ThreatLocker Steps Up Zero Trust Drive, Names Security Veteran As Mac Security Chief Architect

“It’s exciting to be able to lead the Mac team,” says new ThreatLocker Mac Security Chief Architect Slava Konstantinov. “We are working to provide all the zero trust features that Windows has and then go even further.”

Slava Konstantinov

MSP security powerhouse ThreatLocker is stepping up its Mac zero trust security efforts by bringing on board a prominent Apple security consultant, Slava Konstantinov, as its chief architect of Mac security and development.

ThreatLocker CEO Danny Jenkins credited Konstantinov, who has been working as a consultant for the company for the last two years, with providing the knowledge and know how that put ThreatLocker on the Apple zero trust security map.

In fact, Jenkins said it was Konstantinov that cracked the code that led to ThreatLocker’s release earlier this year of its first zero trust solution for Mac operating systems.

“Apple has many of the same problems as Windows, however, it is a different beast, securing the Mac was a big challenge for ThreatLocker until we hired Slava,” said Jenkins. “The contribution Slava has made to ThreatLocker’s solution not only for Mac but for our entire platform has been invaluable.”

[Related: How ThreatLocker CEO Danny Jenkins Once Saved His Company With Data-Stealing Malware ]

Jenkins said Konstantinov changed the trajectory of ThreatLocker from a single platform Windows zero trust provider for MSPs to a multiplatform provider with Apple zero trust capabilities.

“Historically Mac users were left defenseless, companies had no choice but to either block the use of Macs or face gaping security holes,” Jenkins said. “Now businesses that use ThreatLocker, spanning from the United States, Canada and Europe and the rest of the world can be protected.”

Jenkins said that bringing Konstantinov on to lead the Mac zero trust team is going to have a dramatic impact on the ability of MSPs to secure Mac endpoints.

“Having Slava come on board full time to lead the Mac security team changes the future of how we can provide zero trust on the Mac and the contribution we can make to the MSP community to ensure Mac endpoints are secure,” he said. “The Mac security market is under-served and MSPs are struggling to get the right tools to provide zero trust Mac security. Having Slava join ThreatLocker full time is going to have a big impact on our Mac zero trust road map.”

Jenkins said that Konstantinov’s work as a consultant convinced him that there was no one better to take on the ThreatLocker zero trust Mac challenge.

“Working with Slava for the last two years I have seen first hand the impact he has had not only on ThreatLocker but for the Mac community,” he said. “We knew that that there was no one else that could do a better job leading the Mac security team. His skill set is paramount not just to our interests, but also to the interests of all of customers and Mac users. He is one of the smartest people I have ever met.”

The Macintosh security development effort that Konstantinov is heading up is a “major priority” for the company, said Jenkins. “ThreatLocker has been a leader in protecting Windows devices,” he said. “Having Slava come in to lead the Mac security effort is key to the success of our company and the protection of our customers from Ransomware and cyber criminals from all over the world. Our goal is we never want to see another cyberattack on a Mac.”

Konstantinov, a Ukrainian native who will be based at ThreatLocker’s corporate headquarters in Orlando, said he could not be more excited about joining the ThreatLocker “Cyber Hero” team.

“It’s exciting to be able to lead the Mac team,” he said. “We are working to provide all the zero trust features that Windows has and then go even further.”

Konstantinov, who has more than 12 years’ experience writing security software code, said the collaboration with his Windows security brethren at ThreatLocker is helping to power new Mac zero trust breakthroughs. “It’s awesome to be able to discuss ransomware and implementation issues first hand with the Windows team,” he said. “Everybody is helping each other here to make our products better.”

Jenkins said he sees Konstantinov helping to dispel the myth that Macs are more secure than Windows systems. “Mac users fail to miss the point that both Windows and the Mac OS are open operating systems that allow any developer to develop software for those systems,” he said. “That means, just like Windows, malware can run on Macs.”

Konstantinov said he sees an alarming rise in Mac zero trust vulnerabilities. “There are more and more Mac threats,” he said. “It’s getting worse.”

David Stinner, founder and president of US itek, a Buffalo, N.Y.-based MSP standout, said he was glad to hear that ThreatLocker is doubling down on Mac zero trust security.

“It’s important for companies like ThreatLocker and US itek to educate customers about Mac threats,” he said. “Too often we have sales prospects that run Mac networks that push back on our cyber security offerings because they think Macs are somehow inherently secure and don’t need protection. It’s a common misconception that is still being perpetuated by owners of Mac systems.”

Stinner said he recently met with a prospect with an all Mac environment that told him the expense of US itek’s cybersecurity managed service was “absurd” because Macs don’t need security protection.

“This has happened to me numerous times because of the misconception of Mac owners that their computers are somehow inherently protected against cyber threats,” he said. “ThreatLocker stepping up its Mac zero trust efforts hopefully will help dispel this myth. I commend Danny Jenkins and the ThreatLocker team for investing in Mac zero trust.”