Despite the advances that have been made in information security, securing networks and boosting data protection is getting more difficult, not less. And cybercriminals are getting more targeted in their attacks, focusing on finding holes through new technology such as smartphones and social networks.

For VARs looking to expand their offerings, they should look no further than the IT security space. Access control systems, data protection and unified threat management solutions are all technologies that VARs can sell as software, appliances and cloud offerings. This Need To Know list offers you the vendors and their channel chiefs to contact if you want to expand your portfolio or are just starting out in the market.