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Difenda is Recognized as a Top 250 MSSP for the Third Year in a Row 

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Difenda is a top 100 MSSP on the Top 250 MSSPs 2023 list by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance resource.

In the fast-paced world of cybersecurity, consistency is key. For the third consecutive year, Difenda has proven its unwavering dedication to excellence in managed security services. Proven by securing a coveted Top 100 MSSP ranking in the prestigious MSSP Alert list for 2023. The seventh annual list reveals leading MSSP, MDR and MSP security companies expect strong revenue growth in 2023 vs. 2022. This remarkable achievement not only highlights Difenda’s commitment to safeguarding its clients but underscores its continuous innovation in the field. 

As we continue to accelerate growth, Difenda continues to fulfill our mission: to provide the technology, expertise, and support needed to create a secure, resilient, and evolving security environment. Our team of dedicated experts continues to work relentlessly, crafting innovative solutions that consistently outpace the ever-evolving cyber landscape. 

“Being recognized as one of the top 100 MSSPs by MSSP Alerts is a testament to our team’s relentless commitment to cybersecurity excellence. At Difenda, we don’t just help with operationalizing security, we meet our customers wherever they are on their cybersecurity journey. With our cybersecurity-first, Microsoft-only approach, we protect trust, innovation, and peace of mind for our customers. This recognition fuels our determination to continue innovating and delivering world-class security solutions that empower our clients to thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape.” 
Derek Nugent is the VP of Revenue at Difenda.

Derek Nugent

VP of Revenue and Business Strategy, Difenda

How We Became a Top 100 MSSP 

Over the past year, Difenda has been working to expand the horizons of what’s possible in the cybersecurity space. Some notable accomplishments include:   

  • Difenda won the 2023 Microsoft Security Impact Award for cybersecurity expertise and alignment with Microsoft Security tools.
  • We consistently deliver tangible benefits, like a 70% alert reduction for the City of Brampton. Watch us in action here. 
  • Difenda is the first Microsoft MSSP with 9 offers on the Azure Marketplace, catering to various cybersecurity needs.
  • We earned Microsoft MXDR Verified Solution Status. This verification proves our abilities to closely integrate Microsoft 365 Defender, Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Sentinel with 24/7/365 advanced threat hunting and detection for a unified SecOps stack.
  • After years of hearing customers struggle with deploying everything their Microsoft Security licenses have to offer, Difenda now offers professional services. These services help customers customize their technology design, optimize their product deployment and maximize their Microsoft Security Licensing. 
  • With the Build Partner Program, we doubled our partner network, providing more value to our customers. Expanding Difenda’s offering through partner channels allows us to continuously meet the needs of customers’ evolving security requirements. 

Our Stellar Team: The Heart of Difenda’s Success 

At the core of our achievements lies the relentless dedication of our team of experts. They are the driving force behind our mission to create innovative services that consistently outpace the ever-changing cyber landscape. Here’s a glimpse into what makes our team truly exceptional: 

  • Passion for Cybersecurity: Our experts are not just professionals; they are passionate advocates for cybersecurity. Their commitment to safeguarding your digital assets knows no bounds. 
  • Continuous Innovation: In a world where cyber threats evolve daily, our team is tireless in their pursuit of innovation. They stay ahead of the curve, developing cutting-edge solutions to protect you from the latest threats. 
  • Proactive Vigilance: Our experts work unremittingly to maintain proactive vigilance over your digital infrastructure. They don’t just monitor for threats; they relentlessly defend your network as if it were our own.

MSSP Alert Top 250 Managed Security Services Providers

The annual MSSP Alert list, featuring the world’s top 250 MSSPs, has become a benchmark for excellence in the managed security services industry. It’s a comprehensive analysis that evaluates MSSPs based on a range of criteria, including but not limited to cybersecurity expertise, customer satisfaction, innovation and comprehensive service offerings.

The Top 250 MSSPs honorees were announced in a live webcast on September 14.

About Difenda

Difenda is a Sec-Ops-As-A-Service company that takes a cybersecurity-first, Microsoft-only approach to solving today’s toughest cybersecurity challenges. As the winner of Microsoft Canada’s Security Impact Award, Difenda stands as the most trusted provider of Microsoft Security services. Our security operations team creates custom cybersecurity services, powered exclusively by Microsoft’s Security product platform for 24/7/365 coverage. Only Difenda delivers true end-to-end security operations through professional and managed services focused on cybersecurity for where you are on your journey.  

About CyberRisk Alliance     

CyberRisk Alliance (CRA) is a business intelligence company serving the high growth, rapidly evolving cybersecurity community with a diversified portfolio of services that inform, educate, build community, and inspire an efficient marketplace. Our trusted information leverages a unique network of journalists, analysts and influencers, policymakers, and practitioners. CRA’s brands include SC Media, SecurityWeekly, ChannelE2E, MSSP Alert, InfoSec World, Identiverse, Cybersecurity Collaboration Forum, its research unit CRA Business Intelligence, and the peer-to-peer CISO membership network, Cybersecurity Collaborative. Click here to learn more. 

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Ken Perkins

Biography coming soon.

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Megan Miller

Megan Miller’s energy and passion for learning flow into all aspects of her work. As the Growth Manager, North America, she brings a background in sciences which she has transitioned to the tech sector in her role at Difenda.

With a Bachelors of Science in Geology, Megan is a lifelong learner who is voracious about learning anything she can get her hands on about cybersecurity. Her positive energy has built a sales strategy with a focus on expanding in the United States while nurturing the Canadian presence. She is responsible for recruiting and training the sales team. Together with the company’s leadership, she creates the sales process and the company’s product strategy in order to better serve the customer base. This ensures that our customers have a highly trained and highly motivated team to help them every step of the way, Megan has completed Microsoft SC-900 training and working towards mastering Microsoft.

Whether at work or play, Megan is fully committed. She took her love of hockey all the way to the semi-professional level as a competitive hockey player. Megan loves all things sports including water skiing, scuba diving, cycling, and snowboarding. She also enjoys time with family and reading about alternative energy, innovation, and cybersecurity.

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Natasha Phanor

As the Microsoft Partner Manager at Difenda, Natasha Phanor is responsible for driving growth within our Microsoft Partnership. With six years in the industry, she offers a fresh, energetic approach, and the ability to focus on our customer’s needs throughout the entire process. Natasha has the innate ability to foresee customer needs and solve problems before they arise, which creates a smooth road for each customer she encounters.

As the recipient of the Outstanding Services Partner of the Year Award in 2018, it is clear that Natasha responds quickly to customer needs, creates a platform for understanding a customer’s business requirements, and walks them through the process to ensure their complete satisfaction.

In her spare time, Natasha is as energetic and passionate as she is on the job. A self-proclaimed foodie-extraordinaire, she enjoys dinner parties, traveling, downhill skiing, hiking, biking, and reading. Natasha has a Bachelor of Fine Arts, specializing in Dance, from Ryerson University.

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Lisa Templeton

Lisa Templeton is the perfect combination of human empathy and technological prowess. In her role as People Services Manager, she takes care of our team members to support them in their daily work, as well as on their personal life paths. Happy employees make for happy customers, and Lisa excels in giving our employees the tools they need for success in order to become the best possible versions of themselves. Along with employee formation, she shines in the service delivery support domain to continuously improve the process. Her 24 years of experience in IT Operations and Service Management help her create quality and efficiency at Difenda.

Having attended the Information Systems Management certificate program at Ryerson University, and with various other certifications to her credit, Lisa is perceptive and innovative when it comes to information technology, but also sensitive to the needs of her human constituents. Responsible for achieving the first privately owned company HDI Support Center certification in Canada, she has also designed and implemented Service Management excellence programs and 24×7 IT Operations departments for multiple IT organizations, and has created corporate rewards and recognition programs to keep her employees engaged and motivated.

On the personal side, Lisa passionately supports the cause of breast cancer research, having lost her mother to the disease. She reads voraciously in her spare time, and enjoys the art of home renovation. The summer months also bring time on her boat and exploring new hiking trails.

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Miranda McCurdy

Miranda McCurdy uses her myriad super powers in all aspects of her job and personal life. As the Marketing Director at Difenda, Miranda McCurdy brings over a decade of experience to the table, which includes expertise in all facets of operations, brand management, and content marketing, as well as a multitude of successful strategies for the ever-expanding digital world. She is an expert at simplifying the message the company is trying to send, filling in gaps in the information, and strengthening the content in order to create compelling narratives that strengthen the brand and developing programs that bring teams together.

With several Addy Awards issued by the American Advertising Federation Cleveland to her credit, and her never say die attitude, Miranda understands both the broader picture and the minute details that are needed to successfully market a product. With her abilities to harness both the talent needed to spread the message, as well as to create the message itself, she is an integral cog in the company’s ability to communicate with customers and other stakeholders.

When she is not building a brand, she shares her ability to fill the gaps in her community by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics, and the Charleston Food Bank. In her spare time, Miranda spends time with her family, enjoys fitness and health, paddle boarding, reading, and arts and crafts.

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Juliana Zaremba

Connections are the name of the game for Juliana Zaremba. As Strategic Partnerships Director, she is responsible for Difenda’s channel partnerships and the development and ownership of the channel partner program. She is also responsible for the global Microsoft Partnership, including the creation of strategic plans with MSFT contacts that will facilitate the continued growth of the business and establish certification and training protocols in all security technologies. Her role is multifaceted, as she acquires partners, manages relationships with them, and develops strategies that will provide cutting edge security solutions to our customer base. Another integral aspect of her job is to facilitate growth.

With a Bachelor’s in Math from the University of Waterloo and 14 years of experience from her previous roles at Herjavec Group and CDW, her cutting edge focus and ability to develop long-lasting relationships and strategies provides world class security solutions to our customer base.

Juliana thrives on connections outside of work as well. She is a philanthropist and contributor with Women4Change based in Hamilton. This group of local women is passionate about supporting local causes, and she focuses her efforts around Women in STEM. She is also a member of Club Italia in Niagara Falls and supports their youth events throughout the year.

When not managing the Microsoft Global partnership, Juliana enjoys reading, often reading several books at once. Juliana enjoys exploring the Niagara Escarpment with her family, as well as sharing meals and experiences with her extended family. Juliana’s competitive nature has her always trying new things, like Whoop band challenges and Peloton.

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Jeffry Jacob

Biography Coming Soon

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