Seattle - July 16, 2020

Avanade, a leading digital innovator on the Microsoft ecosystem, today announced that it has joined the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), an ecosystem of independent software vendors and managed security service providers that have integrated with Microsoft Security to better defend against a world of increasing cybersecurity threats.

Microsoft launched MISA to enable partners to share insights and drive more integrated strategies and solutions to help their clients to predict, detect and respond to security threats faster. Membership is by invitation only, with Microsoft reaching out to a select core group of managed security service providers from across the cybersecurity industry to be part of the MSSP pilot. Each member brings their own unique expertise.

“The significant rise in remote working over the past few months is just one example of how organisations are continually needing to defend an ever-increasing attack surface,” says Chris Miller, Global Security Lead, Avanade. “As we continue to help our clients around the world respond, reset and renew to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re delighted to be invited to join this core group of security specialists, tightly integrating with Microsoft to combat the unabating tide of malicious threats.”

Ryan McGee, Director of Microsoft Security Product Marketing, Microsoft Corp. said, “Customers need to be confident that their sensitive data, employees’ identities, applications, infrastructure, and endpoints are secure. We’ve invested in the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association to provide customers with more options to meet their unique security requirements.”

Avanade’s security practice works with global clients to assess, identify and mitigate threats, bringing top security talent, innovative technologies, and security-as-a-service operating models, that help them rapidly achieve operational resilience. One way in which it does this is through Microsoft Azure Sentinel—a modern security information event management (SIEM) and security orchestration automated response (SOAR) which cover the entire Microsoft platform and extended security ecosystem covering modern workplace, digital platforms and cloud. Azure Sentinel delivers intelligent security analytics and threat intelligence across the enterprise, providing a single solution for alert detection, threat visibility, proactive hunting and threat response.

In March 2020, Avanade was recognised as Microsoft security 20/20 partner in the Security Advisory category. In July 2020, Avanade and Accenture were also named the Microsoft 2020 Global Alliance SI partner of the year for the 15th time, more than any other partner.