The Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) has grown to include 67 MSSP members that support 165 managed security services offers, Microsoft says.
MISA is an independent ecosystem of software vendors, MSSPs and MDR (managed detection and response) security service providers that have integrated their solutions to better defend partners and customers from cyberattacks, Microsoft says.
The overall MISA organization, now led by Maria Thomson, spans 246 member companies -- up from 133 in 2021 and 57 in 2020, Thomson disclosed in a July 2021 blog. The current count includes 176 independent software vendors (ISVs) creating 259 integrations.
Moreover, Microsoft has expanded the MISA product portfolio to support additional products and services. Recent moves include adding Azure Defender for IoT and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to include MSSPs, Thomson wrote.
Microsoft, Cloud Rivals Make Cybersecurity Moves
MISA's ongoing expansion comes as Microsoft works with the U.S. federal government to mitigate cloud and on-premises security risks worldwide.
For instance, the CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) in August 2021 partnered with Microsoft, Amazon, Google and other technology firms to launch the JCDC (Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative).
The new JCDC agency will initially focus on combating ransomware and cyberattacks on cloud-computing providers, said CISA Director Jen Easterly, according to The Wall Street Journal.
MSSPs Inspect AWS re:Inforce Security Conference
Meanwhile, some of Microsoft's chief rivals are also building MSSP partnerships. For instance, major MSSPs lined up to attend the AWS re:Inforce security conference in 2019. The 2020 event was canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic. AWS re:Inforce 2021 is set for Houston, Texas, in late August. We'll be watching to see if the event generates MSSP partner buzz.
