IT Availability Now

Cyberattacks aren't new, but the cyber threat landscape is constantly evolving.The latest IBM Cost of a Data Breach report revealed the most common initial attack vectors are compromised credentials at 19%, phishing at 16%, and cloud misconfiguration at 15%. This means that the top 50% of initial attacks were caused by some type of human error.On this episode of IT Availability Now, Sungard AS experts discuss what businesses must do to stay resilient in 2023. Listen to this full episode to learn:Why businesses must invest more in cybersecurity training for employeesHow organizations can prepare for the “human element” in their security postureHow to build defenses to protect against your industry's most pressing threatsWhy overlooking cybersecurity basics and headcount reduction could leave your business more vulnerable than ever Why moving workloads to the public cloud doesn't diminish the need for disaster recoveryMatt Parsons is Director of Network and Security Product Management at Sungard AS. Matt's background and specialty is in network and security architectures, helping enterprises build secure, resilient, and highly available private and public cloud infrastructures.As Security Consulting, Senior Manager at Sungard AS, Asher de Metz helps companies identify risks and secure their systems by conducting security audits and tests to avoid cybersecurity attacks. With almost 20 years of experience in information technology and security, Asher has been involved in hundreds of IT-security projects and has provided security counsel to some of the largest companies throughout the U.K., Europe, Middle East and North America within the financial, government, retail, healthcare, insurance and manufacturing industries. As a Security Consulting Solution Principal at Sungard AS, Robert Corso has a strong focus on assisting the sales team during client pursuits by providing solution development for Security solutions. He participates in solution implementations such as PCI Audits, Information Security Risk Assessment and CISO advisory services and provides expertise in the definition, design, implementation, and adoption of Sungard AS security solutions for clients.Darpan Thaker is a cyber and IT resiliency thought leader with more than 25 years of experience in IT. He has been with Sungard Availability Services for more than nine years. Darpan has helped many organizations in successfully meeting their complex resiliency requirements. He was recently awarded with a patent for Recovery Maturity Index (RMI), which is a systematic process to determine status of IT disaster recovery maturity and areas of improvement based on a well-defined quantitative analysis.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Businesses today are more and more aware that they need to know the risks they are inheriting from their third-party vendors. And they must determine which of those risks warrant mitigation in some real way.On this episode of IT Availability Now, host Servaas Verbiest and guest John Beattie, Principal Consultant at Sungard AS, examine this complex and timely topic, digging into everything from customers' biggest concerns to effective third-party risk management. Listen to this full episode to learn:The differences between “preventive” and “reactive” responses to risk and identifying what controls third-party vendors have for eachWhat happens when organizations place too much stock in “prevention”How businesses can evaluate third-party risk as it pertains to ransomwareThe top risk areas related to post-ransomware recoveryAs Director of Product Field Strategy at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industries on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development.As a Principal Consultant at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS), John Beattie works closely with organizations to implement third party risk management programs and reduce operational risk by establishing new business continuity and disaster recovery programs or transforming existing ones to improve effectiveness.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Container adoption has been increasing for years, and the trend is expected to continue. Gartner forecasts that 70% of businesses will run containerized applications by 2023 and 90% will do so by 2026. Yet, while organizations constantly throw around the term containerization, many don't fully understand the concept.On this episode of IT Availability Now, host Servaas Verbiest and guest Erik Krogstad, Senior National Cloud Architect at Sungard AS, explore this popular topic, breaking down what a container is, and how businesses should use and secure them. Listen to this full episode to learn:The benefits of containers Why organizations use containers, and what's driving recent adoptionWhat containers can be used forContainer security best practicesHow compliance requirements influence container usageAs Director of Product Field Strategy at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industries on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development.Erik Krogstad is the Senior National Cloud Architect at Sungard AS and serves as lead for the company's Cloud Center of Excellence. With more than 20 years in the IT industry, Erik has extensive experience in designing and transforming IT infrastructures and architectures to meet the business and IT needs of fortune 1000 companies. Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

The mounting threat of ransomware – a 13% increase in attacks year over year, per Verizon's 2022 Data Breach Investigation's Report – has organizations taking a closer look at the cyber kill chain. But what exactly is the cyber kill chain and how can it keep your business secure?On this episode of IT Availability Now, host Servaas Verbiest and guest Shannon Davis, Global Director of Partner Readiness at Alert Logic, discuss this hot-button topic and why businesses today can't neglect the kill chain. Listen to this full episode to learn:The origins of the cyber kill chain, including how the name came aboutHow the cyber kill chain has evolved The key components of the current cyber kill chainWhy the cyber kill chain is such an integral part of a company's security postureHow to ensure your organization maximizes the kill chainAs Director of Product Field Strategy at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industries on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development.Shannon Davis is Global Director of Partner Readiness at Alert Logic, regularly consulting with companies to increase awareness of the current threat landscape and the security solutions and best practices available to stay protected. He is focused on the development of and investment in strategic relationships that allow those concepts and conversations to scale globally across the network of Alert Logic partners. Shannon has over 10 years of IT sales and marketing experience with expertise in Cybersecurity, MSP, MSSP, AWS, Azure, VMware, OpenStack, managed hosting, and more.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Multi-cloud remains the “de facto standard” among enterprises, according to Flexera's 2022 State of the Cloud Report, with 89% of businesses taking this approach. Yet, while many companies would love to follow suit, they don't know where to start.On this episode of IT Availability Now, host Servaas Verbiest and guest James Mora, Vice President of Engineering and Operations at Sungard AS, discuss what organizations should consider when developing a multi-cloud strategy. Listen to this full episode to learn:How to determine the right cloud strategy for your business and what this looks like in practiceWhy you must plan for how you will support and maintain these new environmentsWhat steps your organization should take to ensure it properly maintains and supports a multi-cloud environmentAs Director of Product Field Strategy at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industries on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development.James Mora is Vice President of Engineering and Operations for Sungard Availability Services. James has more than 20 years' experience in Product Engineering. In this role, he is focused on providing pre-sales solutioning, product engineering, platform engineering, DevOps, security operations and customer implementation support for Cloud and Managed Services. James joined Sungard in 2016, and has since transformed engineering into an Agile and DevOps organization delivering flagship Private and Public Cloud services.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Sixty-three percent of businesses are now considered heavy cloud users, running over 25% of their workloads in the cloud. Yet, as companies become further immersed in the cloud, there's still a lot they don't know.On this episode of IT Availability Now, host Servaas Verbiest and guest Erik Krogstad, Senior National Cloud Architect at Sungard AS, discuss questions customers frequently ask about the cloud. Listen to this full episode to learn:How to build a successful cloud cultureHow to address the networking component when implementing cloud deploymentsHow to determine the right cloud for your organizationAs Director of Product Field Strategy at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industries on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development.Erik Krogstad is the Senior National Cloud Architect at Sungard AS and serves as lead for the company's Cloud Center of Excellence. With more than 20 years in the IT industry, Erik has extensive experience in designing and transforming IT infrastructures and architectures to meet the business and IT needs of fortune 1000 companies. Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Cyberattacks continue to grow in size and scope, and global cybercrime costs are projected to hit $10.5 trillion by 2025.On this episode of IT Availability Now, host Servaas Verbiest and guest Rob Corso, Security Consulting Solutions Principal at Sungard AS, discuss the latest trends and developments in cybersecurity.Listen to this full episode to learn about:The most alarming cybersecurity trends affecting businessesThe integration of artificial intelligence into cybersecurity, including the benefits, limitations and challenges Key questions businesses should ask to determine if a cybersecurity solution will offer adequate protection Steps companies can take to ensure they remain secure and resilientAs Director of Product Field Strategy at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industries on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development.As a Security Consulting Solution Principal at Sungard AS, Robert Corso has a strong focus on assisting the sales team during client pursuits by providing solution development for Security solutions. He participates in solution implementations such as PCI Audits, Information Security Risk Assessment and CISO advisory services and provides expertise in the definition, design, implementation, and adoption of Sungard AS security solutions for clients.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Most people think about 5G as the thing that powers their cell phone. But it's so much more.On this episode of IT Availability Now, host Servaas Verbiest and guest Leon Godwin, Principal Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS, converse about 5G and its inevitable impact on security, data storage and business overall. Listen to this full episode to learn:What 5G is – why it matters and how it benefits consumers and businessesHow 5G can transform businesses, both in terms of going to market and supporting customers The security risks 5G poses, and how organizations can address these concernsOther business challenges 5G presents, including data storageWhat companies can do to prepare for possible data storage issuesAs Director of Product Field Strategy at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industries on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development.Leon Godwin is the Principal Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS. As a cloud evangelist, Leon balances the duties of a product marketer with being one of Sungard AS's direct links to customers. Building a critical mass of support for cloud technologies through thought leadership, enthusiasm and many years of experience, Leon aids customers with complex challenges and helps them adopt creative, robust and efficient cloud solutions.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

The mounting fear of cyberattacks against U.S. critical infrastructure has sparked action from the federal government, including imploring these organizations to shore up their cyber defenses and implementing new reporting requirements. On this episode of IT Availability Now, host Servaas Verbiest and guest Matt Parsons, Director of Network and Security Product Management at Sungard AS, discuss this growing concern, identify where U.S. critical infrastructure organizations are most exposed and outline measures they should take to protect themselves against possible attacks.Listen to this full episode to learn:What's most alarming about recent strikes on critical infrastructure, like the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack and the JBS cyberattack  Why critical infrastructure organizations are prime targets for bad actorsWhat makes critical infrastructure entities so vulnerable, including where they're typically most exposedWhat critical infrastructure organizations can do to shore up the common vulnerabilities that will have the biggest impactAs Director of Product Field Strategy at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industries on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development.Matt Parsons is Director of Network and Security Product Management at Sungard AS. Matt's background and specialty is in network and security architectures, helping enterprises build secure, resilient, and highly available private and public cloud infrastructures.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Business continuity (BC) has become a pressing concern for organizations worldwide largely because of events like the Covid-19, the global supply chain crisis, rapid rise of ransomware and the Russia-Ukraine war. Unfortunately, many businesses fail to update or adjust their plans and strategy as needed, resulting in serious gaps found in their BC programs.On this episode of IT Availability Now, host Servaas Verbiest and guest Darion Wisely, Consulting Solutions Principal at Sungard AS, dive deeper into this common problem and what companies can do to prevent these holes from popping up in the future. Listen to this full episode to learn:How businesses have traditionally managed BCHow the approach to BC planning has changed, and what's responsible for the shiftCommon gaps that typically arise in BC plans What businesses can do to keep these gaps plugged As Director of Product Field Strategy at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industries on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development.Darion Wisely is a Consultant Solutions Principal in Risk and Resilience Management at Sungard AS with over 25 years of experience in consulting, project management, service delivery, business development and resource management. He is responsible for developing and delivering solutions to improve resilience in clients' mission-critical operations. Darion has led project teams in conducting BC program development services for organizations in a multitude of industries, including financial services, healthcare, food services, insurance services, manufacturing and government. Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Many organizations already struggle to control their growing cloud costs. This will only get more difficult as cloud consumption increases. On this episode of IT Availability Now, host Servaas Verbiest and guest Erik Krogstad, Principal Cloud Architect at Sungard AS, discuss this widespread challenge and what businesses can do to overcome it. Listen to this full episode to learn:●       Why so many companies have difficulty managing cloud costs●       What organizations can do to avoid wasted cloud spend●       Why moving to the public cloud isn't always the answer to out-of-control cloud costs●       Key elements to consider when making cloud decisions for your business As Director of Product Field Strategy at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industries on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development. Erik Krogstad is Principal Cloud Architect at Sungard AS and serves as lead for the company's Cloud Center of Excellence. With more than 20 years in the IT industry, Erik has extensive experience in designing and transforming IT infrastructures and architectures to meet the business and IT needs of fortune 1000 companies.  Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

On this episode of IT Availability Now, host Servaas Verbiest and guest Shannon Davis, Global Director of Partner Readiness at Alert Logic have a spirited discussion about a rather timely matter: hybrid cloud transformation and the security skills gap tormenting organizations today.Listen to this full episode to learn:●       Why shifting to the cloud can create unforeseen security risks ●       What areas to focus on when securing a hybrid cloud infrastructure ●       How to combat the current security skills gapAs Director of Product Field Strategy at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industries on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development.Shannon Davis is a Global Partner Security Expert at Alert Logic. As a security expert, he regularly consults with customers and prospects to increase awareness of the current threat landscape and the security solutions and best practices available to protect from and respond to threats. As a partner enablement leader, he is focused on developing and investing in strategic relationships that allow those concepts and conversations to scale globally across a network of Alert Logic partners.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Servaas Verbiest, Lead Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS, makes his debut as the new host of IT Availability Now. The topic of his first show: blockchain network resilience.Joined by Matthew Parsons, Director of Network and Security Product Management at Sungard AS, the two discuss what a blockchain is, how it's connected to cryptocurrency and why the platforms used to trade crypto face more risks than you realize. Listen to this full episode to learn:What key protections crypto platforms may be missing compared to platforms for regulated currencies The risks crypto platforms face without the right safeguards in place  How to evaluate crypto exchanges and the most important questions to ask when deciding between platformsWhat steps crypto platforms can take to ensure they're more resilient As the Lead Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industries on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development.Matt Parsons is Director of Network and Security Product Management at Sungard AS. Matt's background and specialty is in network and security architectures, helping enterprises build secure, resilient, and highly available private and public cloud infrastructures.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

While 92% of organizations have adopted multi-cloud, per Flexera's 2021 State of the Cloud Report, there's a strong likelihood many aren't optimizing this cloud strategy.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Leon Godwin, Principal Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS, examines everything multi-cloud, including what it is, the advantages, what's driving mass adoption and tips to getting the most out of this popular cloud consumption model. Listen to the full episode to learn:What makes multi-cloud a worthwhile approach What businesses must consider when choosing a multi-cloud strategy, including cost, security and geographyHow storage, availability and network connectivity factor into the multi-cloud decision-making processHow organizations can decide what clouds are right for themLeon Godwin is the Principal Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS. As a cloud evangelist, Leon balances the duties of a product marketer with being one of Sungard AS's direct links to customers. Building a critical mass of support for cloud technologies through thought leadership, enthusiasm and many years of experience, Leon aids customers with complex challenges and helps them adopt creative, robust and efficient cloud solutions.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Organizations with more developed resilience capabilities are growing 2.5 times faster than their competitors, according to a recent Forrester Report. Yet, with business resilience becoming more invaluable, businesses must now reevaluate who is responsible for it and how it is managed.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Kaushik Ray, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Recovery Services at Sungard AS, discusses the future of business resilience, why the responsibility now falls on the entire C-suite, and what changes must be made to ensure the needs of end users and customers are met.  Listen to the full episode to learn:How business resilience has been historically managed – and why it's no longer enoughWhy business resilience is suddenly such a hot-button topicWhat makes resilience a competitive advantage for companiesWhy the future of business resilience is shared accountability – and what this looks like in practiceAs Senior Vice President and General Manager, Recovery Services at Sungard AS, Kaushik Ray is responsible for the organization's Recovery Services line of business, including end-to-end responsibility for the complete solution lifecycle spanning solution design and engineering, ongoing solution development, delivery, operations, and support. Throughout his tenure at the company, Kaushik has led several strategic initiatives to streamline and automate Sungard AS' service delivery with customer focus and improving customer satisfaction as the primary objectives. Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

There were 57 million freelance workers in 2019. According to fresh research from UpWork, there could soon be as many as 70 million. For the many companies that utilize freelance workers, this sudden surge could present a plethora of unanticipated obstacles.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Chris Butler, Lead Principal Consultant, Resilience and Security at Sungard AS, walks us through the budding freelancer movement, the impact it will have on businesses and measures they can take to prepare. Listen to the full episode to learn:What's driving the recent freelancer movementWhy organizations consistently turn to freelance workers and why this sudden increase could be more problematic than they realizeThe correlation between freelancers and greater IT cybersecurity risk – and how businesses can address this concernAdditional steps organizations can take to maximize the gig economy without worry Alison Brooker is Director, Global Corporate Communications at Sungard AS. With over 16 years of experience primarily in B2B technology, she leads Sungard AS' global external communications programs. Alison is passionate about how technology enables digital transformation for businesses.A former Lieutenant Colonel and helicopter pilot in the British Army, Chris Butler now provides executive advisory services in the field of organizational resilience, business challenges of the 21st century, and cyber resilience. As a resilience consultant at Sungard AS, Chris provides senior leadership teams with bespoke training sessions on crisis leadership and management, business continuity, disaster recovery, information security, IT service continuity, and crisis response capability building and coaching.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

According to Flexera's 2021 State of the Cloud Report, 80% of businesses have a hybrid cloud strategy. However, whether these environments are sufficiently protected is a different story. Hybrid cloud solutions may allow for more customization, but they're also more challenging to secure.  In this episode of IT Availability Now, Leon Godwin, Principal Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS, discusses what makes protecting a hybrid cloud infrastructure more complex and what businesses can do to secure hybrid cloud environments. Listen to the full episode to learn:Common mistakes businesses make when securing their hybrid cloud infrastructureLooming security threats to businesses and biggest vulnerabilitiesWhy hybrid cloud presents an opportunity to improve your enterprise security postureThe four pillars of cyber resilience and how each aids organizations in building security into their hybrid cloud approachAlison Brooker is Director, Global Corporate Communications at Sungard AS. With over 16 years of experience primarily in B2B technology, she leads Sungard AS' global external communications programs. Alison is passionate about how technology enables digital transformation for businesses.Leon Godwin is the Principal Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS. As a cloud evangelist, Leon balances the duties of a product marketer with being one of Sungard AS's direct links to customers. Building a critical mass of support for cloud technologies through thought leadership, enthusiasm and many years of experience, Leon aids customers with complex challenges and helps them adopt creative, robust and efficient cloud solutions.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Organizations faced many challenges in 2021, adapting to everything from a growing hybrid workforce to a mass exodus to the cloud. The year ahead is expected to bring even more changes that will impact how businesses function, and they must be ready to evolve once again.   In this episode of IT Availability Now, numerous Sungard AS experts share the IT trends and imminent threats they believe will affect businesses most in 2022, and what they can do to remain resilient in the year ahead. Listen to the full episode to learn:How companies can prepare for the rising levels of digital interaction  The impact of climate change on business continuity and disaster recovery planning How global supply chain disruptions are altering IT models and leading to accelerated cloud adoption Why a growing skills gap in the cloud is becoming more problematic – and steps businesses can take to address itWhy businesses are placing a greater emphasis on cyber incident planning and recovery Guests:Tom Holloway, Principal Business Resilience Consultant, Sungard ASChris Butler, Resilience Consultant, Sungard ASServaas Verbiest, Lead Cloud Evangelist, Sungard ASLeon Godwin, Principal Cloud Evangelist, Sungard ASCharles Iannuzzelli, Head of North American Consulting, Sungard ASAlison Brooker (host), Director, Global Corporate Communications, Sungard AS    Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

The recent AWS outage put the risk of outages into perspective, showing that no provider is immune to potential disruptions and highlighting the need for organizations to be prepared.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Servaas Verbiest, Lead Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS, walks us through what we know about the outage so far and what businesses can do to mitigate similar disruptions. Listen to the full episode to learn:What happened during the AWS outage and why it was so significantThe impacts outages can have and what organizations should do to diversify and mitigate risksWhy all service providers should be prepared for outages and steps your business can take to improve resiliency.Alison Brooker is Director, Global Corporate Communication at Sungard AS. With over 16 years of experience primarily in B2B technology, she leads Sungard AS' global external communications programs. Alison is passionate about how technology enables digital transformation for businesses.As the Lead Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industries on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.The full transcript of this episode is available below.

Asher de Metz has broken into countless high-security offices and hacked their networks while performing penetration tests as a Security Consulting Senior Manager at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS). Earlier this year, Asher shared one of these captivating stories. He's back with more.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Asher beguiles us with another one of his interesting pen testing endeavors and offers lessons organizations can learn to enhance overall resilience. Listen to the full episode to learn:Asher's account of hacking into a grocery chain – how he did it, where the company was most exposed and what they could've done to stop itCommon physical security vulnerabilities and how to get them in checkHow the most resilient organizations approach cybersecurity and steps you can take to reduce cyber incidents Brian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.As Security Consulting, Senior Manager at Sungard AS, Asher de Metz helps companies identify risks and secure their systems by conducting security audits and tests to avoid cybersecurity attacks. With almost 20 years of experience in information technology and security, Asher has been involved in hundreds of IT-security projects and has provided security counsel to some of the largest companies throughout the U.K., Europe, Middle East and North America within the financial, government, retail, healthcare, insurance and manufacturing industries. Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.The full transcript of this episode is available below.

The global silicon chip shortage is creating major problems for organizations worldwide. Regrettably, we fear this is only the beginning.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Servaas Verbiest, Lead Cloud Evangelist at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS), examines the current semiconductor shortfall and breaks down how it's pushing businesses to modify their IT strategy. Listen to the full episode to learn:The implications of the chip shortage on businessesWhy the chip shortage is accelerating cloud adoptionThe most pressing concerns organizations must address amidst a sudden shift in their IT strategyThe benefits of performing a workload analysis and why it's more important than everSteps companies can take to minimize costs as their cloud footprint grows  Brian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.As the Lead Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industries on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.The full transcript of this episode is available below.

Despite recognizing the value of performing a business impact analysis (BIA) before developing a full business continuity (BC) plan, most organizations don't carry out BIAs with any regularity. In this episode of IT Availability Now, Jon Murry, Principal Consultant at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS), walks us through why it's imperative to frequently conduct a BIA and how this will make your business more resilient. Listen to the full episode to learn:●        The core functions of a BIA●        The problem with treating BIAs as a one-off affair●        What factors businesses should consider when conducting a BIA●        How a BIA can help an organization calculate the cost of downtimeBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.Jon Murry has over 20 years of experience with business operations, corporate-wide crisis management and business continuity strategy and planning. As Principal Consultant, he leads a team of business continuity, disaster recovery and cyber security consultants in the risk and resilience practice at Sungard AS.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.The full transcript of this episode is available below.

Cloud solutions aren't one size fits all. Unfortunately, too many organizations turn to a private or public cloud without fully considering their overall business goals, resulting in missed opportunities and unrealized value on their investment. In this episode of IT Availability Now, Edwina Murphy, Lead Cloud Specialist at Sungard AS, discusses what companies need to think about when shaping their cloud journey and how to avoid common pitfalls. Listen to the full episode to learn:●        Questions businesses should ask themselves before blindly jumping to the cloud●        Why organizations are quick to select public cloud and why that's not always the answer●        When to choose a private cloud over public cloud●        Why cloud is more about business strategy than technology●        Words of wisdom that will ensure a smoother path to the cloudBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.Ed Murphy is the EMEA cloud specialist team lead, where she supports customers through complex challenges and helps them adopt creative, robust, efficient, secure and resilient cloud solutions to transform business. Ed holds over a decade of experience in working with private, public and hybrid cloud solutions and managed services.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

There were more ransomware attacks in the first half of 2021 than in all of 2020, and attacks are up 185% year over year in the U.S. alone, per recent research.To make matters worse, not only is the upsurge in ransomware attacks likely to continue, but businesses are also much more susceptible than they realize. Fortunately, they can do something about it. In this episode of IT Availability Now, Shawn Burke, Global Chief Security Officer at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS), and Shannon Davis, Global Partner Security Expert at Alert Logic, examine preventive measures organizations can take to combat this growing threat. Listen to the full episode to learn:●        The most vital technology components every company needs in its security program●        The importance of managed detection and response (MDR), how it gives businesses a complete 360-degree view of their security landscape and what it requires to be effective●        How a strong incident response plan can minimize disruption●        How Sungard AS' new advanced security solutions powered by Alert Logic will allow businesses to take a more proactive approach to cybersecurityBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.As Sungard AS' Global Chief Security Officer, Shawn Burke is responsible for security governance across the enterprise and real-time protection of the company's global infrastructure. With 17 years of service provider-oriented expertise, Shawn advises on infrastructure evolution and product direction. His core responsibilities include overseeing security strategy, compliance, physical and cyber security, policy, and operations support.Shannon Davis is a Global Partner Security Expert at Alert Logic.As a security expert, he regularly consults with customers and prospects to increase awareness of the current threat landscape and the security solutions and best practices available to protect from and respond to threats. As a partner enablement leader, he is focused on developing and investing in strategic relationships that allow those concepts and conversations to scale globally across a network of Alert Logic partners. Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

While 75% of companies are currently utilizing a hybrid work model, doubts about security remain a legitimate concern.Only one in five businesses are very confident their infrastructure security can support prolonged remote work, and under 8% are very confident their security protections against phishing and ransomware attacks are adequate in a largely virtual environment.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Asher de Metz, Security Consulting Senior Manager at Sungard AS, discusses how to properly secure a long-term hybrid workforce and examines data from two recent surveys conducted by The Harris Poll and research firm Pulse on behalf of Sungard AS. Listen to the full episode to learn:●        Why hybrid work isn't going away anytime soon●        What makes securing a hybrid environment so difficult  ●        Cybersecurity measures businesses need in place to support long-term hybrid work  ●        How to confirm your organization is taking the right precautions and there are no security gaps  Brian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.As Security Consulting, Senior Manager at Sungard AS, Asher de Metz helps companies identify risks and secure their systems by conducting security audits and tests to avoid cybersecurity attacks. With almost 20 years of experience in information technology and security, Asher has been involved in hundreds of IT-security projects and has provided security counsel to some of the largest companies throughout the U.K., Europe, Middle East and North America within the financial, government, retail, healthcare, insurance and manufacturing industries. Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.The full transcript of this episode is available now.

The true value in cloud adoption comes from optimization. Regrettably, many organizations don't know how to achieve this, leaving them struggling to plan for a future where technology changes frequently. This typically results in the following dilemma: Should they take a DIY approach to cloud optimization or seek help from a managed service provider? In this episode of IT Availability Now, Edwina Murphy, Lead Cloud Specialist at Sungard AS, dissects this debate and looks at questions companies should ask before deciding the best route for their cloud journey. Listen to the full episode to learn:●        Why cloud optimization is so crucial right now●        The challenges associated with managing multiple environments●        The reasons why businesses remain devoted to DIY●        The benefits of using managed services and how to determine the right provider ●        Why assessing the market value of change is a worthwhile measuring stickBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.Ed Murphy is the EMEA cloud specialist team lead, where she supports customers through complex challenges and helps them adopt creative, robust, efficient, secure and resilient cloud solutions to transform business. Ed holds over a decade of experience in working with private, public and hybrid cloud solutions and managed services.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

The cloud computing market is expected to reach $832 billion by 2025. Despite the inherent benefits of the cloud, some businesses are reluctant to fully commit because it would replace existing infrastructure they've already put money into. Luckily, it doesn't have to be an either-or scenario.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Servaas Verbiest, Lead Cloud Evangelist at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS), discusses how your organization can migrate to the cloud without abandoning existing infrastructure investments. Listen to the full episode to learn: ●        Why companies should consider the cloud even if they have another infrastructure in place●        Common roadblocks businesses face when advancing to the cloud, and how to overcome them●        How to formulate a cloud migration plan that factors in your current infrastructure●        What a business' process should look like for taking its first steps in the cloudBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.As the Lead Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industries on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Organizations migrate to the cloud for countless reasons. But moving to the cloud just to move to the cloud shouldn't be one of them.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Leon Godwin, Principal Cloud Evangelist at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS) discusses what businesses should consider before embarking on a cloud journey and shares the principles that will guide you to a successful cloud-enabled transformation. Listen to the full episode to learn:●        Why certain companies are more prepared to shift to the cloud than others●        The common agents of change that influence your cloud journey and how to approach them to optimize your transformation●        How to address the growing skills gap that prevents businesses from flourishing in the cloud●        The elements that make up the “market value of change,” and why you can't maximize the potential benefits of the cloud without themBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.Leon Godwin is the Principal Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS. As a cloud evangelist, Leon balances the duties of a product marketer with being one of Sungard AS's direct links to customers. Building a critical mass of support for cloud technologies through thought leadership, enthusiasm and many years of experience, Leon aids customers with complex challenges and helps them adopt creative, robust and efficient cloud solutions.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Cloud services provider Fastly experienced an outage in June that knocked down websites such as Reddit, Twitch, Hulu, The New York Times, and more for nearly an hour. Unfortunately, incidents like this are far too common.IT outages cost businesses $5,600 per minute – equating to over $300,000 per hour – according to Gartner and can result in long-lasting damage to their brand's reputation. In this episode of IT Availability Now, Edwina Murphy, Lead Cloud Specialist for the EMEA Region at Sungard AS, discusses how to keep your organization from suffering the same fate. Listen to the full episode to learn:●        Critical steps businesses must take to prevent IT outages●        Ways to make certain your employees are prepared for disruption●        How to ensure you can successfully recover in your disaster recovery location if production and IT systems failBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.Ed Murphy is the EMEA cloud specialist team lead, where she supports customers through complex challenges and helps them adopt creative, robust, efficient, secure and resilient cloud solutions to transform business. Ed holds over a decade of experience in working with private, public and hybrid cloud solutions and managed services.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

COVID-19 has drastically altered the way businesses run and, in the process, completely reshaped the job description for CIOs. Chris Fielding, Chief Information Officer at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS), is here to share her experience with us.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Fielding discusses the shifting CIO role and what executives must do to effectively navigate the new demands of the job, as well as how she's embraced her expanded responsibilities. Listen to the full episode to learn:How the role of the CIO has changed, and what it will look like moving forward.Ways CIOs can adapt to the post-pandemic landscape, including managing fully remote teamsHow businesses embraced technology during the pandemic and how to champion new technology to meet your future business needs Brian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.Chris Fielding is the Chief Information Officer for Sungard AS. She joined the company in 2008 and held several positions before taking on her current role in January of 2018. A seasoned IT leader with over 30 years of experience in the global arena, Chris previously held senior-level positions at TIBCO, Vodafone and Oracle. She graduated with a master's in Information Technology from Aston University.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Most businesses treat backup and recovery as interconnected but separate initiatives with different technologies, processes and vendors for each. This can get them into trouble.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Michi Schniebel, Principal Product Manager at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS), explains why it's time to update your backup and recovery plan and shares steps businesses can take to ensure they have a unified recovery. Listen to the full episode to learn:●        Why traditional backup and recovery models are outdated ●        How organizations should approach backup and recovery, and what metrics to use to develop a more cohesive strategy●        How backup and recovery strategies shift in hybrid environments●        How to mitigate security risks through backup and recovery ●        How Sungard AS – and its partners – can help you achieve more confident data recovery.Brian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact. Michi Schniebel is Principal Product Manager at Sungard AS. With over 25 years of enterprise software, hosting, MSP, SBM, and cloud expertise, he is keenly attuned to customer needs, engineering management, and product vision. By leveraging his experience as a software engineer, pre-sales, and IT manager, Michi can successfully work with a global customer base and field personnel, translating their needs into product requirements that drive engineering more efficiently.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.The full transcript of this episode is available below.BRIAN FAWCETT (BF): Backups protect sensitive business data from natural and manmade threats, making them one of your company's most valuable assets. However, those backups are essentially useless without a viable recovery plan. I'm your host Brian Fawcett and this is IT Availability Now, the show that tells stories of business resilience from the people who keep the digital world available.  Most businesses treat backup and recovery as interrelated but independent silos with different technologies, processes and vendors for each. This ideology needs to change. On this episode of IT Availability Now, Michi Schniebel, Principal Product Manager at Sungard AS will discuss why traditional backup and recovery plans a

It's possible to be both cloud native and cloud agnostic, but getting there isn't easy. In this episode of IT Availability Now, Erik Krogstad, Principal Cloud Architect at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS) discusses why businesses are interested in cloud-native and cloud-agnostic workloads and actions they can take to find the right balance between the two. Listen to the full episode to learn:●        The challenges behind developing workloads that are both cloud native and cloud agnostic, and how to overcome them●        Steps to avoid vendor lock-in while still getting the most out of cloud services●        How to move workloads from one cloud to another ●        How non-platform specific tools and unified governance and process enable you to achieve a cloud-native and cloud-agnostic approachBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.Erik Krogstad is the Principal Cloud Architect at Sungard AS and serves as lead for the company's Cloud Center of Excellence. With more than 20 years in the IT industry, Erik has extensive experience in designing and transforming IT infrastructures and architectures to meet the business and IT needs of fortune 1000 companies.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.The full transcript of this episode is available below.BRIAN FAWCETT (BF): Cloud-native and cloud-agnostic are not mutually exclusive, but achieving both takes work. I'm your host Brian Fawcett, and this is IT Availability Now, the show that tells stories of business resilience, from the people who keep the digital world available. On this episode of IT Availability Now, Erik Krogstad, Principal Cloud Architect at Sungard AS, joins us to discuss how to use modular workloads and service-oriented architectures, to achieve cloud-native and cloud-agnostic workloads. Erik, welcome to the show. ERIK KROGSTAD (EK): Thanks for having me. BF: So I want to start with why companies are interested in cloud-native and cloud-agnostic workloads. What's the business case here?EK: So it's all about flexibility and being able to move workloads as needed, between on-prem and cloud, in order to save money and take advantage of different services or meet specific customer needs. Some examples I can think of, were a couple of years ago Walmart had told all their vendors to stop using AWS, and it was due to Amazon buying a big competitor, Whole Foods. Now, a lot of people had spent a lot of money getting into AWS at that point, and it put some organizations in a really tight spot because they had already embraced that cloud-native option within AWS. An

More and more enterprises are turning to hybrid IT, but many aren’t taking full advantage of their investment.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Leon Godwin, Principal Cloud Evangelist at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS) outlines what so many of them are missing out on and offers concrete steps on how organizations can harness all the advantages of hybrid IT. Listen to the full episode to learn:●        What makes hybrid IT so attractive●        Strategies for reducing costs and adding more flexible connectivity●        How to determine if your workloads belong in public cloud, private cloud or on-premisesBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.Leon Godwin is the Principal Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS. As a cloud evangelist, Leon balances the duties of a product marketer with being one of Sungard AS’s direct links to customers. Building a critical mass of support for cloud technologies through thought leadership, enthusiasm and many years of experience, Leon aids customers with complex challenges and helps them adopt creative, robust and efficient cloud solutions Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.BRIAN FAWCETT (BF): Gartner predicted that by 2020, 90% of organizations would adopt hybrid infrastructure services. And they were right. Today hybrid IT is the go-to solution for enterprise IT, but how many companies are truly maximizing their investment? I'm your host Brian Fawcett, and this is IT Availability Now, the show that tells stories of business resilience for the people who keep the digital world available.Hybrid IT success is about more than just deciding which workloads to run in the cloud and which to deploy on your own infrastructure. On this episode of IT Availability Now, Leon Godwin, Principal Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS, joins us to discuss the benefits of the hybrid strategy and what steps businesses must take to get the most out of their hybrid IT.  Hi Leon, welcome back to the show.  LEON GODWIN (LG): Hi Brian, thanks. I'm excited to be here.  BF: So let's start with the million dollar question here. What makes hybrid IT so appealing?LG: Good question. Businesses need a cloud solution that's agile, scalable and cost effective, but they also need that dependability of performance and the control of their security and compliance

The Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack caused spiking gas prices, panic buying at the pumps and several states to declare a state of emergency. Worse yet, it was totally avoidable.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Asher de Metz, Security Consulting Senior Manager at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS) walks us through what we know about the Colonial Pipeline incident and actions organizations should take to avoid becoming the next victim.  Learn more about:●        Who’s responsible for the attack, what was stolen and how Colonial Pipeline responded●        How ransomware got on Colonial Pipeline’s systems in the first place●        Steps you can take to protect your business from these kinds of attacks●        What companies can do RIGHT NOW to make themselves more secure Brian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.As Security Consulting, Senior Manager at Sungard AS, Asher de Metz helps companies identify risks and secure their systems by conducting security audits and tests to avoid cybersecurity attacks. With almost 20 years of experience in information technology and security, Asher has been involved in hundreds of IT-security projects and has provided security counsel to some of the largest companies throughout the U.K., Europe, Middle East and North America within the financial, government, retail, healthcare, insurance and manufacturing industries. Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Finding out your disaster recovery plan is worthless in the middle of disaster is a nightmare for any business. Unfortunately, due to inadequate testing practices, far too many companies learn this lesson the hard way. In this episode of IT Availability Now, Girish Dadge, Senior Director of Recovery Product Management at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS) outlines common problems businesses encounter during a disaster to emphasize why DR testing is so important. Learn more about:·       How often businesses should test their DR plans·       Factors that influence testing strategies·       Helpful tips to ensure you have a smooth testing experience – especially as you reevaluate your DR plan in the aftermath of COVID-19 Brian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.Girish Dadge has over 15 years of experience unravelling data backup, restore and recovery challenges, as well as architecting and implementing IT infrastructure and advanced recovery solutions across several industries. He currently serves as senior director of recovery product management at Sungard AS.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

While 92% of organizations utilize some form of disaster recovery (DR) plan, 41% of companies don’t consistently test these plans. Luckily, they can right the ship with automation.In this episode of IT Availability Now, we’re joined by Michi Schniebel, Principal Product Manager at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS), to discuss how to test your DR plan more regularly without exerting additional time, energy, or resources. Learn more about: ·       The importance of regular DR testing·       Why many businesses let DR testing fall by the wayside ·       How automation can help businesses regulate their DR testing·       Sungard AS’ new offering, DRverify Automated Testing – how it works and how it can improve DR testing Brian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.Michi Schniebel is Principal Product Manager at Sungard AS. With over 25 years of enterprise software, hosting, MSP, SBM,  and cloud expertise, he is keenly attuned to customer needs, engineering management, and product vision. By leveraging his experience as a software engineer, pre-sales, and IT manager, Michi can successfully work with a global customer base and field personnel, translating their needs into product requirements that drive engineering more efficiently.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

The cloud isn’t right for all workloads and data, but that doesn’t mean you should be stuck running your own data center. Colocation can lift that burden, freeing you to focus on your core business while ensuring you have the best technology and expertise in your corner. In this episode, we take a closer look at the benefits of colocation with Sungard Availability Services’ (Sungard AS) Director of Colocation Services, Stuart Welsby. We talk about: ·       The cost of colocation vs running your own data center·       The impact of colocation on your resiliency and business continuity·       How colocation makes it easier to scale your businessBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.Stuart Welsby is Director of Colocation Services, Product Management for Sungard AS, where he is responsible for the company’s colocation product offerings globally. Having worked the past 23 years in the IT industry, Stuart has been heavily involved in several different aspects of the industry ranging from traditional hardware services & infrastructure support to designing, implementing and bringing to market highly resilient and functional solutions for both internal and external customers.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more. 

While organizations use a variety of clouds – public, private or hybrid – all too often they fall victim to many of the same snafus.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Leon Godwin, Principal Cloud Evangelist  at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS) examines some common cloud mistakes organizations make and how to avoid them. Listen to the full episode to learn:·        What businesses must consider before migrating to the cloud ·        How to make an informed decision about cloud hosting·        Costly areas companies overlook when they move to the cloud ·        Biggest cloud security errors Brian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact. Leon Godwin is the Principal Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS. As a cloud evangelist, Leon balances the duties of a product marketer with being one of Sungard AS’s direct links to customers. Building a critical mass of support for cloud technologies through thought leadership, enthusiasm and many years of experience, Leon aids customers with complex challenges and helps them adopt creative, robust and efficient cloud solutions.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Asher de Metz has slipped past physical security and hacked into endless companies as part of the penetration testing he performs as a Security Consulting Senior Manager at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS). And he's here to tell us about it.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Asher regales us with one of his most fascinating pen testing feats and provides critical real-world advice on how to strengthen your physical and digital security to improve overall business resilience. Listen to the full episode to learn:·        Asher's tale of hacking into a company – how he did it, where the company was most vulnerable and how this attack could've been prevented ·        Common weak links in your physical security and how to shore them up·        Cybersecurity missteps companies continuously make and what you can do to prevent your business from suffering the same fateBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.As Security Consulting, Senior Manager at Sungard AS, Asher de Metz helps companies identify risks and secure their systems by conducting security audits and tests to avoid cybersecurity attacks. With almost 20 years of experience in information technology and security, Asher has been involved in hundreds of IT-security projects and has provided security counsel to some the largest companies throughout the U.K., Europe, Middle East and North America within the financial, government, retail, healthcare, insurance and manufacturing industries. Asher de MetzListen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Asher de Metz has slipped past physical security and hacked into endless companies as part of the penetration testing he performs as a Security Consulting Senior Manager at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS). And he’s here to tell us about it.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Asher regales us with one of his most fascinating pen testing feats and provides critical real-world advice on how to strengthen your physical and digital security to improve overall business resilience. Listen to the full episode to learn:· Asher’s tale of hacking into a company – how he did it, where the company was most vulnerable and how this attack could’ve been prevented · Common weak links in your physical security and how to shore them up· Cybersecurity missteps companies continuously make and what you can do to prevent your business from suffering the same fateBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.As Security Consulting, Senior Manager at Sungard AS, Asher de Metz helps companies identify risks and secure their systems by conducting security audits and tests to avoid cybersecurity attacks. With almost 20 years of experience in information technology and security, Asher has been involved in hundreds of IT-security projects and has provided security counsel to some the largest companies throughout the U.K., Europe, Middle East and North America within the financial, government, retail, healthcare, insurance and manufacturing industries. Asher de MetzListen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Hurricane season is still months away, but there’s no time to wait. If you reside in a hurricane-prone area, you must start preparing now.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Girish Dadge, Director of Product Management at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS) walks us through precautions organizations should take to make sure they’re ready to respond before, during and after a hurricane. Listen to the full episode to learn:· What to include in your disaster recovery (DR) plans, how to test them and how to keep them up to date · Steps to secure to your most critical data· How to prepare your employees so they’re aware of their roles and ready to respond immediately· Actions to take once the hurricane hits, and what you need to do to get back to work after the storm passesBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.Girish Dadge has over 15 years of experience unravelling data backup, restore and recovery challenges, as well as architecting and implementing IT infrastructure and advanced recovery solutions across several industries. He currently serves as director of product management at Sungard AS.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

In every data recovery situation, whether it’s an IT disaster event or a ransomware attack, there’s a strong likelihood that some data won’t be recovered. What are you supposed to do about that data?In this episode of IT Availability Now, John Beattie, Principal Consultant at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS) examines both disaster recovery (DR) scenarios and cyberattacks and delves into the best practices and strategies for recreating non-recovered data. Listen to the full episode to learn:· Why not all data will be recovered in a data recovery scenario· How traditional business continuity plans approach lost data · How to recreate un-recovered data during DR and cyber-compromised data recovery efforts – and why they require two separate strategies· What steps business can take to tackle the data loss gap· Ways companies can secure their most vital dataBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.As a Principal Consultant at Sungard AS, John Beattie works closely with organizations to implement third party risk management programs, and reduce operational risk by establishing new business continuity and disaster recovery programs or transforming existing ones to improve effectiveness.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

The endless benefits of the cloud are well documented, which is why 87% of companies employ a hybrid cloud strategy, with some combination of public and private cloud. However, many of these organizations run into the same hurdle: managing their cloud spend. According to Flexera’s State of the Cloud 2020 survey, 82% of businesses struggle with managing cloud spend. But it doesn’t have to be that way.In this episode of IT Availability Now, we enlist the help of Servaas Verbiest, Lead Cloud Evangelist at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS) to walk us through key strategies for balancing performance and cost in the cloud. Listen to the episode to learn:Why you must make optimizing cloud spend a priorityWhat factors can lead to out-of-control cloud costsSteps to put governance and controls in place to prevent cloud spend from being an issue Tactics to reduce your overall cloud spendHow Sungard AS helps businesses manage their cloud spend betterBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.As the Lead Cloud Evangelist at Sungard AS, Servaas Verbiest assists businesses and organizations in realizing the full potential of cloud computing by thinking strategically, deploying rapidly, and acting as an ambassador for the cloud ecosystem. While at Sungard AS, Servaas has worked with more than 1,000 unique clients across multiple industry’s on complex application deployments, re-platforming, public cloud integrations, private cloud deployments, application lifecycle, and hybrid cloud model development.Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

2020 offered countless lessons in resilience. Chris Butler, Lead Principal Consultant, Resilience and Security at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS) joins IT Availability Now to reflect on the four of our biggest resilience takeaways from the past year that can help your company avert risk and achieve your business goals in 2021. Learn how to:· Navigate the threats of multiple disasters happening at once · Optimize your cloud performance and spend · Access your third-party partners’ resilience and risk· Safeguard your company from the influx of COVID-19-related cyberattacksBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.A former Lieutenant Colonel and helicopter pilot in the British Army, Chris Butler now provides executive advisory services in the field of organizational resilience, business challenges of the 21st century, and cyber resilience. As a resilience consultant at Sungard AS, Chris provides senior leadership teams with bespoke training sessions on crisis leadership and management, business continuity, disaster recovery, information security, IT service continuity, and crisis response capability building and coaching.Resources mentioned during the episode:· How to plan for a natural disaster during a pandemic· Sungard AS X Megaport: Solving the cloud connectivity challenge· Connecting Clouds: Introducing Sungard AS' New Private Cloud· How to recover data after a successful cyberattack Listen and subscribe to IT Availability Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podchaser, deezer, Podcast Addict, Listen Notes, and more.

Some organizations have found working from home to be hugely successful during the pandemic. Others not so much. But what other options do they have, especially during a pandemic or other disaster? Pat Morley, Vice President of Global Product Management for Co-location and Workplace Recovery at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS) joins IT Availability Now to discuss the pros and cons of WFH and how it measures up to other workplace recovery solutions. Learn more about:The biggest challenges associated with WFHOther workplace recovery options available to businessesWhat companies need to be productive when disasters push them out of the officeHow Sungard AS tailors its workplace recovery solutions to individual companies’ needs Brian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.Patrick Morley is Vice President of Global Product Management for Co-location and Workplace Recovery, and General Manager of Continental Europe at Sungard AS. With decades of IT experience in both public and private businesses, Patrick has been responsible for a number of major business development initiatives at Sungard AS, with a focus on maximizing customer value in the company’s data center, workplace recovery and co-location offerings. Previously the head of the UK Recovery Teams at Sungard AS, Patrick has managed the recovery response of customers affected by a number of major crisis events, including the 7/7 London Bombings and the 2005 Buncefield Oil Depot Explosion.The full transcript of this episode is available below.

IT departments face the twin challenges of optimizing cloud use while managing the rising demands on application performance. A new partnership, which pairs Megaport’s Software-Defined Cloud Interconnection (SDCI) capabilities with Sungard AS’ data centers around the globe, now helps enterprises tackle both challenges.In this episode of IT Availability Now, Justin Lelacheur, Senior Director of Product Strategy at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS), and Peter Gallagher, Director of Data Center Partnerships at Megaport, come together to discuss their new partnership. Learn:How this partnership helps enterprises streamline their hybrid IT and multicloud landscapeHow Sungard AS’ Connected Infrastructure Hubs address cloud optimization and application performanceHow Megaport’s Software-Defined Network stands out from traditional models Brian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.Justin Lelacheur is Senior Director of Product Strategy in Services Product Management for Sungard Availability Services. A 20-year veteran of the IT industry and a certified Amazon Web Services Cloud Practitioner, Justin holds a patent for Fiber-based Distributed Data Center Architecture.Peter Gallagher is Megaport's Director for Data Center Partnerships. With over 20 years of experience in the technology sector, Peter has delivered top line revenue growth by creating high performing teams across the U.S. and Asia. Peter and his team are focused on enabling the success of Megaport’s partners, with a consultative approach to solve digital transformation challenges across industry verticals.

Mainframes manage 91% of all credit card transactions and operate 68% of the world’s production IT workloads. Yet most businesses still rely on physical tape for mainframe recovery. Girish Dadge, Director of Product Management at Sungard Availability Services joins IT Availability Now to discuss why this recovery strategy is problematic and digs into how Sungard AS plans to make recovering mainframes smoother by adding Dell EMC Disk Library for Mainframe (DLm) to its Managed Vaulting for Data Domain solution. Learn:· The state of mainframe recovery today, including what most organizations get wrong and what they should be looking for in a mainframe backup and recovery solution· All about Sungard AS’ Managed Vaulting for Data Domain with Dell EMC DLm: What it is, what it does and why choosing this offering will help companies recover mainframes more effectivelyOliver Lomer is a Senior Solutions Marketing Manager at Sungard AS, where he illustrates business challenges and how technology can solve them through engaging content. Oliver has six years’ experience in marketing, commercial and sales enablement roles in global technology organizations.Girish Dadge has over 15 years of experience unravelling data backup, restore and recovery challenges, as well as architecting and implementing IT infrastructure and advanced recovery solutions across several industries. He currently serves as director of product management at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS).

While pursuing digital transformation, you can’t overlook the importance of resilience, flexibility and scalability. In this two-part episode of IT Availability Now, we take look under the hood of Sungard AS’ new Private Cloud solution to see how it delivers these benefits to customers:· Part 1: Shawn Nelson, Senior Director of Cloud Services at Sungard AS shares an overview of the new Private Cloud offering, what differentiates it from the competition, and the business challenges it solves.· Part 2: James Valdez, Director of Private Cloud Services at Sungard AS is joined by Dell Technologies’ Tom Willwerth and VMware’s Sean Smith to discuss the underlying technologies that make up Sungard AS’ Private Cloud offering, why those technologies were selected and what benefits they bring to customers. Brian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.Shawn Nelson is Senior Director of Product Management for Private Cloud and Managed Services at Sungard AS. She is responsible for a team of product managers who oversee product development, implementation, launch, lifecycle management and support for services related to private and application cloud offerings plus managed services. As Director of Private Cloud Services at Sungard AS, James Valdez is responsible for the continued development and promotion of our Private Cloud solutions. Since moving to the cloud computing world in 2008, James has undertaken roles developing private cloud and grid computing solutions for Qwest Communications, Savvis, and CenturyLink Communications.Tom Willwerth has spent his extensive career working with leading technology manufacturers within the storage, networking and information security sectors. Since joining Dell Technologies in 2017, Tom has been focused entirely on driving joint go-to-market solutions with several of Dell’s leading MSP and CSP partners in the U.S., leveraging “best of breed” hardware, software and services from both Dell Technologies and VMware. Ensuring positive outcomes for Dell’s most valued business partners, as they deliver transformational initiatives for their end customers via cloud-based delivery models, is Tom’s principal objective. Sean Smith has had extensive experience in helping providers build out and deploy leading edge solutions in the communications and IT spaces in several countries around the world. He is currently focused on helping VMware Cloud Provider Partners accelerate both their and their customer’s digital transformation journeys. Focusing on the key partners in the program helps him to ensure they are able to take advantage of a more direct hands on approach to the adoption of leading edge solutions.

As organizations re-evaluate the state of their resilience, many are quickly discovering a serious blind spot when it comes to their third-party partners. Tom Holloway, Principal Consultant, Business Resilience at Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS) joins IT Availability Now to discuss the importance of identifying third-party risk and how failing to do so can put your business in serious jeopardy. Learn:Steps to limit third-party riskSpecific questions to ask about third-party suppliers’ business continuity and disaster recovery capabilitiesThe biggest missteps companies make when evaluating third-partiesOliver Lomer is a Senior Solutions Marketing Manager at Sungard AS, where he illustrates business challenges and how technology can solve them through engaging content. Oliver has six years’ experience in marketing, commercial and sales enablement roles in global technology organizations.Tom Holloway is a Principal Business Resilience Consultant at Sungard AS, specializing in helping board-level executives improve and develop their crisis management capabilities through leadership and communication. Tom works with companies to create strategies and frameworks for organizational and operational resilience, as well as full lifecycle resilience and business continuity implementation. He consults across a broad range of sectors, including media and broadcasting, market research, financial services and insurance.

If you believe your traditional disaster recovery plan will help recover your data after a cyberattack, you might want to think again. John Beattie, Principal Consultant at Sungard Availability Services, joins IT Availability Now to lay out the facts and offer the best approach for recovering compromised data after a successful cyberattack:The differences between compromised data recovery and traditional disaster recovery What strategies to put in place before a cyberattack How to create a response team and ensure it’s prepared to actBrian Fawcett is a Senior Manager of Global Sales Engagement at Sungard AS. With over 15 years of experience in a range of industries, he specializes in forming enterprise-wide global talent and learning development programs. Brian has enriched corporate learning culture by matching organizational vision and core values to curricula, leading to application and impact.As a Principal Consultant at Sungard AS, John Beattie works closely with organizations to implement third party risk management programs, and reduce operational risk by establishing new business continuity and disaster recovery programs or transforming existing ones to improve effectiveness.

In the immediacy of COVID-19, organizations quickly turned to remote work to keep their businesses afloat. But many didn’t realize how vulnerable this move made them. Sungard Availability Services’ (Sungard AS) Asher de Metz, Security Consulting, Senior Manager and Richard Hahn, Consulting Manager, Information Security join IT Availability Now to break down the impact the pandemic has had on cybersecurity and the challenges remote working presents to security teams:How remote working can undermine a company’s overall security postureThe relationship between the pandemic and cyberattacksSimple, impactful steps businesses can take to protect themselvesOliver Lomer is a Senior Solutions Marketing Manager at Sungard AS, where he illustrates business challenges and how technology can solve them through engaging content. Oliver has six years’ experience in marketing, commercial and sales enablement roles in global technology organizations.As Security Consulting, Senior Manager at Sungard AS, Asher de Metz helps companies identify risks and secure their systems by conducting security audits and tests to avoid cybersecurity attacks. With almost 20 years of experience in information technology and security, Asher has been involved in hundreds of IT-security projects and has provided security counsel to some the largest companies throughout the U.K., Europe, Middle East and North America within the financial, government, retail, healthcare, insurance and manufacturing industries.With over 20 years of experience in information security and risk management, Richard Hahn has extensive experience developing security and privacy programs, performing security assessments, delivering vulnerability management and data governance solutions, and more. As Consulting Manager, Information Security at Sungard AS, Richard advises organizations on information security solutions and the health and protection of organizational data.