Latest news with #ArcticWolf
Miami Herald
13 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Cyberattack on grocery supplier reveals fragility of US food supply
Hackers infiltrated one grocery distributor, and within days, there were bare shelves at stores around the country and even some pharmacies unable to fill prescriptions. That's not the beginning of some thriller novel. It's the real events that played out earlier this month as major wholesale distributor UNFI, dealt with a cyberattack. But the moral of the story is already clear: The nation's highly consolidated food supply is in need of stout digital defenses to protect it. 'It pretty much exposes the fragility of our whole grocery system,' said Gregory Esslinger, a distribution expert, brand adviser and former UNFI manager. 'It's a national security issue, honestly.' Based in Providence, Rhode Island, UNFI has about $31 billion in revenue and supplies 30,000 stores nationwide. 'It's been years, but they're still gradually integrating the SuperValu systems,' Esslinger said of UNFI. 'When you integrate systems, you potentially open doors to issues like this.' While operations at the country's largest publicly traded grocery wholesaler have edged back to normal after UNFI detected the attack June 5 and shut down its ordering systems, preventing and better responding to the next hack will be the greater test. 'If it happens again, that would be the end of them,' Esslinger said. 'The confidence would be shattered.' Having a handful of big suppliers like UNFI distribute the majority of the nation's groceries can help keep the price of food down, but it carries enormous risk when something goes wrong. Every part of the supply chain should take note of what happened and revisit their security plans, experts said. 'If you're in the industry, this is a great opportunity to take this to the board, ask for the budget, ask for what you need to mitigate the risks,' said Cliff Steinhauer, director of information security and engagement at the National Cybersecurity Alliance. 'You know the phrase, 'Don't let a good crisis go to waste.' I hate to say that, but you can take incidents like this and quantify it.' Steinhauer and others believe the attack on UNFI was likely ransomware. Typically, that means a hacker has been able to access and lock up key systems, promising to free them only after the target pays a ransom. 'It does have all the telltale signs of a ransomware attack because the apparent effects are so widespread,' said Adam Marrè, the chief information security officer at the Minnesota-based cybersecurity firm Arctic Wolf. But the company has released few details. UNFI on Wednesday declined to answer questions about the nature of the attack 'as the investigation is ongoing.' 'We've made significant progress toward safely restoring our electronic ordering systems,' the company said in a statement. UNFI distribution centers are again taking orders and making deliveries as of Sunday. Beyond the threat of Americans being unable to access food, attacks like these are also devastating to the company. Every moment of downtime in the logistics business is financially costly. Guggenheim analysts took down their quarterly sales estimate for UNFI by $250 million, a projected 3% hit to the wholesaler's top line. UBS analyst Mark Carden wrote the impact could last much longer. 'We do see some risk to customer retention,' Carden wrote. 'We expect disruption to UNFI's (revenue) to persist over the next few quarters.' It's that kind of damage that makes grocery distributors and other key links in the supply chain such attractive victims for hackers. 'Ransomware actors target industries more likely to pay than not pay,' Marrè said. 'It appears they chose not to pay the ransom, which we recommend and so does law enforcement, but we also understand the business and life-saving realities surrounding that decision.' The UNFI attack follows other critical infrastructure hacks like the Colonial Pipeline in 2021. Any other companies those spooked should take precautions and practice response plans, Marrè said. 'Prevention is great,' he said. 'But at the end of the day, the ability to detect and respond to an incident is a must. There needs to be backup plans and alternates in your supply chain.' Esslinger said a number of factors might have contributed to the UNFI cyberattack and resulting shutdown, which stalled deliveries and, in some warehouses, saw employees taking orders on pen and paper. 'It's some lack of foresight or planning,' he said. 'The other train of thought is they recently laid off a number of people and outsourced some roles. Did that open the door?' 'UNFI regularly evaluates and adopts new tools and technologies as appropriate to strengthen our information security program to address evolving threats,' the company said in a statement, 'and we are continually taking steps to further enhance the security of our systems.' Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pacific Office Automation Named 2025 MSP Partner of the Year by Arctic Wolf
Portland, Oregon-based Business Receives Honor from Global Leader in Security Operations BEAVERTON, Ore., June 16, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pacific Office Automation (POA), has been named Arctic Wolf MSP Partner of the Year for 2025. This recognition highlights the company's exceptional leadership in cybersecurity, outstanding service delivery, and commitment to helping mutual customers drive innovation and achieve stronger security outcomes. "POA is honored to win this award for the second time! POA takes cyber security seriously not only for our company but for all our customers that work with POA. Arctic Wolf has been a great partner to work with over the years and continues to help Pacific Office Automation and its customers reduce cyber risk," said Chris Miller, VP at Pacific Office Automation. The Arctic Wolf Partner of the Year Awards recognize elite partners who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in helping organizations improve their security operations through Arctic Wolf's portfolio of solutions. Now in their eighth year, the honors celebrate top-performing companies that have shown excellence in security practice, executive alignment, revenue growth, and service. "This year's award winners represent the very best of the Arctic Wolf partner community," said Will Briggs, Senior Vice President, Global Channels, Arctic Wolf. "Each of these organizations has demonstrated exceptional commitment to our shared mission to end cyber risk, helping customers navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape with confidence and resilience. We're proud to recognize their achievements and celebrate the critical role they play in driving meaningful security outcomes." As organizations worldwide face an increasingly complex threat landscape and a persistent cybersecurity talent shortage, over 10,000 organizations globally now rely on the Arctic Wolf Aurora Platform to help end cyber risk. Built on an open-XDR architecture and powered by Alpha AI™ technologies, the Aurora Platform is designed to deliver positive security outcomes at scale. Each week, it ingests, parses, enriches, and analyzes over eight trillion security events—transforming overwhelming volumes of data into an average of just one actionable alert per customer per day. About Pacific Office Automation Pacific Office Automation has been in business since 1976, and over time evolved into a leader in Managed IT and office technology solutions. Currently officed in 12 states with just under 1,500 employees, POA continues to grow because of great partners and the customer experience it offers. They handle IT for small- to medium-sized businesses all over the nation with a primary focus to help solve customers' business problems. Pacific Office Automation has taken the guesswork out of choosing technology to make your office function most efficiently. Partnered with best-in-class manufacturers of technology offerings in every aspect, Pacific Office Automation created a single source solution to make technology work for you. Additional Resources For more information about Pacific Office Automation visit For more information about Arctic Wolf, please visit View source version on Contacts Pacific Office Automation media contact: Christie Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Pacific Office Automation Named 2025 MSP Partner of the Year by Arctic Wolf
BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pacific Office Automation (POA), has been named Arctic Wolf MSP Partner of the Year for 2025. This recognition highlights the company's exceptional leadership in cybersecurity, outstanding service delivery, and commitment to helping mutual customers drive innovation and achieve stronger security outcomes. 'POA is honored to win this award for the second time! POA takes cyber security seriously not only for our company but for all our customers that work with POA. Arctic Wolf has been a great partner to work with over the years and continues to help Pacific Office Automation and its customers reduce cyber risk,' said Chris Miller, VP at Pacific Office Automation. The Arctic Wolf Partner of the Year Awards recognize elite partners who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in helping organizations improve their security operations through Arctic Wolf's portfolio of solutions. Now in their eighth year, the honors celebrate top-performing companies that have shown excellence in security practice, executive alignment, revenue growth, and service. 'This year's award winners represent the very best of the Arctic Wolf partner community,' said Will Briggs, Senior Vice President, Global Channels, Arctic Wolf. 'Each of these organizations has demonstrated exceptional commitment to our shared mission to end cyber risk, helping customers navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape with confidence and resilience. We're proud to recognize their achievements and celebrate the critical role they play in driving meaningful security outcomes.' As organizations worldwide face an increasingly complex threat landscape and a persistent cybersecurity talent shortage, over 10,000 organizations globally now rely on the Arctic Wolf Aurora Platform to help end cyber risk. Built on an open-XDR architecture and powered by Alpha AI™ technologies, the Aurora Platform is designed to deliver positive security outcomes at scale. Each week, it ingests, parses, enriches, and analyzes over eight trillion security events—transforming overwhelming volumes of data into an average of just one actionable alert per customer per day. About Pacific Office Automation Pacific Office Automation has been in business since 1976, and over time evolved into a leader in Managed IT and office technology solutions. Currently officed in 12 states with just under 1,500 employees, POA continues to grow because of great partners and the customer experience it offers. They handle IT for small- to medium-sized businesses all over the nation with a primary focus to help solve customers' business problems. Pacific Office Automation has taken the guesswork out of choosing technology to make your office function most efficiently. Partnered with best-in-class manufacturers of technology offerings in every aspect, Pacific Office Automation created a single source solution to make technology work for you.
Channel Post MEA
6 days ago
- Business
- Channel Post MEA
Arctic Wolf Announces Enhanced MSP Partner Program And Aurora Endpoint Security For MSPs
Arctic Wolf has unveiled two major initiatives to advance its MSP (Managed Service Provider) strategy: an enhanced MSP Partner Program and the launch of Aurora Endpoint Security for MSPs. These strategic initiatives represent a significant advancement in how Arctic Wolf supports MSPs, helping them grow into trusted security advisors while accelerating profitability and expanding their market reach. MSPs play a central role in Arctic Wolf's global partner ecosystem, driving adoption of the Aurora Platform and delivering critical security outcomes to customers of all sizes. The redesigned MSP Partner Program is built for their success—offering scalable pricing, simplified deal structures, and the resources needed to scale profitably and meet the demands of today's complex threat landscape. This support comes at a critical time. Many MSPs today face a growing set of challenges—from misaligned customer expectations and tool sprawl to alert fatigue and limited 24×7 coverage. These issues strain internal resources and make it harder for MSPs to consistently deliver the outcomes their customers expect. Arctic Wolf provides unmatched value to MSPs through the Aurora Platform, which is built to support customer choice, working seamlessly with a wide range of endpoint, network, cloud, and identity solutions. With a comprehensive portfolio of solutions for prevention, detection, response, and risk management, the platform enables MSPs to streamline service delivery, reduce overhead, and scale efficiently. When combined with direct access to Arctic Wolf's team of security experts, MSP partners that work with Arctic Wolf can deliver stronger customer outcomes while building high-margin, sustainable security practices. The new Arctic Wolf MSP Partner Program focuses on three core areas: Progressive Volume Pricing: A growth-oriented pricing model that provides more favorable rates as an MSP's overall business with Arctic Wolf expands. A growth-oriented pricing model that provides more favorable rates as an MSP's overall business with Arctic Wolf expands. Progressive Deal Minimums: A flexible, tiered structure that lowers deal minimums as an MSP grows—enabling entry into new markets and easier expansion without the limits of a one-size-fits-all approach. A flexible, tiered structure that lowers deal minimums as an MSP grows—enabling entry into new markets and easier expansion without the limits of a one-size-fits-all approach. Volume Commit Agreements: Multi-year growth plans that unlock preferred pricing from day one, helping partners scale faster and increase margins. The launch of the new Arctic Wolf MSP Partner Program builds on the foundation of the Arctic Wolf Partner Program, Arctic Wolf's award-winning, partner-centric go-to-market model designed to help partners thrive. From sales enablement and technical training to marketing and demand generation support, the program delivers everything the channel community needs to win new business, deepen customer relationships, and scale their growth. 'The MSP market is one of the most dynamic segments in cybersecurity, and we're proud to launch a new purpose-built program that gives MSP partners more flexibility, stronger margins, and immediate pricing advantages,' said Will Briggs, SVP, Global Channels at Arctic Wolf. 'We've designed every part of this offering around partner success, removing friction, rewarding growth, and giving MSPs the ability to deliver modern security operations and advanced endpoint protection to their customers faster and more profitably than ever before.' Launching Aurora Endpoint Security for MSPs Arctic Wolf also announced the launch of Aurora Endpoint Security for MSPs, enabling MSP partners to deliver the flexible, scalable protection of Aurora Endpoint Security to their customers. Seamlessly integrated into the Arctic Wolf Aurora Platform, Aurora Endpoint Security leverages insights from over 10,000 customers and more than 8 trillion security observations weekly to address advanced and emerging threats. These enhancements to Arctic Wolf's MSP Partner Program were revealed during Partner Jam, the company's weeklong global summit for channel, alliance, and insurance partners. During the event, Arctic Wolf also announced its 2025 Partner of the Year award winners, recognizing the organizations that have played a key role in delivering security operations at scale and helping end cyber risk for customers around the world.
Techday NZ
13-06-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Arctic Wolf celebrates top ANZ partners as channel network doubles
Arctic Wolf has named REDD, CSW-IT, and Ethan Global as the recipients of its 2025 Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Partner of the Year Awards. The awards were presented to acknowledge the contribution of partner organisations in delivering security operations and supporting efforts to reduce cyber risk for businesses across the region. Channel growth Arctic Wolf reported that its ANZ channel partner community has doubled in size, reflecting the company's continued investment in its partner-led strategy. The firm's global partner network now numbers more than 2,250, including resellers, solution providers, managed service providers (MSPs), cyber insurance collaborators, and technology alliances, spanning more than 100 countries. Alongside the growth in partner numbers, Arctic Wolf said it serves over 10,000 customers and supports more than 1,000 security engineers worldwide. Security landscape The company outlined that organisations in the ANZ region are facing a constantly shifting risk environment, influenced by the adoption of new technologies and increased geopolitical uncertainty. To address these challenges, Arctic Wolf has continued to focus on its partner-first approach and has introduced enhancements to its security platforms and MSP Partner Program. Following Arctic Wolf's acquisition of Cylance earlier this year, the company's partners in ANZ now have access to expanded go-to-market opportunities, including the latest Security Operations Centre (SOC) offerings and endpoint security solutions. Partner recognition The Alpha Partner of the Year award was presented to REDD. Brad Ferris, Chief Executive Officer at REDD, said, "At REDD, we're deeply honoured to be named Arctic Wolf's APAC Alpha Partner of the Year. This recognition reflects our team's relentless commitment to excellence, our customer-obsessed culture, and our focus on delivering world-class security outcomes across Australia and New Zealand. Together with Arctic Wolf, we're helping organisations face today's cybersecurity challenges with clarity, confidence, and resilience." CSW-IT received the Pack Hunter Partner of the Year award. Callum McDonald, Director at CSW-IT, commented, "We are so excited to be Arctic Wolf's Pack Hunter Partner of the year in Australia. This award reflects the dedication of our team, the strength of our strategic alignment with Arctic Wolf, and our shared commitment to helping customers stay ahead of evolving cyber threats." Ethan Global was named Rising Star Partner of the Year. Tony Geagea, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Ethan Global, said, "There's a reason why Australian organisations choose to work with us. We're more than just a security provider – we're AI, we're managed services, we're cloud, telco, and IT. To get security right, you need to have a holistic understanding of the environment, and that's our speciality. Thank you, Arctic Wolf for this year's Rising Star award - we are very excited about this strategic partnership." Commitment to the partner ecosystem David Hayes, Regional Director ANZ at Arctic Wolf, highlighted the importance of the company's partner relationships, stating, "By integrating Arctic Wolf's turnkey solutions, our open XDR platform, and the expertise of our partner teams, we serve as trusted advisors throughout the customer security journey." "As a 100% partner-based company, Arctic Wolf's entire portfolio of services is offered exclusively through our partners. Our local partner community is critical to bringing these innovations to the ANZ market, and we are committed to strengthening these relationships and delivering better outcomes for our customers." Arctic Wolf indicated that it will continue to build on its partner network in ANZ, aiming to meet expanding customer requirements while supporting efforts to address increasing security threats faced by organisations in the region.
