On Monday, January 26, 2026, in Redmond, Washington, we brought together the all‑star players of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), partners, finalists, and Microsoft security leaders—to honor the innovators, defenders, and visionaries driving the future of cybersecurity.

Honoring excellence in security innovation

Just like in any great sport, success comes from strong teamwork and relentless practice. Over the past year, our partners have pushed the boundaries of what’s possible—from pioneering AI‑powered threat intelligence to advancing Zero Trust strategies that keep organizations safer than ever. The finalists and winners represent the very best of this collective effort: disciplined, innovative, and deeply committed players who raise the bar for everyone on the field.

After careful review of all nominations, our esteemed judging panel selected five finalists per category, with winners selected by votes from Microsoft and MISA members. We’re honored to recognize these standout contributors—thank you for being the teammates who make the whole ecosystem stronger.

Security Trailblazer

Partners that have delivered innovative AI-powered solutions or services that leverage the full Microsoft range of security products and have proven to be outstanding leaders in accelerating customers’ efforts to mitigate cybersecurity threats.

• Avertium—Winner
• Avanade
• Bulletproof
• ExtraHop
• Ontinue

Data Security and Compliance Trailblazer

Partners recognized for leading innovative solutions and providing comprehensive strategies to secure customer data with Microsoft Purview. These leaders help customers protect data everywhere, address regulatory needs, and drive AI-powered outcomes with expertise across Purview’s advanced security and advisory services.

• BlueVoyant—Winner
• Invoke LLC
• Netrix Global
• Quorum Cyber
• water IT Security GmbH

Secure Access Trailblazer

Partners recognized for pioneering innovation in identity, security, and management using Microsoft Entra and Microsoft Intune. Their solutions advance secure access and endpoint management, applying Zero Trust principles to protect organizations and deliver strong security outcomes.

• Tata Consultancy Services—Winner
• Cayosoft
• Devicie
• IBM Consulting
• Inspark

Security Changemaker

Individuals within partner organizations who have made a remarkable security contribution to the company or the larger security community.

• Anna Bordioug, Protiviti—Winner
• Jon Kessler, Epiq
• Justine Wolters, Cloud Life
• Mario Espinoza, Illumio
• Nithin RameGowda, Skysecure Technologies Pvt Ltd

Security Software Development Company of the Year

Security software development companies with standout AI-powered solutions that integrate with Microsoft Security products, delivering exceptional value and customer experiences while driving industry impact and adoption.

• Illumio—Winner
• ContraForce
• Darktrace
• inforcer
• Tanium

Security Services Partner of the Year   

Security Services partners that excel at integrating Microsoft products with security services, delivering strong results, driving adoption of Microsoft Security solutions, and leveraging advanced AI for innovation, sales, and customer support.

• Invoke LLC—Winner
• BlueVoyant
• Cloud4C
• Shanghai Flyingnets
• Quorum Cyber

Looking ahead: Stronger together

Congratulations once again to this year’s exceptional winners, and sincere appreciation to everyone who joined us in honoring our outstanding cybersecurity team players. Their unwavering commitment, innovative spirit, and deep expertise drive progress not only within our community but also across the industry as a whole. Together, their efforts empower us to advance our shared mission of creating a safer, more resilient digital world for all. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing our collaborative journey toward a secure future.

Learn more

Learn more about the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association.

To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us on LinkedIn (Microsoft Security) and X (@MSFTSecurity) for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.

The post Microsoft announces the 2026 Security Excellence Awards winners appeared first on Microsoft Security Blog.

In San Francisco, California, on Monday, April 28, 2025, we gathered our cybersecurity superheroes―Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) member finalists and winners. Together with Microsoft leadership, we celebrated the innovative defenders who are leading the charge against cybercriminals to ensure people and organizations can thrive.

“Congratulations to this year’s Microsoft Security Excellence Awards winners, and to all the incredible nominees,” said Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security Business. “Our partners are the frontline defenders in an ever-changing cybersecurity landscape, working tirelessly to protect organizations and individuals from emerging cyberthreats. Their innovation and commitment are instrumental in advancing security worldwide. Together, we’re strengthening defenses and shaping the future of security.”

Celebrating the superheroes of cybersecurity

The past year has been a testament to the power of collaboration. From deploying AI-powered threat intelligence to fortifying Zero Trust strategies, our partners have continued to raise the bar. Together, we’re stronger, smarter, and more resilient in the face of growing cyberthreats.

The Microsoft Security Excellence Awards honor outstanding contributions across several categories. This year’s finalists and winners have demonstrated not only technical excellence but also a firm commitment to strengthening security for the organizations that rely on them. They’re the best of the best—pushing boundaries and embracing cutting-edge security technologies.

After a review of all the award nominations, our review panel created a shortlist of five nominees per category, with winners determined by votes from Microsoft and MISA members. Congratulations to you all!

Security Trailblazer

Partners that have delivered innovative solutions or services that leverage the full Microsoft range of security products and have proven to be outstanding leaders in accelerating customers’ efforts to mitigate cybersecurity threats.

• BlueVoyant—Winner
• Darktrace
• HCLTech
• Kocho
• Wortell

Data Security and Compliance Trailblazer

Partners that deliver innovative solutions or services and are distinguished leaders in developing outcomes that provide a comprehensive approach to securing customer data with the Microsoft Purview platform.

• Avanade—Winner
• eShare
• Lighthouse
• Protiviti
• Quorum Cyber

Identity Trailblazer

Partners that are leaders in the identity space and have driven identity-related initiatives and delivered innovative solutions or services with Microsoft Entra ID.

• PwC—Winner
• IDmelon
• Kloudynet
• Oxford Computer Group
• Patriot Consulting

Endpoint Management Trailblazer

Partners that have proven expertise in helping customers modernize their endpoint and device management posture while enabling organizations to reduce costs.

• Bridewell—Winner
• Cloud4C
• Devicie
• InSpark
• Shanghai Flyingnets Information Technology Co., LTD.

Security Customer Champion

Partners that go above and beyond to drive customer impact and that have a proven track record of customer obsession and success.

• EY—Winner
• 1Password
• Cyclotron
• Epiq
• Threatscape

Security Changemaker

Individuals within partner organizations who have made a remarkable security contribution to the company or the larger security community.

• Micah Heaton, Executive Director, BlueVoyant—Winner
• Federico Charosky, Chief Executive Officer, Quorum Cyber
• Femke Cornelissen, Chief Copilot, Wortell
• Harman Kaur, Vice President (VP) of Artificial Intelligence, Tanium
• Sharon Ko, VP of Product Management, Armor

Diversity in Security

Partners that have demonstrated a significant commitment to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion to better serve security customers and foster change in the industry.

• LTIMindtree Ltd—Winner
• BUI
• Jamf
• Orange Cyberdefense
• Silverfort

Security ISV of the Year

Independent software vendors (ISVs) that are all-around powerhouses and have innovative security solutions that integrate with a MISA-qualifying security product and demonstrate differentiated value and excellent customer experiences.

• Netskope—Winner
• ContraForce
• Delinea
• Kovrr
• Tanium

Security MSSP of the Year   

Managed security service providers (MSSPs) that are all-around powerhouses with strong integration between Microsoft products and ongoing managed security services and drive new security workloads, pipeline, usage, and consumption.       

• Quorum Cyber—Winner
• baseVISION AG
• glueckkanja AG
• Performanta
• Transparity

Meet the award presenters

This year’s awards were presented by Microsoft executives who recognize and support the critical role our partners play in cybersecurity:

Security Trailblazer: Andrew Conway, Vice President, Security Business and Marketing

Data Security and Compliance Trailblazer: Herain Oberoi, General Manager, Data Security, Governance, Compliance, Privacy Business and Marketing

Identity Trailblazer: Irina Nechaeva, General Manager, Identity and Network Access

Endpoint Management Trailblazer: Talal Alqinawi, Senior Director, Product Marketing Intune

Security Customer Champion: Nicole Ford, Vice President, Customer Security Officer

Security Changemaker: Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President, Security Business

Diversity in Security: Dorothy Li, Corporate Vice President Security Copilot, Ecosystem and Marketplace

Security ISV of the Year: Steve Dispensa, Corporate Vice President Security Business Development

Security MSSP of the Year: Alym Rayani, Vice President Security GTM

Looking ahead: Stronger together

Congratulations again to this year’s winners and many thanks to all who were able to join us for a special evening celebrating our cybersecurity superheroes. Their dedication and expertise help us all move forward in our shared mission to build a safer, more secure world for everyone.

For anyone attending RSAC Conference from April 28 to May 1, 2025, be sure to stop by the Microsoft Booth 5744 North Expo where MISA members will be showcasing their solutions at our MISA demo station and the Microsoft Theater. Don’t miss these informative sessions:

• Wortell—Unified SecOps: Defending Critical Infrastructure with Microsoft Defender. Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 3:00 PM PT to 3:20 PM PT.
• Contraforce—Be Fast as Lightning: Automate Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel Service Delivery. Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 3:30 PM PT to 3:50 PM PT.
• Microsoft Security—Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to Partnering with Microsoft. Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 11:30 AM PT to 11:50 AM PT.
• EY—EY Security Copilot Powered Solutions. Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 12:00 PM PT to 12:20 PM PT.
• Netskope—Simplifying Data Security for the Modern Network with Microsoft Purview and Netskope One. Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 5:30 PM PT to 5:50 PM PT.
• Oxford Computer Group—Creating Bespoke Identity Governance Solutions with Microsoft Entra Suite. Thursday, May 1, 2025, 11:30 AM PT to 11:50 AM PT.

Learn more

Learn more about the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association.

To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us on LinkedIn (Microsoft Security) and X (@MSFTSecurity) for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.

The post Microsoft announces the 2025 Security Excellence Awards winners appeared first on Microsoft Security Blog.

Alongside applauding our partners’ achievements, we highlighted the transformative impact of AI in security. AI is the defining technology of our time, revolutionizing how we anticipate, prevent, and respond to threats. MISA—a coalition of Microsoft leaders and subject matter experts, independent software vendors (ISVs), and managed security service providers (MSSPs)—and its members play a pivotal role in driving this evolution, ensuring a safer digital future for everyone.

Together, we work to defend organizations around the world from increasing cyberthreats. In San Francisco, California, on May 6, 2024, the first day of RSA Conference 2024 (RSAC), we were honored to bring together MISA members and Microsoft Security leadership to honor the top finalists and announce award winners.

“I’m so pleased to congratulate this year’s Microsoft Security Excellence awards recipients and to acknowledge all those who were nominated,” said Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security Business. “Our partner community plays such an important role in helping our customers navigate a rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape. Each of this year’s recipients demonstrates true innovation and an inspiring dedication to the mission of security. We are so proud to work alongside them in a shared commitment to building a safer world for everyone.”

Celebrating innovation and impact

This year we streamlined the award categories to spotlight the achievements that not only redefine our industry but also significantly advance our collective mission towards a more secure and efficient digital future.

We also introduced a new award category: the Endpoint Management Trailblazer, which celebrates partners’ contributions to modernizing endpoint and device management. As the landscape of cyberthreats continues to evolve, the security perimeter of organizations extends beyond traditional boundaries, making endpoint management more critical than ever.

Effective endpoint and device management ensures that every device connected to an organization’s network is continuously monitored and secured, reducing the risk of breaches. This not only includes safeguarding the devices themselves but also involves managing access to networks and data in a way that keeps up with the dynamic nature of cyberthreats.

By spotlighting our partners who excel in this area, we aim to underscore the importance of adopting forward-thinking security measures that align with the modern workplace’s needs, ultimately fostering a safer and more resilient digital environment for businesses and their stakeholders.

Meet the leaders behind this year’s awards

Executives from across Microsoft came together to recognize and celebrate all the award winner finalists and winners, including:

Security Trailblazer: Alym Rayani, Vice President Security GTM.

Compliance and Privacy Trailblazer: Herain Oberoi, General Manager, Data Security, Governance, Compliance, and Privacy.

Identity Trailblazer: Irina Nechaeva, General Manager, Identity and Network Access; and Morgan Webb, Principle Group Manager, Security Customer Experience Engineering.

Endpoint Management Trailblazer: Dilip Radhakrishnan, General Manager, Microsoft Intune.

Security Customer Champion: Jeffrey York, Vice President, Security Partner Investments and Incentives.

Security Changemaker: Ann Choi, General Manager, Commercial Cloud Partner Strategy.

Diversity in Security: Tara Knapp, Director, Security Business Development; and Tara Ragan, Channel Strategy and Operations Manager, Lighthouse.

Security MSSP of the Year: Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security Business.

Security ISV of the Year: Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security Business.

2024 Security Excellence Award winners

In line with this year’s theme focused on the evolution of cybersecurity, we’re proud to spotlight the key role of innovative technology and dedicated individuals in shaping a more secure future. After receiving many impressive award nominations, our review panel shortlisted five nominees for each category, with winners determined by votes from Microsoft and MISA members. The finalists and winners in each category are:

Security Trailblazer 

Partners that have delivered innovative solutions or services that leverage the full Microsoft range of security products and have proven to be outstanding leaders in accelerating customers’ efforts to mitigate cybersecurity threats.

• Bulletproof—Winner
• Atech Cloud
• BlueVoyant
• Kovrr
• Performanta

Compliance and Privacy Trailblazer

Partners that deliver innovative solutions or services and are distinguished leaders in driving holistic or end-to-end Microsoft compliance or privacy strategy with customers.

• Lighthouse—Winner
• archTIS
• Infotechtion
• PwC
• Secude

Identity Trailblazer

Partners that are leaders in the identity space, have driven identity-related initiatives, and delivered innovative solutions or services with Microsoft Entra ID.

• Thales—Winner
• InSpark
• Oxford Computer Group
• Valence Security
• Wipro

Endpoint Management Trailblazer

Partners that have proven expertise in helping customers modernize their endpoint and device management posture while enabling organizations to reduce costs.

• water IT Security—Winner
• CGI
• Insight
• Senserva
• Synergy Advisors

Security Customer Champion

Partners that go above and beyond to drive customer impact and that have a proven track record of customer obsession and success.

• Ascent Solutions—Winner
• Protiviti
• PwC
• Quorum Cyber
• Tanium

Security Changemaker

Individuals within partner organizations who have made a remarkable security contribution to the company or the larger security community.

• Anna Webb, Kocho—Winner
• Adrianna Chen, D3 Security
• Ricardo Nicolini, Bulletproof
• Scott Edwards, Summit 7
• Tom Boltman, Kovrr

Diversity in Security

Partners that have demonstrated a significant commitment to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion to better serve security customers and foster change in the industry.

• Avanade—Winner
• Check Point
• CyberProof a UST Company
• Entrust
• Eviden

Security MSSP of the Year  

MSSPs that are all-around powerhouses with strong integration between Microsoft products and ongoing managed security services that drive the end-to-end Microsoft Security stack to our mutual customers.       

• Wortell—Winner
• Difenda
• glueckkanja AG
• Quorum Cyber
• Transparity

Security ISV of the Year

ISVs that are all-around powerhouses, show growth potential, and have innovative security solutions that integrate with a MISA-qualifying security product.

• ContraForce—Winner
• Kovrr
• Netskope
• Senserva
• Silverfort

We’re ready for what’s next 

This was an amazing evening, bringing together MISA members, Microsoft executives, and future security experts. Many thanks to all who came, and congratulations again to all our finalists and winners. One constant within the ever-changing world of cybersecurity is the way our community comes together to protect and empower customers. We look forward to seeing everything you accomplish in the upcoming year. 

If you’re at RSA Conference May 6-9, 2024, come and visit us at the Microsoft Booth 6044 North Expo where MISA members will be showcasing their solutions at our MISA demo station and the Microsoft Theater. We’d love to see you at the following Theater sessions: 

• ContraForce and Bulletproof—Hyperautomation for SecOps Service Management. Tuesday, May 7, 2024, 5:00 PM PT to 5:20 PM PT.
• glueckkanja AG—Use Microsoft Copilot for Security to bring context to your incidents. Tuesday, May 7, 2024, 5:30 PM PT to 5:50 PM PT.  
• Kovrr—The need for Shift Up Strategy: Financially Quantifying C-Suite Cyber Risk Management Decisions. Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 5:00 PM PT to 5:20 PM PT. 
• Darktrace—Combining the power of Darktrace & Microsoft Copilot for Security to Empower the Modern SOC. Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 5:30 PM PT to 5:50 PM PT.
• Avanade—Real world stories of using Microsoft Purview Data Protection to enable responsible adoption of Copilot for Microsoft 365. ​Thursday May 9, 2024, 10:30 AM PT to 10:50 AM PT. 

Learn more

Learn more about the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association.

To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us on LinkedIn (Microsoft Security) and X (@MSFTSecurity) for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.

The post Microsoft announces the 2024 Microsoft Security Excellence Awards winners appeared first on Microsoft Security Blog.

MISA is a coalition of Microsoft leaders and subject matter experts, independent software vendors (ISVs), and managed security service providers (MSSPs). Together, we work to defend organizations around the world from increasing threats. Security is a broad, collaborative business, and our amazing partners continue to show their resilience and excellence in delivering comprehensive protection integrated with Microsoft Security technology.

In San Francisco, California, on the first day of the RSA Conference (RSAC), we were honored to bring together MISA members and Microsoft Security leadership to honor the top finalists and announce award winners.

“It is my privilege to acknowledge this year’s Microsoft Security Excellence Awards recipients, who continually inspire us with their commitment to building a safer world for all. Their solutions, services, innovative spirit, and customer focus are integral to this goal. Security is a team sport, and we are proud to partner with our MISA community. My warmest congratulations to all the awardees.”

—Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President (CVP), Microsoft Security, Compliance, Identity, and Privacy

Security for all  

We believe that inclusivity is not just an ethical choice, but also a strategic advantage. That’s why we’re proud to showcase the investment and efforts our partner ecosystem has made to promote diversity and inclusion. This year we recognized the first winner of the new Diversity in Security award. This award honors a partner who has gone above and beyond to foster diversity and cultivate positive change within the industry, and ultimately improve our ability to protect customers against cyberthreats.

Security is a team sport, one that always needs new players. So, we were also proud to recognize the next generation of security defenders. Microsoft is partnering with Last Mile Education Fund by funding scholarships for underrepresented students to help target the nationwide shortage of cybersecurity talent while Shadow Hunter is our gamified experience that immerses contestants in a simulated real-world cybersecurity scenario to build and test security skills. Bringing the two together was natural. We invited students from around the United States to challenge themselves in our special Last Mile Education Fund and Microsoft Security Immersion Event: Shadow Hunter four-hour virtual events. To acknowledge those students who achieved the top scores among their peers, Bret Arsenault, CVP and Chief Information Security Officer, Microsoft, and Ruthe Farmer, Founder, Last Mile Education Fund, recognized the top 10 students—Logan Gamma, Joan Waldron, Dialla Diarra, Cristian Carrillo Mendez, Lisa Friel, Afraz Sakib, Alexandra Farina, Sean Dixon, Amanda Hite, and Angelina Zhukova—for their ongoing accomplishments.

2023 Security Excellence Award winners

Both technology and people are essential for creating a secure future, and we were thrilled to recognize some of the top companies and individuals in the field across 11 award categories that reflect the diverse and valuable contributions of MISA members. We were impressed by the hundreds of award nominations we received. The panel diligently reviewed each one and shortlisted five nominees for each category. Winners were then decided by the votes of Microsoft and MISA members.

We are proud to announce the finalists and winners in each category:

Security Trailblazer

Partners that have delivered innovative solutions or services that leverage the full Microsoft range of security products and have proven to be outstanding leaders in accelerating customers’ efforts to mitigate cybersecurity threats.

• Ascent Solutions—Winner
• Critical Start
• D3 Security
• Quorum Systems
• Synack

Compliance and Privacy Trailblazer

Partners that deliver innovative solutions or services and are distinguished leaders in driving holistic or end-to-end Microsoft compliance or privacy strategy with customers.

• Protiviti—Winner
• archTIS
• Epiq
• Infotechtion
• Relativity

Identity Trailblazer

Partners that are leaders in the identity space and have driven identity-related initiatives and delivered innovative solutions or services with Microsoft Azure Active Directory.

• EY—Winner
• HCLTech
• Squadra Technologies
• Synergy Advisors
• Thales

Zero Trust Champion

Partners that are dedicated to supporting customers in their Zero Trust journey and have demonstrated vital integrations with the Microsoft Zero Trust platform.

• Silverfort—Winner
• Avanade
• Netskope
• Oxford Computer Group
• Yubico

Security Software Innovator

ISVs that have developed innovative solutions with disruptive and transformative technology in collaboration with Microsoft that makes work easier for our mutual customers.

• Relativity—Winner
• 42Crunch
• Axiad
• ContraForce
• Theom

Security Services Innovator

MSSPs that are exceptional at educating the market on security risks and driving holistic end-to-end managed extended detection and response (MXDR) security strategy with customers using Microsoft Security products and that deliver innovative and transformative security services to customers.

• Ontinue—Winner
• Bridewell
• Difenda
• Quorum Cyber
• Wortell

Security Customer Champion

Partners that go above and beyond to drive customer impact and that have a proven track record of customer obsession and success.

• Vectra—Winner
• Epiq
• F5
• Lighthouse
• Ontinue

Security Changemaker

Individuals within partner organizations who have made a remarkable security contribution to the company or the larger security community.

• Katie Nickels, Red Canary—Winner
• Federico Charosky, Quorum Cyber
• Jeffrey J. Engle, Conquest Cyber
• Harry Haramis, Keyfactor
• Mike Ounsworth, Entrust

Diversity in Security

Partners that have demonstrated a significant commitment to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion to better serve security customers and foster change in the industry.

• Lighthouse—Winner
• Difenda
• KnowBe4
• Recorded Future
• Wortell

Security ISV of the Year

ISVs that are all-around powerhouses, show growth potential and have innovative security solutions that integrate with a MISA-qualifying security product.

• Adobe—Winner
• Cloudflare
• Delinea
• Silverfort
• Thales

Security MSSP of the Year

MSSPs that are all-around powerhouses with strong integration between Microsoft products and ongoing managed security services that drive the end-to-end Microsoft Security stack to our mutual customers.

• BlueVoyant—Winner
• glueckkanja-gab
• PwC
• Red Canary
• Wipro

We’re ready for what’s next

This was an amazing evening, bringing together MISA members, Microsoft executives, and future security experts. Many thanks to all who came, and congratulations again to all our finalists and winners. One constant within the ever-changing world of cyberthreats is the way our community comes together to protect and empower customers. We look forward to seeing everything you accomplish in the upcoming year.

If you’re at the RSA Conference through April 27, 2023, come and visit us at the Microsoft Booth 6044 North Expo where MISA members will be showcasing their solutions at our MISA demo station and the Microsoft Theater. We’d love to see you at the following sessions:

• Session 20: Build your MXDR environment using the Azure Marketplace in 5 minutes (Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 10:10 AM PT to 10:30 AM PT).
• Session 21: Using breach and attack simulation across the Microsoft Security portfolio to optimize your SecOps (Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 10:40 AM PT to 11:00 AM PT).
• Session 22: Achieving Zero Trust application access with Cloudflare One and Microsoft Security (Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 11:10 AM PT to 11:30 AM PT).
• Session 23: “Power of Partnerships”—Services + Technology + Microsoft (Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 11:40 AM PT to 12:00 PM PT).
• Session 28: The new MXDR paradigm: Nonstop SecOps through real-time collaboration and AI-driven automation (Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 2:10 PM PT to 2:30 PM PT).

Figure 1. MISA member companies will share how they work together with Microsoft to protect customers from cyberthreats. Sessions will be presented by the following MISA members: BUI, SafeBreach, Cloudflare, Relativity and Epiq, and Ontinue.

Figure 2. MISA and its ecosystem of ISVs and MSSPs, with solutions integrated with the Microsoft’s security technology, will have a demo station at the RSAC Microsoft booth. Demos will take place on Monday, April 24, 2023, through Thursday, April 27, 2023, throughout the conference hours. The following MISA ISV and MSSP vendors will be giving demos: Cerby Kovrr, Elevate Security, Red Canary, Yubico, Lighthouse, Ascent Solutions, Wipro, Adobe, Forsyte, Corelight, 42Crunch, Maureen Data Systems, Datawiza, Secude, Avanade, archTIS, Difenda, Quorom Cyber, Netrix, Theom, BlueVoyant, BigID, and Synergy Advisors.

Learn more

To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us on LinkedIn (Microsoft Security) and Twitter (@MSFTSecurity) for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.

The post Microsoft announces the 2023 Microsoft Security Excellence Awards winners appeared first on Microsoft Security Blog.

Formerly known as the Microsoft Security 20/20 Awards, the Microsoft Security Excellence Awards recognizes MISA member success across security during the past 12 months. MISA is a coalition of Microsoft leaders and subject matter experts, independent software vendors (ISVs), and managed security service providers (MSSPs) working together to defend against increasing security threats.

Attendees donned their fashionably festive best and gathered at the brightly lit San Francisco Design Center for cocktails, dinner, networking, and awards recognition. They smiled as they caught up with folks they may not have seen in years—and some even made new connections.

The stars of the evening were all the MISA members that work tirelessly to ensure the security of our shared customers. Congratulations to all our award finalists and winners! After cocktails, conversation, and dinner, Microsoft executives Vasu Jakkal, Phil Montgomery, Andrew Conway, Alym Rayani, Irina Nechaeva, Desmond Forbes, Sue Bohn, Mandana Javaheri, Madhu Prasha, and Scott Woodgate handed out the awards. Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Security, praised the recipients for their achievements.

Be fearless with comprehensive security

Microsoft and MISA members share a commitment to supporting customers in their efforts to be fearless. That means ensuring that they have the comprehensive security necessary to help them grow their enterprise securely to match their vision. When we talk about comprehensive security, we’re not referring merely to security coverage, though that’s important. We’re also talking about best-in-breed protection, built-in intelligence, and simplified management.

Being fearless when it comes to cybersecurity comes when companies:

• Gain confidence that their data and people are more protected—so they can limit nothing.
• Natively integrate individual layers of protection across clouds, platforms, endpoints, and devices.
• Get alerts from 24 trillion security signals analyzed every 24 hours.
• Reduce the risk of data breaches and compliance violations.

Of course, partners are key to giving customers the results that ease their security worries.

Our 2022 Microsoft Security Excellence Awards finalists

A Microsoft cross-functional group decided on this year’s 10 award categories, including 4 categories where MISA members could nominate themselves. We carefully selected these categories to celebrate all the unique ways that MISA members support customers and Microsoft security products. We received hundreds of award nominations and the same panel carefully read each and narrowed the award nominees to three for each category. Microsoft and MISA members then voted on our winners.

Security ISV of the Year

ISVs that are all-around powerhouses, show growth potential and have innovative security solutions that integrate with a MISA-qualifying security product.

• Relativity—Winner
• Tenable
• Vectra

Security MSSP of the Year

MSSPs that are all-around powerhouses with strong integration between Microsoft products and ongoing managed security services that drive the end-to-end Microsoft Security stack to our mutual customers.

• Open Systems—Winner
• BlueVoyant
• Transparity

Security Trailblazer

Partners that are outstanding leaders in accelerating customers’ efforts to mitigate cybersecurity threats and that have developed innovative solutions or services that leverage Microsoft Security products.

• Red Canary—Winner
• Lookout
• Sonrai Security

Compliance and Privacy Trailblazer

Partners that deliver innovative solutions or services and are distinguished leaders in driving holistic or end-to-end Microsoft compliance or privacy strategy with customers.

• Lighthouse—Winner
• Cognni
• Protiviti

Identity Trailblazer

Partners that are leaders in the identity space and have driven identity-related initiatives and delivered innovative solutions or services with Microsoft Azure Active Directory.

• Yubico—Winner
• Illusive
• Wipro

Zero Trust Champion

Partners that are dedicated to supporting customers in their Zero Trust journey and that have demonstrated vital integrations with the Microsoft Zero Trust platform.

• Avanade—Winner
• F5
• Silverfort

Security Software Innovator

ISVs that have developed innovative solutions with disruptive and transformative technology in collaboration with Microsoft that makes work easier for our mutual customers.

• Cloudflare—Winner
• Senserva
• Strata

Security Services Innovator

MSSPs that are exceptional at educating the market on Internet of Things (IoT) and Operational Technology (OT) security-related initiatives and that deliver innovative and transformative security services to customers.

• Optiv—Winner
• DXC Technology
• HCL Technologies

Security Customer Champion

Partners that go above and beyond to drive customer impact and that have a proven track record of customer obsession and success.

• Epiq Global—Winner
• Abnormal Security
• Bulletproof

Security Changemaker

Individuals within partner organizations who have made a remarkable security contribution to the company or to the larger security community.

• Jason Rader, Insight—Winner
• Jeffrey J. Engle, Conquest Cyber
• Meena Rajendran, Tiberium

Excited for another year of MISA success

Congratulations again to all our finalists and winners! Your innovation and your commitment to helping customers be fearless impresses us every day. We can’t wait to see what exciting accomplishments our partners achieve over the next 12 months and hope to see you at next year’s Microsoft Security Excellence Awards!

To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us at @MSFTSecurity for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.

The post Announcing 2022 Microsoft Security Excellence Awards winners appeared first on Microsoft Security Blog.

That renewed optimism can be seen in the continued growth of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) member base—now reaching 275 partners, with 273 product integrations and 243 managed service offerings. We have high expectations for the remainder of this fiscal year, including doubling our membership to roughly 450 as we continue partnering with even more leading-edge cybersecurity firms. We’re also expanding our product portfolio and are excited to announce that two new products for compliance, risk, and privacy are joining the MISA lineup.

Welcoming new compliance, risk, and privacy solutions

Microsoft compliance helps our customers comply with national, regional, and industry-specific requirements governing the collection and use of data. Through MISA, members get support in building managed services and integrations that help them:

• Identify and remediate critical risks within your organization.
• Safeguard sensitive data across clouds, apps, and endpoints.
• Assess compliance and respond to legal and regulatory requirements.

Advanced Audit in Microsoft 365

With Advanced Audit in Microsoft 365, you can conduct forensic and compliance investigations with visibility into user activities across Microsoft 365 services. Using audit log search in the Microsoft 365 compliance center and the Office 365 Management Activity API, Advanced Audit enables audit logs to be retained for up to 10 years, provides access to crucial events that determine the scope of a compromise, and helps with ongoing regulatory, legal, and internal obligations. Customers can specify how long to retain audit records according to a priority level, ensuring that specific policies take priority over others.

“Joining MISA brings our relationship with Microsoft to the next level, enabling seamless integrations for our joint customers using Office 365 and more,” said John Coyle, Vice President Business Development, Sumo Logic. “Our cloud-native integration with Microsoft Office 365’s Advanced Auditing capabilities enables customers to apply Sumo Logic’s powerful Continuous Intelligence Platform and Cloud SIEM, providing clear, detailed trails for rapid investigation of user activity to quickly identify potential breaches and scope of compromise in Microsoft Office 365 data.”

Privacy Management for Microsoft 365

Privacy Management for Microsoft 365 helps companies safeguard personal data and build a privacy resilient workplace by proactively identifying and protecting against privacy risks, such as data hoarding, data transfers, and data oversharing—empowering information workers to make smart data-handling decisions while automating and managing subject requests at scale. Privacy Management is available within the Microsoft 365 compliance center.

With our new Privacy APIs, we’re enabling a broader partner ecosystem to integrate with Privacy Management for Microsoft 365. This integration enables our partners to build solutions that automate the Microsoft 365 portion of subject rights requests. This helps our joint customers ensure that they are compliant with an ever-growing number of regulations across Microsoft 365, as well as non-Microsoft data sources.

“Joining MISA enhances our relationship with Microsoft and our commitment to providing a unified solution for organizations to automate their data security and privacy operations across all their structured and unstructured data systems,” said Vivek Kokkengada, Vice President of Products, Securiti. “Our new integration with Privacy Management for Microsoft 365 using Microsoft’s new Privacy APIs enables our joint customers to automatically fulfill the Microsoft 365 portion of subject rights requests within Privacy Management and ensure compliance with an ever-growing number of privacy regulations globally. Being a MISA member allows us to work closely with the Microsoft teams and stay on the forefront of new strategic integration opportunities to add value to our joint customers.”

Microsoft investing $20 billion in cybersecurity

During the White House Cybersecurity Summit on August 25, 2021, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella shared that the company will quadruple our cybersecurity investments, investing $20 billion to advance our security solutions over the next five years, and $150 million in technical services to help federal, state, and local governments upgrade their security protection. We will also expand partnerships with community colleges and non-profits for cybersecurity training. As many organizations are facing a shortage of cybersecurity professionals, we want to ensure everyone has and uses the protection available today. Watch chairman and president of Microsoft Brad Smith’s video announcement on CNBC.

Lower marketplace fees spur reseller engagement

As software needs rise, customers need to streamline how they buy and deploy software. With more than 30,000 solutions published, the commercial marketplace—Microsoft AppSource and Microsoft Azure Marketplace—is how we connect our customers and partners. To help drive these customer and partner connections, we’ve reduced fees to just 3 percent—down from an industry standard of 20 percent—for every transactable application published in the commercial marketplace. This reduction enables higher margins for partners while simplifying the fee structure.

Independent software vendors (ISVs) with transactable commercial marketplace offers can now set one price for customers and another price for Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners. This allows ISVs to provide margin to their CSP partners, while CSP partners can also resell outside the commercial marketplace. This added flexibility can help create stronger connections among partners while incentivizing ISVs to share margins with resellers, making it more profitable for partners to sell Microsoft commercial marketplace offers.

Unlock this opportunity and gain access to millions of customers by publishing a solution and selling with us.

Securing the future with Zero Trust

The recent string of disastrous ransomware attacks has shown all too clearly that traditional perimeter-based security can’t keep up with the complexity of today’s decentralized workplace.¹ Shadow IT, hybrid work, and the proliferation of endpoints across IoT leave security teams stretched thin. Zero-day vulnerabilities, also known as unknown weaknesses in a network or software, have been implicated in recent attacks where threat actors breached organizations without being detected, giving them ample time to map internal networks, exfiltrate data, and locate additional attack vectors. At least 66 zero-day attacks have been found this year—almost twice the total of the previous year.²

Zero Trust is the essential security strategy for today’s reality. In 2020, the global pandemic compelled nearly every organization to embrace a Zero Trust strategy as employees went remote, virtual private networks (VPNs) were breached or overwhelmed, and digital transformation became critical to organizational sustainability Even the government and businesses worldwide recognized this imperative. In keeping with Section 3 of Executive Order 14028, Microsoft adheres to federal standards for Zero Trust as developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST):

• All resource authentications are dynamic and strictly enforced before allowing access.
• Trust is evaluated before access is granted, and then only with the least privilege needed to complete the task.
• Assets should always act as if an attacker is present on the enterprise network.

At Microsoft, we’ve distilled these tenets into three Zero Trust principles: verify explicitly, use least privileged access, and assume breach. These principles form our strategic guidance toward customers, software development, and our global security posture.

Learn more

To assess your organization’s progress in the Zero Trust journey, use our Zero Trust Assessment tool. If you’d like to learn from our experience, Chief Information Security Officer Bret Arsenault and his team share insights from Microsoft’s Zero Trust journey over at Microsoft Inside Track. Finally, to understand how ISVs can integrate with Microsoft products to create Zero Trust solutions, see our Zero Trust integration guidance.

To learn more about MISA and other new developments, you can view a list of the Microsoft Ignite on-demand sessions here.

To learn more about upcoming big announcements, visit our latest blog posts:

• Protect everything with the most comprehensive approach to security
• How Microsoft is partnering with vendors to provide Zero Trust solutions
• Evolving Zero Trust—Lessons learned and emerging trends
• Expanding Microsoft 365 Privacy Management with API Ecosystem and Extensibility
• Simplifying the complex: Introducing Privacy Management for Microsoft 365

To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us at @MSFTSecurity for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.

¹What’s Driving the Surge in Ransomware Attacks? Matt Stieb, Intelligencer. 7 September 2021.

²2021 has broken the record for zero-day hacking attacks, Patrick Howell O’Neill, MIT Technology Review. 23 September 2021.

The post Discover what’s new and gain technical expertise from MISA at Ignite appeared first on Microsoft Security Blog.

Welcome to fiscal year 2022 (FY22) and my first official blog as the MISA Lead. It’s been a whirlwind couple of months getting up to speed with all things MISA—closing out FY21 while continuing to build on the great foundation my predecessor laid out as I strategize where to go from here. More to come on that, but first let’s take a moment to reflect and celebrate what MISA and our members have accomplished over the past year and take a sneak peek into what’s next.

MISA saw fantastic growth in FY21, having grown to more than 246 member companies, including 176 independent software vendors (ISVs) creating 259 integrations. We expanded to include managed security service providers (MSSPs) and now have 67 MSSP members providing 165 managed service offers. We also expanded the MISA product portfolio to include five new compliance products, increasing our footprint across more Microsoft technologies. And we’re excited to be bringing two more products into our portfolio, which we will discuss a little later in this blog. MISA’s growth is proof of the value we bring in helping customers better defend against increasingly sophisticated threats, and it demonstrates the value Microsoft Security sees in our partner community.

Have you seen the new look and feel of Microsoft Security? No? Yes? Well, be on the lookout—you’ll start to notice that MISA branding will be refreshed to align with the new look of Microsoft Security, emphasizing the strength of integrated solutions for a seamless user experience.

Exciting offer for MISA members

If you missed our last MISA office hours, MISA members can view the recording or the presentation available to the public. MISA members can request exam certification vouchers as part of their member benefits. Vouchers are only redeemable for Security, Compliance, and Identity (SCI) Fundamentals and Advanced Role Based (ARB) exams. MISA members can request vouchers per quarter, totaling four exam requests per Microsoft financial year.

MISA members, please email us for more information. Don’t miss the first quarter request deadline on July 20, 2021.

Bulletproof wins Microsoft Security Partner of the Year Award 2021

We are thrilled to announce that MISA member Bulletproof has been selected as the 2021 Security Partner of the Year. The Security Partner of the Year Award (POTYA) recognizes a partner who is doing an exceptional job of providing customers with end-to-end security solutions (versus one-point solutions) based on Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity capabilities in Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Azure Security. With only one Security category for Partner of the Year, Bulletproof rose to the top among a field of more than 160 entries.

Headquartered in Canada, Bulletproof is an award-winning Gold Microsoft Partner with 12 Gold competencies and was recently inducted to MISA. Additionally, Bulletproof has achieved Microsoft’s Advanced Specialization in Threat Protection. The company has offices across Canada, the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) with users on six continents who trust Bulletproof to secure their identities, networks, data, and devices.

Bulletproof does an exceptional job of fostering trust in a Zero Trust world by providing customers with end-to-end solutions based on Microsoft security and compliance capabilities in Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Azure. Their family of managed services includes Bulletproof 365 Enterprise (B365E), which combines Microsoft 365 Security, the strength of Azure Security, and Bulletproof’s security pedigree to provide a Zero Trust framework with two levels of all-day monitored security vigilance—proactive protection that stops threats before they happen and responsive security that automatically contains threats when they occur.

B365E enables customers to modernize and improve their security posture with cost-effective, seamless, and intelligent managed security and automated threat containment that doesn’t slow productivity. Bulletproof 365 Workplace integrates the power of Microsoft 365 cloud productivity solutions—wrapped with advanced cloud app security, unmatched employee education, and all-day IT support. The company’s latest addition, Bulletproof 365 Compliance, adds a managed information protection service to the company’s offerings.

A key differentiator for Bulletproof is their Microsoft SWAT Team, experts who meet with customers to directly handle questions about the technical details of proposed products and offerings, accelerating each customer’s journey to improved security. Tight alignment with Microsoft recently helped Bulletproof on a competitive win with a global real estate company looking for a best-of-breed solution.

“We’re still pinching ourselves to be perfectly honest,” said Chris Johnston, Bulletproof CEO. “Being recognized with the Security 2021 Microsoft Partner of the Year Award at the global level is an incredible honor that truly validates the significant impact Bulletproof’s end-to-end security solutions are having in driving value (and peace of mind) for Microsoft customers. Thank you, Microsoft, for your ongoing collaboration, inspiration and support, and this exciting and entirely humbling recognition. And to all the 2021 award winners, finalists, and partners at large who enabled and supported customers through the accelerated digital transformation we have seen this past year, we applaud you.”

Listen to the conversation with Chris Johnston, CEO of Bulletproof, and Phil Montgomery the new General Manager, Microsoft Security GTM.

Expanding the MISA product portfolio

We’re excited to share that we’ll be extending Azure Defender for IoT to include our managed security service providers (MSSPs). We’re also welcoming MSSPs supporting Microsoft Defender for Office 365.

Azure Defender for IoT to include MSSPs

Azure Defender for IoT provides agentless asset discovery, vulnerability management, and threat monitoring for IoT and Operation Technology (OT) environments, with flexible deployment options including fully on-premises, cloud-connected, or hybrid. It is tightly integrated with Azure Sentinel and supports third-party security operation center (SOC) tools including Splunk, IBM QRadar, and ServiceNow.

“Operational Technology is integral to many sectors and critical to those that support public services. By leveraging Defender for IoT and integrating it into the Microsoft Security ecosystem, we’re able to provide threat detection across the IT and OT boundaries without interrupting production systems. Bringing OT into the SOC allows work with our customers to protect their existing OT environments and help them embrace the cloud transformation, knowing that the services are secure and managed end-to-end. We are happy that Azure Defender for IoT has been extended to MSSPs in MISA, so we can gain product insights to extend solution capabilities of our managed services.”—Martin Riley, Director, Managed Security Services, Bridewell Consulting

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to include MSSPs

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 provides integrated threat protection for all of Office 365, helping protect customers and their email and collaboration tools against advanced threats like business email compromise and credential phishing. MSSPs’ managed services for Microsoft Defender for Office 365 are now supported in MISA, streamlining the involvement of in-house security teams.

“Limited resources and rapidly evolving threats can create operational gaps for our clients. Optiv managed services provide outcome-based services across the security capabilities built into Microsoft 365 to protect vulnerable attack vectors. Incorporating Microsoft Defender for Office 365 in our solutions helps protect against email compromise, credential phishing, and more, so we can protect our clients’ businesses. We are pleased that Defender for Office 365 has joined the MISA family and look forward to increased visibility and co-marketing opportunities for our managed services.”—Justin Staffel, Director, Microsoft Alliance, Optiv Security, Inc.

Security, compliance, and identity at Microsoft Inspire

Microsoft Inspire kicks off today, and the security team will be there in full force. This year’s event will deliver a cross-cloud narrative embracing five themes:

1. Microsoft cloud enables digital transformation across industries.
2. Drive business growth with the most partner-focused business platform.
3. Evolving Microsoft cloud for a new world of work.
4. Innovate from cloud to edge on your terms.
5. Build a foundation of trust and security.

Security, compliance, identity, and management will be a key focal point of the event highlighted in the “Build on a foundation of trust and security” theme. Throughout the two-day event, we’ll demonstrate how our partners can grow their business by offering comprehensive solutions and earn customers’ trust by partnering with the leading security company.

Security, compliance, identity, and management sessions:

• One theme session.
• Four breakout sessions airing separately in both US and EMEA time zones.
• Eight “Ask the Experts” sessions are accompanied by a corresponding live Q&A session to be delivered immediately following.
• Three on-demand sessions: Each will become available July 14, 2021, at 10 AM following the delivery of the Day one keynote and can be watched at any time during or after the event.

Check out Corporate Vice President (CVP) Vasu Jakkal’s security, compliance, and identity blog to find out more.

Be sure to visit the Microsoft Inspire website and bookmark the following sessions:

Learn more

To learn more about MISA, visit our website where you can find out more about the MISA program, product integrations, and locate MISA members. Visit the video playlist to learn about the strength of member integrations with Microsoft products.

To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us at @MSFTSecurity for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.

The post MISA expands portfolio and looks ahead during Microsoft Inspire appeared first on Microsoft Security Blog.