Microsoft has decided it’s time to dip its big toe in the Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) space with three brand new products, Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting, Microsoft Defender Experts for XDR , and Microsoft Security Services for Enterprise.
An original naming scheme, eh?
Anyways, details are relatively scarce regarding what exactly this all entails but Microsoft has given some details, including the price per seat.
Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting – $3 per seat
Hunting looks to be built for businesses that have a SOC but are looking for an expert touch. Hunters will specifically search for security threats to a customer’s environment.
Hunters will scan info pulled from Microsoft Defender, endpoints, Office 365, and various other cloud apps and identity solutions. After analyzing that data they’ll ideally be able to identify any threat they find and offer instructions on how the client can remediate it.
Microsoft Defender Experts for XDR – $14 per seat
Another product for a business with a SOC but this moves beyond endpoints and the other items listed above. XDR will offer a mix of automation and human-led attention for people in the market for an extended detection and response solution.
Microsoft Security Services for Enterprise – $TBA
The last offering is directed toward large organizations and enterprises. It includes things like the threat hunting and managed XDR services mentioned above as well as some more expanded services (ex. SIEM, etc). Pricing is available through a custom scope of work.
Microsoft’s Plan for Cybersecurity
According to a recent article from CNBC (read it here: https://apple.news/AacyK5DLeQP6WgZLwpnv4DQ) Microsoft is already a $15 billion a year business for Microsoft. It spends about $1 billion annually in research and development and is looking to expand that by an additional $3 billion.
It looks like they’re serious about getting into the space.
They’re not the only big company looking to expand in the vertical. Google also holds cybersecurity aspirations and has demonstrated them via some recent high-end acquisitions.
Should Microsoft be TRUSTED in the Cybersecurity Space?
That’s the $4 billion dollar question, isn’t it? Any way you look at it, the way we do business in today’s world, at least digitally, is a direct result of Microsoft’s actions. Their products have enabled INCREDIBLE things to be developed. Their decisions have also enabled bad actors to do pretty AWFUL things to people as well.
Microsoft, in a sense, has merely been walking down the path they paved to Hell with their good intentions (or business decisions), and now trying to build a wall behind them as they go. They’re effectively monetizing the flaws in their own products, rather than fixing the product or developing a product without said flaws, to begin with.
Trusting Microsoft for all of this, from OS to Managed Services, isn’t it a bit like trusting a fox to guard the henhouse? We think so. Maybe you will too.
This story is ongoing and we’re looking to have further conversations regarding the topic. We’re interested in hearing what you have to think in the comments section below.
