. It can silently compromise devices and networks. One example of this type of attack happened due to a missed call. That’s right, the victim didn’t even have to answer. This infamous WhatsApp breach occurred in 2019, and a zero-day exploit enabled it. The missed call triggered a spyware injection into a resource in the device’s software. A more recent threat is a new zero-click hack targeting iOS users. This attack initiates when the user receives a message via iMessage. They don’t even need to interact with the message of the malicious code to execute. That code allows a total device takeover. Below, we will delve into what zero-click malware is. We’ll also explore effective strategies to combat this growing menace. Understanding Zero-Click Malware Zero-click malware refers to malicious software that can do a specific thing. It can exploit vulnerabilities in an app or system with no interaction from the user. It is unlike traditional malware that requires users to click on a link or download a file. Zero-click malware operates in the background, often unbeknownst to the victim. It can infiltrate devices through various attack vectors. These include malicious websites, compromised networks, or even legitimate applications with security loopholes. The Dangers of Zero-Click Malware Zero-click malware presents a significant threat. This is due to its stealthy nature and ability to bypass security measures. Once it infects a device, it can execute a range... --- > Combating Cyber Crime in New Zealand: The Imperative for Incident Response - Published: 2023-07-03 - Modified: 2023-07-30 - URL: https://advantage.nz/combating-cyber-crime-in-new-zealand-the-imperative-for-incident-response/ The need for robust incident response strategies has become imperative for individuals, businesses, and the nation as a whole. Introduction: With the increasing reliance on digital technologies and the interconnected nature of our world, the prevalence of cybercrime has risen dramatically in recent years. New Zealand, like many other countries, has not been immune to this growing threat. The need for robust incident response strategies has become imperative for individuals, businesses, and the nation as a whole. This article aims to shed light on the state of cybercrime in New Zealand and explain why effective incident response measures are crucial in mitigating its impact. The Rise of Cybercrime in New Zealand: Cybercrime has evolved into a complex and sophisticated phenomenon, targeting individuals, organisations, and even critical infrastructure. New Zealand has seen a significant surge in cyber threats, including data breaches, ransomware attacks, phishing scams, and identity theft. According to the New Zealand Police, reported cybercrime incidents rose by 38% in 2021 compared to the previous year, with financial losses exceeding NZD $16 million. The true scale of cybercrime is likely to be much higher, as many incidents go unreported or undetected. Reasons for the Increased Threat: Several factors contribute to the escalating cyber threat landscape in New Zealand. Firstly, the rapid digital transformation across industries has created new vulnerabilities that cybercriminals exploit. From e-commerce to healthcare, critical infrastructure to government services, the interconnectedness of systems presents numerous entry points for malicious actors. Secondly, the COVID-19 pandemic has further amplified the cyber risk. Remote work arrangements and increased online activity have created additional avenues for cybercriminals to exploit. Phishing attacks,... --- - Published: 2023-06-15 - Modified: 2023-09-12 - URL: https://advantage.nz/the-vpn-is-dead-and-goes-unmourned/ Even the best of technologies which have served us well can and should meet their end just as soon as something better comes along. That’s certainly the case with the not-so-trusty-any-longer Virtual Private Network. At one time a boon allowing secure access to remote resources, the VPN has become a clunky relic of the past, with not even its most heralded advantage holding up too well these days. In its place have emerged alternatives which not only hit that all-too-important convenience factor square on the head, but also achieve improved security. Important when you want your traffic truly ‘private’ as opposed to merely giving that impression. Key among those alternatives is ZTNA – and I apologise in advance for yet another acronym! First, a quick trip down memory lane. As you’re probably aware, the VPN emerged in the late 90s when a chap called Gurdeep Pall invented the Peer-to-Peer Tunnelling Protocol. Sure, a lot came along afterwards in terms of security, techniques, mechanisms and added protocols, but the point is that in internet terms, VPN is absolutely ancient. The principles of a modern VPN, too, remain essentially the same, as does the purpose: improving the security of the connection itself. Of course, there’s no trouble with an enduring principle. Maths has stayed the same through the centuries. But when it is superseded, like an electric car over internal combustion, it’s time to move on. Like a lot of ‘consumer’ technology today (yes, you’re bombarded with VPN ads on YouTube and everywhere else), the VPN started out as an enterprise solution, useful for connecting remote workers ‘dialing in’ to corporate assets. Now, it’s something used... --- - Published: 2023-06-11 - Modified: 2023-09-12 - URL: https://advantage.nz/how-to-use-threat-modeling-to-reduce-your-cybersecurity-risk/ As cyber threats continue to increase, businesses must take proactive steps. They need to protect their sensitive data and assets from cybercriminals. Threats to data security are persistent and they come from many different places. Today’s offices are digitally sophisticated. Just about every activity relies on some type of technology and data sharing. Hackers can breach these systems from several entry points. This includes computers, smartphones, cloud applications, and network infrastructure. It’s estimated that cybercriminals can penetrate 93% of company networks. One approach that can help organizations fight these intrusions is threat modeling. Threat modeling is a process used in cybersecurity. It involves identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities to an organization's assets and systems. Threat modeling helps businesses prioritize their risk management and mitigation strategies. The goal is to mitigate the risk of falling victim to a costly cyber incident. Here are the steps businesses can follow to conduct a threat model. Identify Assets That Need Protection The first step is to identify assets that are most critical to the business. This includes sensitive data, intellectual property, or financial information. What is it that cybercriminals will be going after? Don’t forget to include phishing-related assets. Such as company email accounts. Business email compromise is a fast-growing attack. It capitalizes on breached company email logins. Identify Potential Threats The next step is to identify potential threats to these assets. Some common threats could be cyber-attacks such as phishing. Others would be ransomware, malware, or social engineering. Another category of threats could be physical breaches or insider threats. This is where employees or vendors have access to sensitive information. Remember, threats aren’t always malicious.... --- - Published: 2023-05-16 - Modified: 2023-09-12 - URL: https://advantage.nz/the-essential-8-the-controls-that-will-prevent-most-attacks/ Never mind the Hateful Eight or any other Quentin Tarantino movie, there’s a very handy import from just across the ditch which will lift your cybersecurity game. A product of the Australian Cyber Security Centre, The Essential 8 (or E8) is a set of controls which, when used in combination, make your organisation much harder to hack than, well, anyone who isn’t applying them. And here’s the thing: a ridiculous number of businesses aren’t applying them, making them a more viable target than your own good self. And that’s a pretty important distinction. Those of us working in cybersecurity will tell you, ‘it isn’t a matter of if, but when’. Cybersecurity is difficult. It’s harder than hacking because good cybersecurity must identify and mitigate ‘every’ potential hack, while the attacker needs only specialise in one. The hacker, too, doesn’t necessarily care who his target is; he’ll have a go at anyone, moving past the ones which give him a headache, and on to the lower hanging fruit. You don’t want to be that fruit. And with E8, you won’t be. It’s like that old saying, you don’t have to outrun the lion, you only need outrun your companions. With that in mind, let’s get stuck into E8. The controls (and a few added insights) are: Application control. Quick wins here include blocking targeted application types using group policy. We advise implementing Microsoft's block rules (including driver block rules), and restricting Admin privileges so users can’t install random applications. Simple interventions which can save a lot of grief. Patch Applications. Again, and again and yes, yet again we see hackers getting through thanks to deficient patch regimes. Yes,... --- - Published: 2023-05-15 - Modified: 2023-09-12 - URL: https://advantage.nz/devoli-secures-operations-with-advantage-and-sentinelone-mdr/ Wholesale internet services provider Devoli has chosen a MDR Service from SentinelOne delivered and supported by Advantage. Devoli operations with Advantage Wholesale internet services provider Devoli has chosen a Managed Detection and Response Service from SentinelOne delivered and supported by Advantage. The service contributes to a cybersecurity posture suitable for an organisation for which any interruption to business is considered unacceptable – and to date, it has enjoyed trouble-free operations thanks to the always-on monitoring of its networks and data assets. In business for more than a decade, Devoli provides voice and data services underpinning retail Internet Service Providers on both sides of the Tasman. With a sharp focus on empowering its customers, Devoli’s services are driven by network automation tools that provide a lightning quick, easily digestible self-service interface. Devoli maintains its own International Data Network, contributing to comprehensive quality control across its services. Click to read the full case study --- - Published: 2023-05-14 - Modified: 2023-10-01 - URL: https://advantage.nz/how-to-use-the-new-virtual-appointments-in-microsoft-teams/ Scheduling appointments is a common activity. Salespeople often set up virtual appointments to answer questions about a product. Scheduling appointments is a common activity. Salespeople often set up virtual appointments to answer questions about a product. Software companies allow people to schedule live demos. Telehealth therapists allow clients to book video sessions. Those are just a few examples of some groups that are going to love a new Microsoft Teams feature. Virtual Appointments was recently added to the platform. It adds a new meeting style tailored for engagements with customers. Have you’ve been using Teams and a different online appointment app? This new feature will streamline the experience. What Is Virtual Appointments in Teams? Virtual Appointments gives you an all-in-one meeting platform for customer engagements. You can schedule, manage and conduct B2C meetings in Microsoft Teams. This new feature brings together the scheduling component with the video conference interface. Anyone with the link can join the virtual appointment. They do not need a Teams account. The power of Microsoft’s scheduling app, Bookings, connects to Teams. This makes the Virtual Appointments function as seamless as possible. Some of the features below will be available with any Microsoft 365 plan. Some are available with a premium plan. Teams Virtual Appointments Features Manage Scheduled Appointments You can see your scheduled appointments in a single view. Manage cancellations and time changes easily. Send Customized Confirmations & Reminders You can send customers a customized message via SMS or email. This personalizes the experience for them. You can also use automation to give that personal touch without having to send each one manually. Automated... --- - Published: 2023-04-30 - Modified: 2023-09-12 - URL: https://advantage.nz/got-cyber-insurance-if-not-its-time-to-seriously-consider-buying-some/ Despite all the efforts of a not-inconsequential cybersecurity industry, the possibility of a breach which could cost your business dearly is never far away. By its very nature, cybersecurity is a risk mitigation exercise; the risk never goes away and cannot be eliminated unless you lock everything in a box and throw the key away. That’s why a completely non-technical further line of defence is such a good idea: cyber insurance cover. These days, it should be as much a part of your insurance portfolio as General Liability, Property and Vehicle is. And when people ask me ‘which organisations should look into cyber insurance’, the answer is easy: every organisation should. Even if you don’t take the policy, the exercise of testing the market for cyber insurance will prove invaluable, because good insurers won’t even provide a quote until they’ve assessed your security posture. If it comes up short, there’s a lesson for your organisation: if things aren’t sufficiently secure for an insurer’s liking, you’re a target and should take additional precautions. What is cyber insurance? We’ll start with the basics because cyber is a relative newcomer to the insurance field. This means providing cyber insurance is itself risky and therefore a specialist product offered by a limited number of brokers and underwriters. Like every other insurance product, cyber insurance transfers some of the risk of a cyberattack to an insurer, in exchange for a premium. Most policies address the multiple facets of the fallout from an attack, and offer benefits including compensation for financial loss, as well as contributions towards legal assistance, reputation management, and investigation and remediation. Given that just about every... --- - Published: 2023-04-18 - Modified: 2023-09-12 - URL: https://advantage.nz/what-is-app-fatigue-and-why-is-it-a-security-issue/ The number of apps and web tools that employees use on a regular basis continues to increase. Most departments have about 40-60 different digital tools that they use. 71% of employees feel they use so many apps that it makes work more complex. Many of the apps that we use every day have various alerts. We get a “ping” when someone mentions our name on a Teams channel. We get a notification popup that an update is available. We get an alert of errors or security issues. App fatigue is a very real thing and it’s becoming a cybersecurity problem. The more people get overwhelmed by notifications, the more likely they are to ignore them. Just think about the various digital alerts that you get. They come in: Software apps on your computer Web-based SaaS tools Websites where you’ve allowed alerts Mobile apps and tools Email banners Text messages Team communication tools Some employees are getting the same notification on two different devices. This just adds to the problem. This leads to many issues that impact productivity and cybersecurity. Besides alert bombardment, every time the boss introduces a new app, that means a new password. Employees are already juggling about 191 passwords. They use at least 154 of them sometime during the month. How Does App Fatigue Put Companies at Risk? Employees Begin Ignoring Updates When digital alerts interrupt your work, you can feel like you’re always behind. This leads to ignoring small tasks seen as not time-sensitive. Tasks like clicking to install an app update. Employees overwhelmed with too many app alerts, tend to ignore them.... --- - Published: 2023-04-03 - Modified: 2023-09-12 - URL: https://advantage.nz/shadow-it-and-ai-platforms/ Shadow IT refers to the use of systems, devices software and applications that are not authorised or approved by the organisation. Shadow IT has long been a significant risk to organisations as Shadow IT can leads to security and compliance issues and used to facilitate data breaches. Traditionally efforts have been placed to block and audit hardware and software that has not been sanctioned by the IT department. The advent of cloud-based services and applications have exponentially increased the risk of shadow IT within the organisation. It is now possible to sign up for a service within minutes and start using these services. The fundamental issue is that the average worker does not understand the risk – they are simply trying to perform their duties as effectively as possible. Workers are using open AI platforms to assist with reviewing and proofreading reports, assisting with calculations and debugging or even writing code. These platforms have opened another avenue for the exfiltration of company secrets such as company intellectual property, credentials and Personal identifiable information. The issue is compounded by the myriad of third-party API’s that are integrating into the services meaning that it is not only the AI platform itself that has a copy of the data but also the third parties. The reality is that data provided to these platforms is stored for future use and terms and conditions clearly warn against posting confidential data – when was the last time anyone actually read the T’s and C’s? Adopting AI to assist workers in performing job functions needs to happen in all organisations. Data loss prevention tool will become more focused... --- - Published: 2023-04-02 - Modified: 2023-09-12 - URL: https://advantage.nz/what-maths-tells-us-about-chatgpt-and-other-software-like-it/ There’s a dirty little secret underpinning the 8th wonder of the world, and it is your own ignorance. In predictable fashion, the latest iteration of ‘artificial intelligence’ has taken the world by storm, generated a tidal wave of hype, and led to the usual trotting out of scary stories of mass unemployment and social chaos. It’s not hard to see why: ask ChatGPT to write a press release, program a web page, deliver an essay on why Karl Marx is more popular than Adam Smith... and it will do it. Not only will it do it, it will do it well enough that the output will stun and awe you. Unless, of course, you are a philosophy and economics buff. If you so, the result is less stun and awe, and a lot more like reviewing a teenager’s homework. Similarly, ask for an essay on behavioural psychology and you might totally fall for it if your name wasn’t B F Skinner. The reason the output is so convincing to the man in the street is that ChatGPT is language processing software. It knows how different words relate to each other, and accurately assembles ‘the right ones’ in grammatically correct fashion. It draws on masses of sample text and data, producing highly plausible output. Plausible to the man in the street; less so to the specialist. Despite the implications and the uncanny valley shivers down your back which come with a ‘machine thinking’, ChatGPT doesn’t ‘know’ anything and nor does it think ‘worth a damn’. Ask it to write a press release on the new Cisco 880 router, and... --- - Published: 2023-03-26 - Modified: 2023-09-12 - URL: https://advantage.nz/data-backup-is-not-enough-you-also-need-data-protection/ The need to back up data has been around since floppy disks. Data loss happens due to viruses, hard drive crashes, and other mishaps. Data loss happens due to viruses, hard drive crashes, and other mishaps. Most people using any type of technology have experienced data loss at least once. There are about 140,000 hard drive crashes in the US weekly. Every five years, 20% of SMBs suffer data loss due to a major disaster. This has helped to drive a robust cloud backup market that continues to grow. But one thing that’s changed with data backup in the last few years is security. Simply backing up data so you don’t lose it, isn’t enough anymore. Backing up has morphed into data protection. What does this mean? It means that backups need more cybersecurity protection. They face threats such as sleeper ransomware and supply chain attacks. Cloud-based backup has the benefit of being convenient, accessible, and effective. But there is also a need for certain security considerations with an online service. Companies need to consider data protection when planning a backup and recovery strategy. The tools used need to protect against the growing number of threats. Some of the modern threats to data backups include: Data Center Outage: The “cloud” basically means data on a server. That server is internet accessible. Those servers can crash. Data centers holding the servers can also have outages. Sleeper Ransomware: This type of ransomware stays silent after infecting a device. The goal is to have it infect all backups. Then, when it’s activated, the victim doesn’t have a clean backup to restore. Supply Chain Attacks: Supply chain attacks... --- - Published: 2023-03-16 - Modified: 2023-09-12 - URL: https://advantage.nz/advantage-appoints-doug-jewson-to-new-national-sales-manager-position/ With growth on the agenda, leading national managed services and security provider Advantage has appointed industry veteran and executive sales leader Douglas Jewson to the newly-created position of National Sales Manager. Jewson joins Advantage from Panasonic Connect, where he was Senior Business Development Manager; already, he has firm plans for supercharging performance across the considerable portfolio offered by Advantage and its growing national footprint which provides ready access to the New Zealand market. Advantage managing director Brad Pearpoint welcomes Jewson on board says the company is building a competitive edge by combining the best technologies with proven talent. “On the face of it the ICT business is about technology, but the real difference is achieved in the hands of skilled professionals. That’s why there’s a talent shortage, and that’s also why Advantage is actively seeking out and hiring top people like Doug as we go about helping New Zealand’s businesses and public sector organisations get the most from their ICT investments. ” Pearpoint says a growing footprint and expanding customer base resulting from organic growth and several acquisitions has made the National Sales Manager position necessary. “Doug will take responsibility for setting targets, training our salespeople, identifying market and cross-selling opportunities, and optimising the delivery of our full portfolio for all our clients. ” Jewson has more than two decades of experience in the industry, including fulfilling executive-level roles at a national telecoms operator in South Africa, as managing director an Africa-wide travel retail platform, and business development director taking outsourced telecommunications and IT services to market. He came to New Zealand in 2018 and has quickly made the country home for his family. “My career started in telecommunications with companies... --- - Published: 2023-03-08 - Modified: 2023-03-08 - URL: https://advantage.nz/security-situational-awareness-march-2023/ The National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST) Cyber Security Framework (CSF) is one of the de facto frameworks used by organisations to implement security controls and reduce cyber security risks The National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST) Cyber Security Framework (CSF) is one of the de facto frameworks used by organisations to implement security controls and reduce cyber security risks. The current version of the framework has five high-level core functions – Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond and Recover. These functions are further broken down into various security capabilities to protect the organisation. A major update of the CSF has been planned and NIST has released a proposal paper detailing the changes that can be expected. Two of the most significant changes in the paper are the addition of a Govern function to the existing core functions and the expansion of the Supply Chain Management content to the extent that they are considering making it an additional high-level function. Typically, security frameworks concentrate on security controls and the implementation of these to reduce the risk and impact of cyber attacks on the organisation with little focus on the risk management, security policies, processes and how to effectively measure the security control effectiveness. The new govern function will address these gaps and provide a more comprehensive approach to the management and measurement of security and risk for the organisation. Most of our efforts and resources are spent enhancing internal controls and training our staff on cyber security risks and to a lesser extent around our supply chain security. Gaining unauthorised access through partners is becoming an increasingly effective and lucrative method as partner controls are often easier to circumvent. Some tips in... --- --- > ## Contact & Collaboration - **General Inquiries**: Call National: 0800 358 8999 or International: +64 6 358 8999 | Send a message via [https://advantage.nz/contact/](https://advantage.nz/contact/) - **Locations**: - **Head Office**: 73 Queen Street, Palmerston North, Manawatu, 4410 - **Auckland**: Unit 304, 48 Greys Avenue, Auckland, 1010 - **Wellington**: Level 6, 15 Willeston Street, Wellington, 6011 - **Media / Partnerships**: Call National: 0800 358 8999 or send a message via [https://advantage.nz/contact/](https://advantage.nz/contact/) - **Security Incident Reporting**: Call National: 0800 358 8999 (24/7 monitored) - **Careers**: Call National: 0800 358 8999 or send a message via [https://advantage.nz/contact/](https://advantage.nz/contact/) --- ## Legal & Compliance - All content © Advantage NZ Limited. 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