Is your business a Microsoft shop? Or an organization that’s made extensive investments in Microsoft solutions and is trying to get more value from the Microsoft ecosystem? If so, it makes sense to choose partners with demonstrated expertise in the Microsoft security technology stack.

This way, you can be confident that your Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) will have deep, broad, and current knowledge of the security solutions that Microsoft offers, how they work together, and how they can best be integrated into your environment. Any member of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) will have already proven that they have the required expertise.

Why Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) Membership Matters

MISA brings together industry-leading independent software vendors (ISVs) and MSSPs that have integrated their solutions with the Microsoft security technology ecosystem. Launched in 2018 with just 26 members, MISA is a vibrant and fast-growing community that now includes more than 300 members.

MISA membership brings numerous business and technical benefits, including access to dedicated support, technical workshops, and upcoming product roadmaps. It also ensures that a provider can deliver best-in-class support to any of its customers who rely on Microsoft security products. Microsoft’s security portfolio is extremely broad, encompassing more than 50 product categories across the Security, Identity, Management, Compliance, and Privacy domains.

All MISA members must be nominated by Microsoft to join, undergoing a rigorous selection process that ensures they possess extensive experience, relevant specializations, and a strong partnership with Microsoft.

When you partner with a MISA member, you know you’ve chosen a company whose understanding of the Microsoft ecosystem is second only to Microsoft itself.

What Makes a MISA Member Stand Out?

Every MISA member must be nominated by Microsoft, ensuring they offer best-in-class products and services to their customers.

In addition, all MISA members must meet other specific criteria including:

• Must hold a Security Designation in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program. This means that the partner has experience bringing innovative Microsoft Cloud and AI solutions to its customers, alongside training and expertise in securing these solutions.

• Hold Security Specializations. These demonstrate advanced expertise in key areas such as cloud security, identity and access management (IAM), information protection and governance, and threat protection. Kudelski Security currently holds the Threat Protection Specialization.

• Three or more Customer References. These references must demonstrate the impact of the managed service(s) the partner provides.

• Have published a MISA-qualifying service in the Microsoft Commercial Marketplace. Such service offerings should include two or more MISA-qualifying Microsoft Security products.

Why Partnering with a MISA Member Makes a Difference

MISA members have the opportunity to build strong, long-lasting relationships with Microsoft subject matter experts, engineers, and product team members. They benefit from valuable resources, including a dedicated Teams channel for direct communication and inquiries. Additionally, members enjoy access to early previews of upcoming features and the chance to influence feature development through private previews and focus groups. This helps them broaden and deepen their teams’ Microsoft product knowledge so that they can give their customers top-notch service and support.

Members of MISA also get early access to Microsoft product roadmaps, keeping them abreast of the very latest developments in the Microsoft ecosystem. Having these insights empowers them to help their customers proactively plan to take full advantage of new features and advancing product capabilities. It also means they can keep their customers informed about what’s coming next.

MISA membership is an ongoing process that requires a commitment on the member’s part to remain current on the latest developments in the Microsoft Security ecosystem and to continue building integrations with Microsoft Security products. This keeps MISA members on their toes, ensuring that their customers will continue to benefit from an active partnership designed to expand access to cyber resilience for an ever-expanding number of customers with diverse networks and unique security needs.

How Kudelski Security’s MISA Membership Benefits Your Business

Kudelski Security has been a MISA member for over two years, and we’re already experiencing tangible benefits from the program—benefits that we pass on to our clients.

We were recently engaged by an internationally recognized consumer brand to help them deploy, manage, and operate a Microsoft Security Solution portfolio that included Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE). The client needed a partner who could support their daily operations and help them meet their data governance and compliance objectives. Our MISA membership demonstrated our extensive experience with the Microsoft Security ecosystem—as well as our up-to-the-minute knowledge of the latest product developments. This is exactly what this organization needed in a managed detection and response (MDR) provider.

MISA members have proven their extensive knowledge of and commitment to the Microsoft Security product ecosystem. If your organization depends on Microsoft products in order to operate, innovate, or achieve its business objectives, it makes good sense to choose a security partner with the best possible understanding of Microsoft’s ever-expanding security capabilities. In a world full of dynamic cyber threats and always-on digital business, it’s simply too risky to settle for less.

Ready to strengthen your cybersecurity with a trusted Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) member? Discover how Kudelski Security’s expertise and tailored solutions can protect your business and help you unlock the full potential of Microsoft Security tools.

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