logo
Cytracom Acquires Tentacle to Advance Security Risk Management Capabilities and Empower MSPs as Risk Advisors

Cytracom Acquires Tentacle to Advance Security Risk Management Capabilities and Empower MSPs as Risk Advisors

MCKINNEY, Texas, June 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cytracom, a leading provider of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) solutions for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), today announced the acquisition of Tentacle, a modern platform that helps organizations manage cybersecurity assessments, monitor third-party risk, and operationalize Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) programs.
This acquisition represents a significant advancement in Cytracom's Security Risk Management (SRM) strategy and further aligns with the company's mission to empower MSPs to grow beyond traditional IT services and embrace a more strategic advisory role, guiding their clients through the evolving discipline of risk management. With increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies and mounting pressure from cyber insurers, MSPs are being called upon to act as true Risk Advisors, helping clients meet compliance mandates and improve their overall security posture. The integration of Tentacle into the Cytracom platform delivers a robust response to this need, offering structured, repeatable, and collaborative tools that make it easier for MSPs to deliver value-added risk and compliance services.
Cytracom entered the SRM category through the acquisition of Telivy, introducing capabilities that enable MSPs to automate risk assessments, deliver recurring compliance documentation, and drive consultative engagements. Tentacle builds upon this foundation by allowing partners to centralize security program data, collaborate in real time with clients and third parties, and map internal practices to industry frameworks such as HIPAA, PCI, and FTC Safeguards. Its platform not only reduces the administrative burden of ongoing assessments but also provides the structure needed to move from one-time reviews to ongoing program management.
'MSPs are increasingly being asked to manage risk as much as they manage technology,' said Zane Conkle, CEO of Cytracom. 'This shift creates both a challenge and an opportunity. With the acquisition of Tentacle, we're giving our partners the platform they need to step into this evolving role with confidence—helping clients navigate compliance, track progress over time, and build programs that stand up to external scrutiny, while also enabling MSPs to clearly demonstrate the ongoing value of their services.'
The rising demand for compliance-focused services is one of the most urgent trends in the MSP channel. SMB clients now face requirements driven by regulatory frameworks, industry-specific mandates, and cyber insurance audits. Tentacle's ability to organize and share assessment data, manage third-party relationships, and ensure audit readiness positions it as a key component of Cytracom's vision to simplify and scale SRM and GRC management for the channel.
'This is another step forward in building a complete platform that empowers MSPs to connect the modern workforce—securely, reliably, and within the evolving frameworks of GRC,' said John Tippett, Chief Commercial Officer. 'Whether it's unified communications, secure access, or risk management, our focus remains on making these capabilities accessible, intuitive, and impactful for the partners who deliver them every day.'
By integrating Tentacle into its broader infrastructure software platform, Cytracom continues to deepen its investment in the tools MSPs need to succeed in a risk- and compliance-driven world.
'We've been investing heavily in Telivy as a platform for recurring cybersecurity assessments and compliance workflows,' added Rob McDonald, Chief Product Officer at Cytracom. 'Bringing in Tentacle's proven technology allows us to combine their robust architecture with our existing development strategy, resulting in a dramatic acceleration of what we can bring to market. It significantly advances our mission to give MSPs scalable, differentiated tools for security and compliance.'
With solutions spanning VoIP, SASE, and SRM, Cytracom continues to equip partners to deliver critical infrastructure that is secure, scalable, and compliant—all from a single, unified platform built exclusively for the MSP channel.
About Cytracom
Cytracom, a Sverica Capital Management portfolio company, provides critical infrastructure technologies for businesses, delivering cloud-based unified communications and secure networking solutions tailored for managed service providers (MSPs) and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). By simplifying complex technologies, Cytracom ensures that businesses remain connected, secure, and resilient in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Our solutions, including SRM, GRC, UCaaS, and SASE platforms, are designed to empower businesses with the essential technologies they need to thrive. Headquartered in McKinney, Texas, Cytracom supports partners and customers across North America. To learn more, visit cytracom.com.
Media Contact: Dana Liedholm | [email protected]
View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cytracom-acquires-tentacle-to-advance-security-risk-management-capabilities-and-empower-msps-as-risk-advisors-302481457.html
SOURCE Cytracom
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

FBI Warning—You Should Never Reply To These Messages
FBI Warning—You Should Never Reply To These Messages

Forbes

time16 minutes ago

  • Forbes

FBI Warning—You Should Never Reply To These Messages

FBI's AI warning is increasingly critical. Republished on July 10 with new report into AI deep fake attacks and advice for smartphone owners on staying safe as threats surge. The news that AI is being used to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio and place calls to foreign ministers may be shocking, but it shouldn't be surprising. The FBI has warned such attacks are now underway and it will only get worse. As first reported by the Washington Post, the State Department has told U.S. diplomats that this latest attack has targeted at least three foreign ministers, a U.S. senator and a governor, using an AI generated voice to impersonate Rubio. A fake Signal account (Signal strikes again) was used to initiate contact through text and voice messages. It's clear that voice messages enable attackers to deploy AI fakes without the inherent risk in attempting to run them in real-time on a live call. The FBI is clear — do not respond to text or voice messages unless you can verify the sender. That means a voice message that sounds familiar cannot be trusted unless you can verify the actual number from which it has been sent. Do not reply until you can. Darktrace's AI and Strategy director Margaret Cunningham told me this is all too 'easy.' The attacks, while 'ultimately unsuccessful,' demonstrate 'just how easily generative AI can be used to launch credible, targeted social engineering attacks.' Alarmingly, Cunningham warns, 'this threat didn't fail because it was poorly crafted — it failed because it missed the right moment of human vulnerability.' People make decisions 'while multitasking, under pressure, and guided by what feels familiar. In those moments, a trusted voice or official-looking message can easily bypass caution.' And while the Rubio scam will generate plenty of headlines, the AI fakes warning has being doing the rounds for some months. It won't make those same headlines, but you're more likely to be targeted in your professional life through social engineering that exploits readily available social media connections and content to trick you. The FBI tells smartphone users: 'Before responding, research the originating number, organization, and/or person purporting to contact you. Then independently identify a phone number for the person and call to verify their authenticity.' This is in addition to the broader advice given the plague of text message attacks now targeting American citizens. Check the details of any message. Delete any that are clear misrepresentations, such as fake tolls or DMV motoring offenses. Do not click any links contained in text messages — ever. And do not be afraid to hang up on the tech or customer support desk or bank or the law enforcement officer contacting you. You can then reach out to the relevant organization using publicly available contact details. ESET's Jake Moore warns 'cloning a voice can now take just minutes and the results are highly convincing when combined with social engineering. As the technology improves, the amount of audio needed to create a realistic clone also continues to shrink.' 'This impersonation is alarming and highlights just how sophisticated generative AI tools have become,' says Black Duck's Thomas Richards. 'It underscores the risk of generative AI tools being used to manipulate and to conduct fraud. The old software world is gone, giving way to a new set of truths defined by AI.' As for the Rubio fakes, 'the State Department is aware of this incident and is currently monitoring and addressing the matter,' a spokesperson told reporters. 'The department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously take steps to improve the department's cybersecurity posture to prevent future incidents.' 'AI-generated content has advanced to the point that it is often difficult to identify,' the bureau warns. 'When in doubt about the authenticity of someone wishing to communicate with you, contact your relevant security officials or the FBI for help.' With perfect timing, Trend Micro's latest report warns 'criminals can easily generate highly convincing deepfakes with very little budget, effort, and expertise, and deepfake generation tools will only become more affordable and more effective in the future.' The security team says this is being enabled by the same kinds of toolkits driving other types of frauds that have also triggered FBI warnings this year — including a variety of other message attacks. 'tools for creating deepfakes,' Trend Micro says, 'are now more powerful and more accessible by being cheaper and easier to use.' As warned by the FBI earlier in the year and with the latest Rubio impersonations that it has under investigation, deep fake voice technology is now easily deployed. 'The market for AI-generated voice technology is extremely mature,' Trend Micro says, citing several commercial applications, 'with numerous services offering voice cloning and studio-grade voiceovers… While 'these services have many legitimate applications, their potential for misuse cannot be overlooked.' After breaking the Rubio impersonations news, the Washington Post warns that 'In the absent of effective regulation in the United States, the responsibility to protect against voice impostors is mostly on you. The possibility of faked distressed calls is something to discuss with your family — along with whether setting up code words is overkill that will unnecessarily scare younger children in particular. Maybe you'll decide that setting up and practicing a code phrase is worth the peace of mind.' That idea of a secure code word that a friend or relative can use to provide they're real was pushed by the FBI some months ago. 'Create a secret word or phrase with your family to verify their identity,' it suggested in an AI attack advisory. 'Criminals can use AI-generated audio to impersonate well-known, public figures or personal relations to elicit payments,' the bureau warned in December. 'Criminals generate short audio clips containing a loved one's voice to impersonate a close relative in a crisis situation, asking for immediate financial assistance or demanding a ransom.'

Grief flows along river, click to cancel, worm warfare: Catch up on the day's stories
Grief flows along river, click to cancel, worm warfare: Catch up on the day's stories

CNN

time20 minutes ago

  • CNN

Grief flows along river, click to cancel, worm warfare: Catch up on the day's stories

👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! Canceling your gym membership in the US probably won't get easier anytime soon. An appeals court blocked a rule that would have required businesses to make it as easy for people to end their subscriptions and memberships as it is to sign up. Here's what else you might have missed during your busy day. For generations, the beloved Guadalupe River has been a haven of adventure and joy in the heart of Texas. After this week's catastrophic flooding, surrounding communities are trying to pick up the pieces, and the river has become a source of grief with an uncertain future. Linda Yaccarino is stepping down as CEO after two years leading Elon Musk's social media company. Her rocky tenure was marked by several public relations crises and challenges from new competitors, including Bluesky and Threads. Two trends have emerged at the Supreme Court in recent weeks: President Donald Trump is on a winning streak, and Ketanji Brown Jackson — the junior-most justice — is having none of it. She has emerged as the court's leading dissenter. It's looking increasingly likely that any sale of TikTok will require people in the US to download a new app, which may launch in a matter of weeks. That could mean an almost entirely different experience for 170 million American users. Hundreds of millions of flies dropping from planes in the sky sounds like a nightmare. But experts say that could be the livestock industry's best defense against a flesh-eating threat poised to invade the southwestern US. GET '5 THINGS' IN YOUR INBOX If your day doesn't start until you're up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to your new favorite morning fix. Sign up here for the '5 Things' newsletter. 🗑️ Gobs of garbage: Drone footage shows piles of trash overflowing into Philadelphia's streets after thousands of workers went on strike July 1 seeking better pay and benefits. The city and the employees just reached a deal. Trump threatens 50% tariffs on Brazil if it doesn't stop the Bolsonaro 'witch hunt' trial HHS abruptly calls off meeting of expert panel on preventive care, raising questions about its future Why an obscure provision in Trump's big agenda bill has gamblers crying foul 💄 Stunning transformations: From Madonna to Jack Nicholson, performance artist Alexis Stone attends Paris Fashion Week impersonating some of the world's most famous celebrities. CNN got a glimpse behind the making of his latest look. 💰 That is Nvidia's market value, beating out Apple and Microsoft to become the first publicly traded company to reach that milestone. 🏛️ The Trump administration just sued which state over a law allowing transgender students to play on sports teams of their choice?A. CaliforniaB. New YorkC. PennsylvaniaD. Illinois⬇️ Scroll down for the answer. 🏎️ F1 shakeup: Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has been fired after 20 years. The team enjoyed tremendous success under his leadership, but recent controversies had led to questions about Horner's future. ❤️ Love across the Pacific: When Andrew and Shallen first met on a summer day in Yellowstone, it was a mix of love at first sight and stranger danger. But with the help of poor Mandarin, scheduled video calls and a night of peach cobbler, a modern romance was born. 👋 We'll see you tomorrow.🧠 Quiz answer: A. The lawsuit alleges that a California law violates Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination at schools that receive federal aid.📧 Check out all of CNN's newsletters. Today's edition of 5 Things PM was edited and produced by CNN's Kimberly Richardson, Sarah Hutter and Chris Good.

Devin Booker Reacts to Offseason Move With Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker Reacts to Offseason Move With Phoenix Suns

Yahoo

time22 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Devin Booker Reacts to Offseason Move With Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker Reacts to Offseason Move With Phoenix Suns originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Phoenix Suns have been one of the most active teams in the NBA since the conclusion of the regular season. The Suns hired a new coach, Jordan Ott, after they elected to fire Mike Budenholzer just one year into a five-year, $50 million deal. Advertisement They also made a significant trade in the front office when they demoted James Jones from his position as the president of basketball operations and general manager to a role as a senior advisor. Brian Gregory was named as the new general manager, and Jones later took a position as the NBA's executive vice president and head of basketball operations. Marl J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Devin Booker reacts to offseason move with Phoenix Suns Once Ishbia was confident with the state of the front office, they went to work to find a team willing to trade with them for Kevin Durant. Just days before the NBA Draft, the Suns executed a trade that sent Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 draft, and five second-round picks that later became a record-setting seven-team deal. Advertisement Some speculated that the Suns could have looked to move guard Devin Booker to gain some future assets and get younger. However, that idea was put to rest Wednesday when Booker signed a two-year, $145 million max extension that keeps him in Phoenix through the 2029-30 season. Shortly after the deal was announced, Booker took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share his excitement regarding the extension and quoted his tweet from when he was originally drafted by the Suns back in 2015 with the No. 13 pick. "Letsgo" the post read. The Suns have brought in many notable players over the years, including Chris Paul and Durant. However, Booker remains the face of the Suns and is beloved by the fan base. Advertisement Booker has been a constant for the Suns throughout their up-and-down years. While the minutes at the guard position will likely have to be worked out with the influx they have at the position, Booker will likely serve as the team's primary facilitator after averaging a career-high 7.1 assists last season. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store