Ontinue: AI-Powered Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR)
Ontinue provides AI-powered managed extended detection and response (MXDR) exclusively for Microsoft Security customers to achieve 24/7 proactive protection.
Overview
Ontinue is a leading provider of AI-powered Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) services, specifically designed for organizations that have standardized on the Microsoft Security portfolio. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, with a global presence, Ontinue was formed to address the increasing complexity of the threat landscape and the persistent shortage of cybersecurity talent. The company focuses on delivering 24/7 security operations, threat hunting, and incident response, all underpinned by a proprietary AI platform known as ION.
Ontinue serves a diverse range of mid-market and enterprise clients across industries such as financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services. Their primary mission is to provide "Non-Stop Protection," ensuring that customers can realize the full potential of their Microsoft investment while significantly reducing their operational risk. The company has established a strong market presence as a Microsoft-only specialist, earning numerous accolades within the Microsoft partner ecosystem, including the Microsoft Security Services Partner of the Year. By combining deep human expertise with advanced automation, Ontinue helps organizations move from a reactive security posture to a proactive, resilient one, focusing on measurable outcomes like reduced dwell time and improved security maturity.
Positioning
Ontinue positions itself as the premier "Microsoft-Specialized" MXDR provider, strategically distancing itself from generalist security vendors. Their market positioning is built on three core pillars: Specialization, Collaboration, and Automation. By focusing exclusively on Microsoft, they target organizations that want to consolidate their security spend and require a partner who understands the intricacies of the Microsoft ecosystem better than anyone else.
Their messaging emphasizes "The Power of One"—one partner, one platform, and one integrated team. This resonates with CISOs who are tired of managing multiple disconnected security tools and vendors. Ontinue differentiates from traditional MSSPs by highlighting their transparent, real-time collaboration via Microsoft Teams, positioning themselves as a modern, agile partner rather than a "black box" service. In a crowded MXDR market, Ontinue wins by proving they can lower the total cost of ownership (TCO) of security operations while simultaneously increasing efficacy through their AI-driven ION platform. They position their service not just as a defensive measure, but as a strategic enabler that allows internal IT teams to focus on digital transformation rather than chasing false positives.
Differentiation
The flagship offering, Ontinue ION, is a Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) service that is purpose-built to maximize the value of the Microsoft Security stack (Sentinel, Defender, and Azure). The primary technical advantage is the ION platform’s proprietary AI and automation engine, which significantly accelerates incident validation and response. While many competitors use basic automation, ION utilizes advanced data science to understand a customer’s specific environment, allowing it to filter out noise and automate up to 80% of routine SOC tasks.
A standout feature is the integration with Microsoft Teams. Ontinue has pioneered a "Collaboration-First" interface, allowing real-time communication between Ontinue’s SOC and the client’s IT staff directly within Teams. This eliminates the friction of traditional ticketing portals and ensures rapid decision-making during critical incidents. Furthermore, Ontinue provides specialized "Cyber Resilience" capabilities, which include proactive configuration audits and threat hunting that go beyond simple monitoring. By leveraging localized data insights, the product can tailor its detection logic to the specific industry and risk profile of each client, providing a bespoke security experience at scale.
Ideal Customer Profile
The ideal Ontinue customer is a mid-to-large enterprise (500 to 10,000+ employees) that has standardized on the Microsoft security ecosystem. They typically operate in regulated industries like finance, healthcare, or manufacturing where 24/7 uptime and data integrity are critical. This customer has likely invested in Microsoft E5 licenses but lacks the internal headcount or specialized expertise to manage a 24/7 SOC. They value 'partnership' over 'outsourcing' and prefer a collaborative security model that integrates directly into their existing communication tools like Microsoft Teams. High technical maturity in the cloud is a plus, but Ontinue is also well-suited for organizations currently undergoing a digital transformation to Azure.
Best Fit
- Microsoft-Centric Organizations: Companies heavily invested in the Microsoft 365 and Azure security stacks (Sentinel and Defender) looking to maximize their ROI.
- Resource-Constrained IT Teams: Organizations that lack the 24/7 staffing required for a mature Security Operations Center (SOC) but need enterprise-grade protection.
- Efficiency-Driven Enterprises: Businesses looking for 'Managed Extended Detection and Response' (MXDR) that prioritizes high-fidelity alerts over high-volume noise, reducing 'alert fatigue' for internal staff.
- Fast-Scaling Mid-Market to Enterprise: Companies that need to mature their security posture quickly without the overhead of building an in-house SOC from scratch.
Offerings
- Ontinue ION MXDR: The flagship managed service offering 24/7 detection, response, and recovery, powered by the ION AI platform.
- Ontinue ION Managed Sentinel: A specialized service focused on the health, performance, and optimization of the Microsoft Sentinel SIEM.
- Proactive Posture Management: An integrated component of ION that identifies vulnerabilities and misconfigurations before they are exploited.
- Incident Response (IR) Retainer: Add-on services for deep forensic investigation and emergency response for major breaches.
- Cyber Advisory Services: Strategic consulting to align security operations with business goals and compliance frameworks.
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Introduction
Welcome to the Comprehensive Buying Guide for Ontinue. As the cybersecurity landscape shifts from simple detection to complex response, many organizations find themselves 'alert rich' but 'insight poor.' Ontinue specializes in Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) specifically tailored for the Microsoft security ecosystem.
This guide is designed for IT leaders and CISOs who are evaluating how to bridge the gap between their current Microsoft security licensing and a fully operational, 24/7 Security Operations Center. You will learn about Ontinue’s unique ION platform, which leverages AI and automation to deliver non-stop protection while reducing the burden on your internal teams. We will explore the technical prerequisites, integration depth, and the strategic value of choosing a partner that treats security as a collaborative, real-time discipline rather than a distant service.
Key Features
- ION Platform: A proprietary AI-driven platform that automates the triage of alerts, ensuring that only high-priority, validated threats reach human analysts.
- 24/7 Cyber Defense Center (CDC): Round-the-clock monitoring and global threat hunting by specialized security experts.
- Microsoft Teams Integration: A 'Collaboration-First' approach where security incidents are managed directly within Teams, allowing for instant communication and decision-making.
- Authorized Response: The ability for Ontinue to take proactive remediation steps (like isolating a host or disabling a compromised user) based on pre-approved playbooks.
- Continuous Posture Management: Beyond incident response, Ontinue provides ongoing recommendations to harden the Microsoft environment and reduce the attack surface.
- Specialized Microsoft Expertise: Deep-tier support for the entire Microsoft 100/300/500 security stack, often replacing the need for multiple point-solution vendors.
Use Cases
- Ransomware Mitigation: A global manufacturing firm uses Ontinue to monitor their Defender for Endpoint alerts. When a workstation showed signs of lateral movement at 2 AM, Ontinue's ION platform automatically isolated the device, preventing a full-scale ransomware outbreak.
- M&A Integration: A healthcare company acquiring smaller clinics uses Ontinue to rapidly standardize security across newly absorbed Microsoft tenants, providing immediate visibility and 24/7 protection during the transition.
- Compliance Adherence: A financial services provider utilizes Ontinue’s continuous posture management and reporting to meet stringent SOC2 and regulatory requirements for 'continuous monitoring' and 'incident response.'
- Sentinel Optimization: A retail brand was overspending on Azure Sentinel. Ontinue's experts tuned their data ingestion and alert logic, reducing monthly Azure costs by 30% while improving detection accuracy.
Pricing Models
Ontinue typically follows a predictable pricing model based on the scale of the environment. Key drivers include:
- User/Endpoint Count: Pricing often scales with the number of protected identities or devices.
- Data Ingestion Volume: While focused on MXDR, the volume of logs processed in Sentinel can influence the service tier.
- Service Tier: Different levels of engagement, from basic 24/7 monitoring to advanced proactive threat hunting and dedicated Advisor services.
- Additional Costs: Customers should account for their own Microsoft licensing costs (E5 or security add-ons) and Azure consumption costs for Sentinel data storage. Note: Ontinue is known for helping customers optimize their Sentinel spend, which can often offset a portion of the service cost.
Technical Requirements
- Microsoft 365 E5 or G5 Licensing: (Or E3 with Security/Compliance add-ons) to ensure the necessary Defender and Sentinel features are available.
- Azure Subscription: An active subscription with Microsoft Sentinel enabled and configured.
- Log Sources: Essential logs (Syslog, Event Logs, O365 logs) must be flowing into Sentinel.
- Network Connectivity: Appropriate firewall rules to allow Sentinel to communicate with on-premises or multi-cloud resources if hybrid monitoring is required.
- Browser Support: Modern browsers (Chrome, Edge) for accessing the ION Insight portal.
Business Requirements
- Microsoft Ecosystem Commitment: To get value, organizations must be using or migrating to Microsoft Sentinel and the Defender suite.
- Executive Sponsorship: Buy-in from the CISO or IT Director is essential to allow Ontinue's 'ION' platform to automate remediation actions within the environment.
- Process Readiness: Internal teams must be prepared to move from a 'reactive' security posture to a 'collaborative' one, using Microsoft Teams as the primary communication channel for security incidents.
- Data Governance: Clear understanding of internal data retention requirements to align with Azure/Sentinel logging configurations.
- Designated Liaison: A primary point of contact (usually a Security Engineer or IT Manager) to participate in regular posture reviews and strategic planning.
Implementation Timeline
- Discovery & Scoping (Weeks 1-2): Review of existing Microsoft licensing, environment architecture, and definition of escalation paths.
- Environment Onboarding (Weeks 2-4): Connecting the ION platform to the customer's Microsoft Sentinel and Defender instances. Configuring API permissions and data connectors.
- Operational Alignment (Weeks 4-6): Establishing communication workflows in Microsoft Teams, refining 'Runbooks' for automated response, and setting up the ION Insight dashboard.
- Tuning & Optimization (Weeks 6-8): Initial 'noise' reduction phase where Ontinue's AI learns the environment's baseline to reduce false positives.
- Full Managed Operations (Week 8+): Transition to 24/7 monitoring, active threat hunting, and continuous posture management.
Support Options
- Cyber Defense Center (CDC): 24/7 access to security analysts for active incidents.
- Dedicated Cyber Advisor: High-tier plans include a dedicated strategic partner to review security posture and provide long-term roadmap guidance.
- Real-time Teams Chat: Direct access to the SOC via Microsoft Teams for quick queries and collaborative investigation.
- ION Insight Dashboard: A real-time portal providing visibility into SOC performance, threat trends, and posture maturity scores.
- Professional Services: Available for initial Microsoft security stack deployment and complex environment migrations.
Integration Requirements
- Microsoft Sentinel: Native integration via API is the core requirement.
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint/Identity/Cloud Apps: Deep integration for telemetry and automated remediation.
- Microsoft Teams: Essential for the 'ION' interface, enabling real-time collaboration between Ontinue's Cyber Defense Center and the client.
- ITSM Integration: Optional but supported integration with tools like ServiceNow or Jira for ticket synchronization.
- API Access: Ontinue utilizes Graph API and Sentinel APIs to ingest data and execute 'Authorized Response' actions.
Security & Compliance
- Certifications: SOC 2 Type II compliant.
- Data Residency: Leverages the customer's own Azure tenant for data storage, ensuring data remains within the customer's specified geographic boundaries.
- Access Control: Follows the principle of least privilege, utilizing Azure Lighthouse or B2B accounts for secure, auditable access to customer environments.
- Privacy: GDPR and CCPA compliant processes for handling sensitive telemetry data.
- Auditability: Full transparency of all actions taken by Ontinue analysts within the customer's Microsoft Sentinel audit logs.
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