The Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), an ecosystem of MSSPs and independent software vendors (ISVs) that integrate their solutions with Microsoft's security products, continues to expand.
Indeed, the latest MISA member is passwordless authentication company Beyond Identity. The company was nominated for MISA membership based on how its passwordless identity platform uses Microsoft's Endpoint Manager device management capabilities.
Together, Beyond Identity's platform and Microsoft Endpoint Manager allow organizations to determine if a device is managed and secure at the time of authentication, the companies noted. That way, organizations can prevent account takeovers and implement a zero-trust compliant authentication strategy.
Beyond Identity Announces Azure Active Directory SSO Integration
Along with joining MISA, Beyond Identity has integrated its Secure Work product with Microsoft Azure Active Directory (AD) Single Sign-On (SSO). Now, Secure Work can be used with both Microsoft AD Federation Services environments and Azure AD SSO.
Secure Work protects organizations from password-based cyberattacks, Beyond Identity noted. It leverages asymmetric cryptography to bind a user's identity to their device.
In addition, Secure Work performs security posture checks across an organization's devices, Beyond Identity stated. It also allows IT and security teams to enforce custom, risk-based authentication policies with device-level security attributes using OS query and combine attributes from Microsoft InTune and other mobile device management (MDM) and endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools.
Previously, Beyond Identity in November 2021 formed a partnership with Atlas Identity, a UK-based identity and access management (IAM) solutions provider. Atlas Identity will resell and provide managed services for Beyond Identity in the UK, the companies said.
Furthermore, Beyond Identity in May 2021 announced a partnership with UK and EMEA specialist IT security distributor Distology. The partnership enables Distology to distribute Beyond Identity's solutions via its network of IT resellers and MSSPs, the companies indicated.
To date, Beyond Identity has partnered with technology vendors, system integrators, resellers, distributors, MSPs and MSSPs.
Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) vs AWS Cloud: MSSP Relationships
Meanwhile, MISA — led by Maria Thomson — remains in expansion mode. As of August 2021, MISA had 67 MSSP members that supported 165 managed security services as of August 2021. Furthermore, MISA reported that 176 ISVs delivered 259 integrations as of July 2021.
Somewhat similar to MISA, Amazon Web Services (AWS) in August 2021 introduced the Level 1 MSSP Competency for AWS Partners as it tries to foster new partnerships with MSSPs and ISVs. AWS Partners can earn this competency to deliver AWS security and monitoring as a fully managed service.
