Microsoft Intelligent Security Association welcomes members of the Microsoft Virus Initiative

As we head into our annual partner conference, Microsoft Inspire, I’m excited to make a major announcement! The Microsoft Virus Initiative (MVI) is formally joining the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA).

For more than 20 years, Microsoft and our antimalware partners have collaborated through MVI to help develop integrated and compatible solutions for Windows. MISA was created as an ecosystem of independent software vendors that have integrated their security solutions to help defend against a world of increasing threats. Our mission is to provide better security for our shared customers by integrating across the security ecosystem to gain more signals, increase visibility, and better protect against threats. That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome members of MVI!

Stopping malware at scale with the power of the cloud

Antivirus and antimalware products have long been the backbone of security solutions. As modern security products evolve, more antimalware providers are taking advantage of the power of the cloud, transforming how we protect, detect, and respond to threats at scale. Antimalware products play a key role in achieving our shared vision of collaboration that reduces security complexity and delivers better protection to customers.

By joining MISA, Microsoft’s antimalware partners will help break down silos and help customers realize the benefit of using solutions from multiple vendors in harmony. This is done by connecting the security ecosystem to gain more signal, increase visibility, and protect against threats.

At the annual MVI Partner Forum in Redmond, Washington, Microsoft reiterated that we’re investing heavily in both security and partnerships throughout the upcoming fiscal year. This includes expanding the size of the association and adding additional member benefits.

As a security provider to 95 percent of the Fortune 500, our customers are diverse and have different needs and configurations. In 2018, we created MISA to build an ecosystem of intelligent security solutions that better defend against a world of increased threats by sharing security signals across the Microsoft security stack. Since its launch, the organization has more than doubled, and we now have 59 members. Most recently, as part of Microsoft’s participation in the FIDO alliance, we welcomed new FIDO2 security key partners Feitian and HID Global. You can read more about these partnerships in this recent blog.

Security ISVs interested in joining MISA can get started by building an integration with of the Microsoft security products included in MISA.