Performanta’s Marcus Burnap recognised by Microsoft as an MVP of Security Copilot and SIEM+XDR

January 2025. Maidenhead, UK: Global cybersecurity firm Performanta is proud to announce that Marcus Burnap, Principal Microsoft Security Consultant, has been recognised as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for Security Copilot and SIEM+XDR.  

This recognition celebrates Burnap’s outstanding contributions in the fields of cybersecurity, his innovative approach to security automation and community leadership in driving meaningful change in the sector. 

As the partnership between Performanta and Microsoft grows, Burnap joins two other Microsoft Security MVPs from Performanta, as the organisation continues to take strides in helping the industry pursue cyber safety. Marcus' work with Security Copilot, SIEM+XDR (Security Information and Event Management) + (Extended Detection and Response), and other Microsoft security solutions has led to several initiatives across the business, primarily through the Safe XDR platform. His efforts have helped to improved incident response times, developed more secure systems, and provided valuable feedback to Microsoft. “I’m honoured to receive the Microsoft MVP recognition. It’s a true celebration of the collaborative efforts we’ve put in place here at Performanta, and the dedication our team shows towards advancing cyber safety,” said Burnap.  

He continues, “Being part of the Microsoft Security MVP program gives me the unique opportunity to contribute to the development of tools that are critical to improving security for businesses worldwide. More than that, it provides further opportunity to engage and share with the cybersecurity community at large, creating a united front toward a safer digital environment for businesses and individuals.” 

Microsoft MVPs are selected based on their technical expertise, leadership and proactive involvement in expanding the broader cybersecurity community. The selection process is rigorous, with nominees put through a careful evaluation by Microsoft, and the recognition is granted only to those who demonstrate exceptional contributions. 

Guy Golan, Founder and Executive Chairman of Performanta said: “We are incredibly proud of Marcus and his well-deserved MVP recognition. His expertise in Security Copilot and SIEM+XDR plays a crucial role in both Performanta’s growth and our partnership with Microsoft. This accolade underscores the world-class calibre of professionals we have here at Performanta, as we continue to provide our clients with cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions at a time when digital threats are so prolific.” 

As Principal Microsoft Security Consultant, Burnap plays a leading role in leveraging Microsoft Security tooling and Safe XDR to revolutionise the way organisations respond to cyber incidents. His practical expertise and deep understanding of security solutions has led to significant improvements in incident response time, reducing it from days to mere minutes.  

Marcus is a frequent community commentator; he has recently shared his expertise with communities across industry events like Microsoft Ignite 2024 whilst representing Performanta on behalf of MISA (Microsoft Intelligence Security Association) team Burnap’s work with Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender XDR and Security Copilot continues to set the bar for practical cyber safety efforts. He is known for his ability to provide real-time feedback to Microsoft on product functionality and innovational thinking helping the company improve its solutions to better serve organisations and end-users.  

For more information visit www.performanta.com.   

About Performanta 

Performanta was founded in 2010 and has over 170 staff worldwide, including former CIOs/CISOs from large enterprises. It has a global footprint with a team of 80 analysts working in two SOCs, helping to secure customers across 50 countries, from offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, South Africa, and the USA.    

Performanta offers a consultative approach to people, processes, and technology, focusing on security projects in line with adversarial, accidental and environmental business risk. With a holistic cybersecurity view, they understand the modus operandi of a perpetrator and accordingly build an intelligent defence mechanism to make customer environments less susceptible to attacks.