What Ascent Solutions does

Ascent Solutions (legal entity: Ascent Global, Inc.) is a private cybersecurity services firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that targets mid-to-large enterprise customers seeking to optimize their Microsoft Security investments. The company is led by former U.S. Department of Defense and Special Forces personnel, and its stated positioning is to deliver military-grade operational discipline to civilian cybersecurity programs. Its customer base spans organizations in government and corporate settings, with named engagements including a large international manufacturer in the manufacturing vertical.

The company's technology stack is built on the Microsoft Security ecosystem rather than on proprietary platforms, specializing in Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender, Microsoft Entra, and Microsoft Purview. Layered on top of these Microsoft tools, Ascent has assembled proprietary process IP, including a Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) framework spanning Discovery through Test, a four-week Microsoft Sentinel Rapid Adoption automation playbook, and custom detection rules such as a Storm-1811 rule deployed within hours and credited with a 33-minute containment window against a live attack. The portfolio is organized into three layers: professional services (Zero Trust advisory, E3-to-E5 migration advisory, Microsoft E7 readiness advisory, and Security Cost-Benefit Analysis), rapid adoption programs (fixed four-week implementations for Sentinel, Defender, Entra, Intune, and Purview), and managed services (CTEM, SOCaaS, CTIaaS, TVMaaS, AMaaS, EMaaS, PTaaS).

The business model combines project-based advisory engagements with recurring managed security subscriptions. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; documented structures include multi-year contracts for managed SOC and Rapid Adoption programs, and monthly billing for PTaaS. Distribution relies on direct enterprise field sales targeting CIO/CISO buyers, supplemented by co-selling through the Microsoft Sentinel Partner Ecosystem and a newly stood-up Alliances function; the company was backed by private equity firm RunTide Capital across two funding events in 2022 and 2023, holds Microsoft Solutions Partner status with multiple Specializations, and was acquired by Rootstock Software in March 2026.

Name

Ascent Solutions

Legal name

Ascent Global, Inc.

Website

https://meetascent.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ascent Solutions is a Minneapolis-based cybersecurity consultancy serving mid-to-large enterprises, specializing in deploying and managing Microsoft Sentinel, Defender, Entra, and Purview through managed SOC services, rapid-adoption programs, Zero Trust advisory, and CTEM managed offerings led by former DoD and Special Forces personnel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Security Operations Center (SOC) as a Service (BPAEADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cybersecurity Operations Outsourcing (SOC / SecOps) (BPAEAMAG), IT Governance, Risk & Compliance (IT GRC) Platforms (HDAEALAK), Attack Detection & Response for Cloud/SaaS (SOC for Cloud) (HDADAGAJ), Network Security Managed Services (Firewall/IDS/IPS/SASE) (BPAEADAG)

Keywords

• Managed security services
• Cybersecurity advisory
• Microsoft Sentinel deployment
• Threat exposure management
• Zero trust implementation

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Managed Security Services: Ongoing 24/7/365 Security Operations Center (SOC) coverage providing continuous threat monitoring, detection, and response. Services include Cyber Threat Intelligence as a Service (CTIaaS), Threat and Vulnerability Management as a Service (TVMaaS), and managed detection and response capabilities delivered by former Department of Defense and Special Forces personnel.
2. Cybersecurity Advisory Services: Strategic and technical advisory engagements helping organizations build modern security programs, implement Zero Trust frameworks, and optimize Microsoft security investments. Includes the Zero Trust Launchpad engagement that delivers prioritized roadmap within three weeks.
3. Rapid Adoption Programs: Structured implementation and optimization engagements for Microsoft Security technologies including Sentinel Rapid Adoption, Defender Rapid Adoption, Intune Rapid Adoption, and Security Cost-Benefit Analysis. Two-session CBA engagements help organizations translate security modernization into board-ready financial models.
4. Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS): Subscription-based penetration testing service providing continuous, on-demand security assessments. Delivers ongoing vulnerability identification and remediation support with scalable model adapting to organizational needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ascent Solutions is a cybersecurity services firm specializing in the Microsoft Security ecosystem (Microsoft Sentinel, Defender, Entra, and Purview). It delivers 24/7/365 managed Security Operations Center (SOC) coverage, Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) services, strategic advisory, and structured Rapid Adoption implementation programs for enterprise clients. The company is led by former U.S. Department of Defense and Special Forces personnel.

Product overview

Ascent Solutions is a cybersecurity services company offering a comprehensive portfolio of managed security, advisory, and implementation services. The core offerings include Cybersecurity Services, Managed Security with 24/7 SOC coverage, and Advisory Services. The company specializes in Microsoft Security technologies, providing specialized solutions like Zero Trust, Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM), and Rapid Adoption programs for Microsoft Sentinel, Defender, Entra, Intune, and Purview. The managed services portfolio includes Cyber Threat Intelligence as a Service (CTIaaS), Threat and Vulnerability Management as a Service (TVMaaS), Asset Management as a Service (AMaaS), Endpoint Management as a Service (EMaaS), Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS), and SOC as a Service (SOCaaS). Advisory offerings include Security Cost-Benefit Analysis and Microsoft licensing migration advisory services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cybersecurity Services Full-service cybersecurity offerings including threat protection, incident response, and security program modernization for enterprise clients.
• Managed Security Services 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) coverage with round-the-clock monitoring, alerting, penetration testing, and remediation services led by former Department of Defense and Special Forces experts.
• Advisory Services Strategic cybersecurity consulting to help organizations build modern security programs aligned with business objectives and industry requirements.
• Zero Trust Solutions Zero Trust strategy and implementation services leveraging Microsoft's five pillars (identity, data, devices, applications, network) using tools including Entra, Purview, Defender, and Sentinel.
• Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) Proactive, continuous approach to identifying, assessing, and mitigating security risks across systems, identities, and data aligned with NIST and CIS frameworks.
• Cyber Threat Intelligence as a Service (CTIaaS) Real-time threat intelligence tracing relevant business threats with MITRE ATT&CK heatmaps, industry attack trend tracking, and Dark Web monitoring.
• Threat and Vulnerability Management as a Service (TVMaaS) Continuous vulnerability identification, assessment, and prioritization with 24/7 monitoring, real-time scanning, and expert-driven risk assessments.
• Asset Management as a Service (AMaaS) Comprehensive identification, tracking, and security of digital assets including hardware, software, networks, and data with continuous monitoring and compliance support.
• Endpoint Management as a Service (EMaaS) Cloud-powered endpoint management for seamless remote device management, security enforcement, automated patching, and compliance adherence.
• Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) Ongoing, on-demand security assessments including black box, white box, gray box, network, application, and social engineering testing with continuous validation.
• Security Operations Center as a Service (SOCaaS) Managed SOC providing continuous threat monitoring, detection, and response with advanced cybersecurity expertise and real-time threat intelligence without requiring in-house infrastructure.
• Microsoft Sentinel Rapid Adoption Four-week SOC transformation program delivering full visibility through proprietary automation for data source connection, analytics tuning, and noise elimination.
• Microsoft Defender Rapid Adoption Accelerated deployment and optimization of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Identity, and Cloud security tools.
• Microsoft Entra Rapid Adoption Fast-track implementation of Microsoft Entra identity and access management solutions for Zero Trust enablement.
• Microsoft Intune Rapid Adoption Four-week modern device governance establishment improving endpoint visibility and creating a secure foundation for AI-enabled workforces.
• Microsoft Purview Rapid Adoption Accelerated data governance and compliance implementation using Microsoft Purview for data discovery, classification, and protection.
• Security Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) Two-session engagement inventorying tools, licensing, and spend to prioritize initiatives and deliver an executive-ready business case for productivity, licensing savings, and risk reduction.
• Microsoft E3 to E5 Migration Advisory Strategic advisory helping organizations build the business case to upgrade from Microsoft E3 to E5 licensing, including tool consolidation and ROI analysis.
• Microsoft E7 Readiness Advisory Advisory on Microsoft E7 bundling opportunity combining Microsoft 365 E5, Entra Suite, Copilot, and Agent 365 for AI-driven security and governance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Days-to-value instead of months with Microsoft Sentinel implementation
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Rootstock SoftwarecoreOthers · 23 March 2026Rootstock Software acquired Ascent Solutions, a Salesforce-native ERP and operational applications provider. The acquisition added nearly two decades of Salesforce-native development expertise and expanded Rootstock's capabilities in AI and agentic ERP for manufacturers and distributors.
• Microsoft (Alliance Partnership)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 December 2025Jeff Mutschler, former 20-year Microsoft leader, appointed SVP of Alliances to oversee Microsoft's alliance strategy, deepen field alignment, and expand the company's partner ecosystem to accelerate co-sell impact and revenue growth.
• MicrosoftflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2025Microsoft Solutions Partner with multiple Specializations. Selected to join Microsoft Sentinel Partner Ecosystem. Participant in Microsoft Copilot for Security Partner Private Preview. Company validates new scenarios with Microsoft product teams and contributes to Sentinel's evolution through connectors, analytics, playbooks, and hunting queries.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Secureworks: Secureworks (a Sophos company) is a global MSSP providing managed detection and response, vulnerability management, and security advisory — directly overlapping with Ascent's SOCaaS, TVMaaS, and Advisory lines — with deeper telemetry and brand recognition, though broader in vendor scope.
• Avanade: Avanade is a joint venture between Accenture and Microsoft focused on Microsoft technologies, including a large security practice around Sentinel, Defender, Entra, and Purview. It competes directly with Ascent for Microsoft Security engagements at the enterprise tier but at substantially greater scale and broader geographic reach.
• Trustwave: Trustwave is a long-standing MSSP offering managed detection, response, threat intelligence, and penetration testing across multiple platforms including Microsoft. It is comparable to Ascent across the managed and advisory security services stack but with a broader, vendor-agnostic delivery model.
• Optiv: Optiv is a large MSSP and security solutions integrator delivering managed detection and response, advisory, and Zero Trust services across multiple technology stacks including Microsoft Security. It is comparable to Ascent as a managed security + advisory competitor but operates at materially greater scale and breadth.
• ReliaQuest: ReliaQuest delivers enterprise-managed security operations including a multi-tenant SIEM platform with Microsoft Sentinel integration, threat intelligence, and detection engineering. It competes with Ascent for mid-market and enterprise SOC outsourcing mandates and has substantially greater scale and platform investment.

Direct peers

• TrustedSec: TrustedSec is a cybersecurity consulting firm providing penetration testing, incident response, and Microsoft-focused advisory — overlapping with Ascent's PTaaS and advisory offerings — with a similar mid-sized, talent-led positioning rather than scale-led.
• Quorum Cyber: Quorum Cyber is a Microsoft-focused MSSP providing managed SOC, threat hunting, and Incident Response services built on Microsoft Sentinel and Defender, alongside Zero Trust advisory. It is one of the closest pure-play comparables to Ascent in the Microsoft-only managed security niche.
• BlueVoyant: BlueVoyant is a managed security services provider with Microsoft SOC and MDR capabilities built natively on Microsoft Sentinel and Defender. It targets mid-to-large enterprises with continuous detection, response, and threat-intelligence services comparable to Ascent's SOCaaS, CTIaaS, and TVMaaS offerings.
• Critical Start: Critical Start is a managed detection and response provider offering 24/7 SOC, MDR, and managed SIEM services, with Microsoft Sentinel being a supported platform. Its delivery model and target enterprise buyer overlap directly with Ascent's SOCaaS and CTEM managed offerings.

Emerging players

• XOOK (formerly Klarrio): Not applicable — placeholder omitted to avoid fabrication.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/meetascent

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ascent Solutions