Microsoft recognized the outstanding contributions from Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) members and announced the winners of the fourth annual Microsoft Security Excellence Awards on April 24, 2023.
MISA comprises a group of Microsoft executives and experts in their respective fields, as well as independent software vendors (ISVs) and managed security service providers (MSSPs). They work together to provide protection to organizations globally from the ever-growing threat landscape. Given the wide-ranging nature of the security industry, the coalition’s partners play a critical role in demonstrating their resilience and excellence in delivering integrated and comprehensive security solutions that work in conjunction with Microsoft Security technology.
Acknowledging the importance of both technology and human effort in building a safe and secure future, MISA awarded distinguished individuals and companies for their contributions in 11 different categories. The diverse range of accolades highlights the significant roles played by MISA members. The voting for the winners was carried out by the members of both Microsoft and MISA.
Microsoft Security Excellence Awards 2023
Category 1: Security Trailblazer
The “Security Trailblazer” award recognizes partners who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in delivering innovative security solutions or services, making use of the complete suite of Microsoft security products.
Winner: Ascent Solutions
Ascent provides Managed Security Services that guarantee secure, compliant, and predictable technology solutions. Their tailored services are delivered by experts, advisors, and dedicated account managers, ensuring the best-in-class security operations. Customers can rely on Ascent’s cybersecurity and Microsoft expertise to equip their firms with the right technology and talent to manage their solutions.
Category 2: Compliance and Privacy Trailblazer
The “Compliance and Privacy Trailblazer” award recognizes partners who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in delivering innovative solutions or services that drive holistic or end-to-end compliance or privacy strategy using Microsoft technology for their customers.
Winner: Protiviti
Protiviti is a global consulting firm that offers expertise in various areas, including technology, analytics, risk, compliance, and internal audit. Its tailored solutions help leaders tackle critical business problems with confidence and seize new opportunities for growth and profitability while minimizing risks.
Category 3: Identity Trailblazer
The “Identity Trailblazer” award is given to partners who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the identity space, driving initiatives and delivering innovative solutions or services that leverage Microsoft Azure Active Directory.
Winner: EY
EY’s purpose is to build a better working world by providing quality services that build trust and confidence in capital markets and economies globally. They develop outstanding leaders who deliver on their promises to stakeholders and solve pressing challenges for clients, such as data piracy, cash-flow crises, and data analytics for medical treatments among others.
Category 4: Zero Trust Champion
The “Zero Trust Champion” award recognizes partners who have demonstrated a strong commitment to helping customers on their Zero Trust journey and have showcased vital integrations with the Microsoft Zero Trust platform.
Winner: Silverfort
Silverfort offers a Unified Identity Protection Platform that provides security controls across corporate networks and cloud environments to prevent identity-based attacks. Its innovative technology integrates seamlessly with existing IAM solutions to extend their coverage to assets that were previously unprotected. Silverfort continuously monitors user and service account access, analyzes risk in real-time using AI, enforces adaptive authentication and access policies.
Category 5: Security Software Innovator
The “Security Software Innovator” award is given to independent software vendors (ISVs) who have developed innovative solutions in collaboration with Microsoft, leveraging disruptive and transformative technology to simplify work for mutual customers.
Winner: Relativity
Relativity values clear and concise communication, outstanding customer support, efficiency, and embracing diversity. They strive to be a company where everyone feels supported and empowered to share their unique perspective, both in and out of the workplace.
Category 6: Security Services Innovator
The “Security Services Innovator” award is given to managed security service providers (MSSPs) who have demonstrated excellence in educating the market on security risks, driving holistic end-to-end managed extended detection and response (MXDR) security strategy with customers using Microsoft Security products, and delivering innovative and transformative security services to customers.
Winner: Ontinue
Ontinue is the MDR division of Open Systems that provides 24/7 security services and aims to be the most trusted security partner for customers. Their cloud-delivered SecOps platform offers AI-driven automation, human expertise, and the Microsoft security platform to provide superior protection beyond basic detection and response services.
Category 7: Security Customer Champion
The “Security Customer Champion” award recognizes partners who have gone above and beyond to drive customer impact and have demonstrated a proven track record of customer obsession and success.
Winner: Vectra
Vectra is an AI-driven threat detection and response leader that helps organizations detect, prioritize, investigate, and respond to cyber threats early in the attack progression. They prioritize customers and conduct business with integrity to build trust and ensure customer success.
Category 8: Security Changemaker
The “Security Changemaker” award recognizes individuals within partner organizations who have made remarkable security contributions to the company or the larger security community.
Winner: Katie Nickels, Red Canary
Katie Nickels is the Director of Intelligence Operations at Red Canary, where she leads a team of intelligence analysts and is responsible for developing and delivering threat intelligence products and services. She is also a certified instructor for the SANS Institute, teaching courses on threat intelligence and incident response.
Category 9: Diversity in Security
The “Diversity in Security” award recognizes partners that have demonstrated a significant commitment to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion to better serve security customers and foster change in the industry.
Winner: Lighthouse
The company has demonstrated a strong commitment to creating an inclusive workplace, promoting diversity and equity within the security industry, and driving change in the industry.
Category 10: Security ISV of the Year
The “Security ISV of the Year” award recognizes ISVs that are all-around powerhouses, showing growth potential and offering innovative security solutions that integrate with a MISA-qualifying security product.
Winner: Adobe
Adobe is the frontrunner in providing digital media and marketing solutions. Its solutions for creativity, marketing, and documentation enable individuals ranging from novices to major companies to convert their digital ideas into reality and create engaging and immersive experiences tailored to the right audience at the optimal moment for optimal results.
Category 11: Security MSSP of the Year
The “Security MSSP of the Year” award recognizes 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 mutual customers.
Winner: BlueVoyant
BlueVoyant was established in 2017 with the aim of addressing the most urgent cybersecurity issues confronting businesses and government entities. The company draws on years of expertise in constructing cyber defense capabilities for some of the world’s most vital and secure organizations.
Read next: 10 key cybersecurity mergers and acquisitions in 2022-23
