Belinda-Leigh Duke, Business Unit Manager, Nvidia, AI and Cybersecurity, Pinnacle.

Value-added distributor (VAD) Pinnacle ICT saw 2024 out by celebrating a game-changing distribution deal with global cybersecurity solutions firm Barracuda Networks. The deal cements Pinnacle’s cybersecurity strategy and fuels the company’s overall value proposition to enterprises across South Africa & SADC. Pinnacle’s product stack includes Xcitium, Guardicore Akamai, Panorays, and Control D. It’s a strategic feather in Pinnacle’s cap and positions it to lead in the growing cybersecurity market, driven by the increasing severity of threats to businesses, especially their data.

The company’s cybersecurity business unit streamlines its service, provides expertise and agility to remove complexity often encountered by enterprises in their quest to digitally transform. Belinda-Leigh Duke, business unit manager, Nvidia, AI and cybersecurity at Pinnacle, says cybersecurity is front of mind for any business in any industry today.

“As a leading service provider, we’re aware of trends like the rise of AI in cybersecurity, hybrid datacentres, growing concern over mobile security, IoT and supply chain risks, as well as cloud security and compliance automation. We have the product knowledge and experience to help our customers with the complexities of threat exposure management, including AI-powered attacks and IoT-based threats.”

It isn’t as if business leaders have an easy time of it anyway as challenges continue to test their resolve, resources and strategy. The acute shortage of skilled people to address the growing volume and sophistication of cyber threats is a major obstacle, which is why Pinnacle has mobilised resources via its cybersecurity business unit to guide and support businesses.

Pinnacle’s strategy is to empower channel partners with solutions from several leading global vendors, including Asus, Dell, HP, Hikvision, Huawei and Lenovo.

The company points out that emerging technologies like AI, ML and cloud are priorities in business strategy development and application.

The Barracuda deal suggests the company’s digital strategy to differentiate itself through specialisation is working. Says Duke: “Specialisation is becoming more critical. IT services and customer demands have become too complex to be addressed by an all-things-to-all people approach. Without developing some depth of expertise in your services portfolio, you can wind up pushing a standardised approach to your customers without adding any value.”

That specialisation should extend to target market/s because while a customer base that includes everyone sounds great, the fact is that this cannot be sustained.

In June 2024, Pinnacle launched a new AI-focused services division to support businesses as they deal with the realities of AI. This division is focused on creating value for resellers and their customers, promoting the rapid adoption of AI in enterprises. Pinnacle also backs the adoption of AI processes that are considered critical to enhance businesses, such as AI-driven inventory management, supply chain management and forecasting models.

The company’s aim is to strengthen AI service delivery to enterprises and eventually provide AI as a managed service deliverable. Pinnacle CEO Tim Humphreys-Davies says that as an ICT distributor, embracing AI is paramount to staying competitive and meeting customer requirements.

He adds that Pinnacle’s partnerships with AI superpowers – including NVIDIA, Supermicro, Infinidat, Nutanix, Dell, Commvault, Spectra and Guardicore – is central to its AI offering.

“AI is transforming industries – from agriculture to education to cybersecurity – and driving innovation across the board,” he says. “Pinnacle is committed to helping our trusted partners navigate this evolving landscape and access the full potential of AI for local businesses. We invite our partners to embrace the future of AI and take their companies to new heights as we embark on this AI journey together.”

Read more on each solution: www.pinnacle.co.za/enterprise/cyber-security