Microsoft recognizes the value of partners to its business. The tech giant has reported that 95 of its commercial revenue flows directly through the channel ecosystem and that 7,500 partners join that ecosystem each month to total 400,000 partners listed on the site today.
What does the world look like from the perspective of an MSSP that is a close partner to a giant like Microsoft? Quorum Cyber greatly measures its success as an MSSP through its delivery of Microsoft security products and services.
The Edinburgh, Scotland-based company’s core offerings of managed detection and response MDR, managed extended detection and response (MXDR), managed data security (MDS), and identity threat detection and response (ITDR) are fully rendered on the foundation of its Microsoft product partnerships.
For that matter, Quorum Cyber has been involved in the Microsoft Copilot for Security Partner Private Preview program [read MSSP Alert’s coverage] since its launch. Quorum Cyber has been deeply involved in testing the product and providing feedback for improvements directly to Microsoft Engineering on how an MSSP and its customers would use the product and how to maximize its value.
“Our involvement in the Partner Private Preview means that we have a greater level of knowledge and understanding on the product and how to leverage its capabilities than the vast majority of partners,” Federico Charosky, Quorum Cyber's founder and CEO, told MSSP Alert. “In turn, this enables us to help our customers to better utilize Copilot for Security and generative AI to stay ahead of AI-driven risks and threats themself.”
How Quorum Cyber Fights AI Security Threats with AI Defenses
Charosky asserts that Copilot for Security will significantly alter the MSSP landscape, as it will enable security pros to respond to risks and threats at the speed of AI. And this will be necessary to keep up with the threats organizations face from attacks driven by AI, too.
“In order to fight AI, we must use AI,” he said. “It will also allow MSSPs to focus on more value-adding activities over certain repetitive and time-consuming tasks than can be streamlined and accelerated with AI. Those MSSPs that do not embrace AI for security will be left behind, as they will not be able to offer customers the level of assurance or security needed to minimize the risks of AI-driven threats.”
Charosky emphasized that Quorum Cyber is a “Microsoft-only” company. Its tech stack is includes:
- Microsoft Sentinel
- Microsoft Defender XDR
- Microsoft Copilot for Security
- Microsoft Purview
- Microsoft Entra
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud
- Microsoft Defender for EASM
What MSSPs Need to Know About Microsoft
Partners looking to win success in the Microsoft Partner Program would do well to follow Quorum Cyber's example and Charosky's advice. Charosky said MSSPs with that kind of ambition should focus on understanding Microsoft’s Security Partner go-to-market strategy, and especially what their metrics are for partners.
“Strong attainment towards these will get you noticed by Microsoft,” he said. “Additionally, look to achieve the Microsoft Solutions Partner for Security status as early as possible. This is often considered the minimum benchmark as a partner claiming to be specialized in security.”
That’s certainly gotten Quorum Cyber noticed by Microsoft. Quorum Cyber was recently named a double award finalist for Microsoft's Security MSSP of the Year and Security Customer Champion as part of the Microsoft Security Excellence Awards.
All finalists are members of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), an ecosystem of independent software vendors and MSSPs that have integrated their security products and services with Microsoft’s security technology.
Charosky believes that the biggest differentiator for Quorum Cyber when it comes to the MISA awards is the depth and understanding of its relationship with Microsoft and how his company helps drive their business.
“Our presence and usage of all of Microsoft’s key strategic programs for security partners, both public and private, along with our clear articulation of our impact to Microsoft, sets us apart,” he said. “To maintain this position, we must continue to ensure we stay as close to Microsoft as possible and any changes they make in their partner strategy, programs and metrics.”
Quorum Cyber also recently announced its Microsoft FastTrack-ready partner designation, enabling the accelerated deployment of cloud solutions for its clients. This designation complements Quorum Cyber's ability to offer cybersecurity benefits to customers, which includes an evolving expertise in Microsoft security tools Microsoft Purview and Microsoft Entra as well as Microsoft Copilot for Security.
Quorum Cyber’s Bigger Picture
Quorum Cyber is one of the fastest-growing cyber security companies in the U.K. and North America, with more than 150 customers on four continents, according to company. Quorum Cyber serves 16 industries and employs more than 200 cybersecurity experts with over “1,000 years” of combined Microsoft and cybersecurity experience.
Charosky believes that it may come as a surprise to other MSSPs that Quorum Cyber’s services cover the entire Microsoft Security portfolio.
“Most MSSP’s focus on one or two primary areas of security, such as EDR, XDR, whereas Quorum Cyber is one-stop-shop for customers’ security needs across both managed and professional services,” he said.
For its XDR and MDR services, Quorum Cyber prices per user so that its costs are predictable and customers can forecast their costs as they grow.
“We have a simple pricing model and offer flexible pricing, from as little as one month, so customers aren’t locked in long-term — unless they want to be,” Charosky said. “We keep everything in the customer’s environment, so they can walk away at any time – we’re confident we can deliver for them and they’ll stay with us.”
