The Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) is opening its arms to MSSPs (managed security services providers) and MDR (managed detection and Response) partners, the cloud and software giant confirmed ahead of the Microsoft Inspire 2020 virtual partner conference.
The MISA is an independent ecosystem of software vendors that have integrated their solutions to better defend partners and customers from cyberattacks, Microsoft says. Rough 133 organizations are now MISA members, up from 57 last year.
Noted Mandana Javaheri, global director of cybersecurity solutions group at Microsoft:
“MISA members are the cybersecurity industry leaders, unified by the common goal of helping secure our customers by offering their own valuable expertise and making the association more effective as it expands.”
Many of the third-party ISV solutions integrate with Microsoft Azure Sentinel (cloud-based SIEM), Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection, Azure Security Center, and plenty more.
Microsoft MISA: MSSP Pilot Program Members
So where do MSSPs fit into the conversation? The answer emerged today. MISA is now launching an invitation-only pilot program for select MSSPs, R s. Many of those pilot program members rank among the world's Top 200 MSSPs -- as identified annually by MSSP Alert.
The pilot program MSSP list includes:
- Accenture, which recently acquired Symantec's former MSSP business.
- AscentSolutions
- Avanade
- BlueVoyant, which raised $82.5 million in 2019.
- Born in the Cloud
- BT
- Critical Start, which raised $40 million in 2019.
- CyberProof, which acquired Necsia Cybersecurity in December 2019.
- Dell Technologies, which works closely with portfolio companies Secureworks and VMware Carbon Black.
- Expel, which raised $50 million in May 2020.
- EY, which acquired Sila Solutions Group and ElevatedPrompt for various MSSP and MDR services.
- FishTech, which remains in rapid growth mode.
- Infosys
- Insight
- Inspark
- KPMG US and EMEA, which has grown organically and through acquisition.
- Open Systems, which recently acquired Born in Cloud (another pilot member)
- Optiv Security, which recently named a new CEO.
- TrueSec
- Trustwave, which recently launched a partner program.
- Wipro, which recently invested in CloudKnox.
In a prepared statement about MISA's MSSP pilot program, Eran Barak, principal program manager, Microsoft Threat Protection, said:
“Today we’re happy to bring a win-win-win offering by enabling MSSPs and managed detection and response partners to sell and deploy not just Microsoft’s security solutions but more importantly our joint solutions with our independent software vendor partners.”
Microsoft Also Embraces Managed IT Service Providers (MSPs)
Meanwhile, Microsoft has also been building an MSP-related partner program in the Azure cloud ecosystem. That effort, known as Azure Expert MSPs, includes dozens of the world's Top 200 Public Cloud MSPs, according to ChannelE2E.
Check ChannelE2E's ongoing coverage of the Microsoft Inspire conference here.
