Data#3 ups security with dedicated practice

Data#3 has launched a dedicated security practice on the back of customer demand and the increasing adoption of cloud and mobility services.

Laurence Baynham, Data#3 chief executive, says customers are dealing with increasingly complex hybrid IT environments and are trying to integrate cloud, mobile, social and analytics.

"This has a tremendous impact on security as they deal with safeguarding their business critical information and intellectual property," Baynham says.

"In fact, security was the number one priority for our customers in our latest customer survey," he adds.

Baynham says security has always been a foundation of each solution for Data#3, with the reseller winning partner awards from security vendors. Most recently the company won Cisco's ANZ Security Partner Award 2015 for outstanding performance, and was named Symantec ANZ Partner of the Year for the second year in a row.

The dedicated security practice will encompass existing skill sets, coupled with support from the consulting, assurance and risk expertise of Business Aspect, which Data#3 Group acquired in September 2014.

"The practice will provide customers with integrated offerings underpinned by Data#3 Secure Framework, which will be delivered and managed by experienced professionals from our service teams, complemented by Business Aspect," Baynham says.

Richard Dornhart has been appointed security practice manager, effective immediately. Dornhart, who has been Data#3's national Symantec practice manager since September 2013, has been involved in IT security for 16 years.

Prior to joining Data#3 he was regional sales manager for Palo Alto Networks and spent a number of years at Symantec, including a stint as principal security strategist.