Security holes in software are everywhere – in Android (News - Alert) via text messages, in operating systems of all kinds. The hacks are piling up with Anthem, Premera Blue Cross, Target, the federal government, and so many more. Digital security is not a priority for businesses. It should be. Hacks are costly.

Service providers are putting together packages to assist businesses with their security needs. Netwolves partnered with both IBM and Palo Alto (News - Alert) Networks to come up with two managed security packages targeted at SME.

Verizon launched a unified security service. This appliance handles things like firewall protection, VPN, anti-virus and anti-spam, as well as Wi-Fi segmentation. Other layer 7 services can be layered on.

Masergy has a cloud firewall, advanced persistent threat monitoring, and unified security for cloud and enterprises. This is a suite of serves that were acquired with Global Data Guard by Masergy. It fits well with Masergy’s global MPLS and hosted UC base.

Mettel and TelePacific have very nice mobile device management bundles. With all of the tablets and smartphones with access to not just company data but access to company networks, mobile device security including remote wipe and biometrics might be something to add to the quiver for channel partners, especially for public companies and health care.

The biggest hurdle is to get the security discussion going. With the many hacks in the news, now is a good time to bring it up. I would include the cost of these breaches to the company – about $200 per record. According to CFO magazine, "Anthem will soon deplete its $100-million cyber-insurance coverage just to notify the victims and provide free identity-theft and credit monitoring." Then there are the pending lawsuits as well as the pending fines.

A hack is most likely going to occur. Does the CIO (or his reports) want to be hung out to dry because they didn’t take appropriate steps in the name of security? To get to that discussion, you have to mount the hurdle that is the ego of the IT guy. That is a tough one, but one worth having. Bring along your partners in security, and leverage their expertise and brand. It might just make the conversation go easier.

 Peter Radizeski is president of RAD-INFO (News - Alert) INC. (www.rad-info.net).