Tech Data Offers RangeForce To Skill Up Security Professionals

The gamified training solutions lets users take on bad actors in virtual environments, as part of Tech Data’s push to expand its partner’s security practice.

As attacks mount in remote offices, the addition of RangeForce to Tech Data’s security line card gives partners a way to offer advanced threat training to IT professionals on Tech Data’s own cyber range.

“The cool part about these modules is when you launch it, RangeForce actually provisions a virtual machine for you with a virtual desktop. They give you all the tools you need,” Tech Data VP of Security Alex Ryals told CRN.

Ryals said it could not have come at a better time, as now more people have time to learn on their own than ever before.

“You don’t have a commute to work. You don’t have to ride on the train or whatever, so there’s a lot more opportunity for reading on line,” he said. “We’ve upped our game. Things like Rangeforce are a great addition.”

Tech Data also announced a security practice builder website that it designed to help MSPs and VARs who want to dip their toe into security, but maybe don’t know where to start. Stocked with more than 20 hours of video and collateral content from vendors, the site gives solution providers a rundown on which area might be best for them.

“We help them with marketing programs, social and otherwise, to help partners with that messaging,” he said. “That website allows partners to consume a ton of content: from building financial models to use for their security business, all of our vendors post collateral up there, with videos explaining what our vendor solutions are.”

For partners who need training in the security itself, Ryals said RangeForce offers 130 learning moduals, then once launched it provisions a virtual machine where the user must accomplish a security task related to what they learned. The cloud-based service allows system integrators, consultants and MSPs to deliver hands-on learning for cybersecurity and IT professionals.

“If you want to learn about botnet, they would explain what a botnet is, and how it works, and then they give you a challenge to solve and they give you a virtual desktop and you have to either run commands to detect the botnet, or you have to run the bit commands to shut down the botnet,” Ryals said. “Only after you provide the right answer, implying you actually solve the challenge, then they let you move forward to the next step.”

Modules cover topics such as security operations, web app security, DevSecOps, cloud, ICS/SCADA. The channel ready SaaS-product is designed for IT professionals at enterprise to SMB sized companies.

“These are really affordable licenses that they can gain significant knowledge on their own time,” Ryals said. “Both for the end customer as well as partners who need to sell the customers.”