Defend

Name

Defend

Legal name

DEFEND Limited

Website

https://defend.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Managed Cybersecurity Services

akta.pro primary industry

Endpoint Security Managed Services (EDR/XDR) (BPAEADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Endpoint Security for End Users (EDR/XDR, Patch/Vuln, Zero Trust Endpoint) (BPAEAIAG), Vulnerability Management & Penetration Testing Services (BPAEADAD), Data Security & Privacy Services (DLP, Encryption, Privacy Ops) (BPAKAHAM)

Keywords

• Managed cybersecurity services
• Extended detection response
• Threat intelligence monitoring
• Cyber resilience consulting
• Virtual CISO services

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

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: Recurring managed security operations services including 24/7 monitoring, threat detection, and incident response. Delivered through Guardian XDR products and DEFEND iCE service.
2. Professional Services: Cybersecurity consulting, assessments, transformation programs, and advisory services. Includes security planning, architecture, implementation, and ongoing support engagements.
3. Managed Services - Secure365: Subscription-based managed services for securing Microsoft 365 environments. Offered in Essentials and Premium tiers with monthly billing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

DEFEND provides managed cybersecurity services built around a 24/7 Security Operations capability (Guardian XDR for Enterprise and Business), underpinned by Microsoft's Unified Security Operations Platform (Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel) and its proprietary SHERLOCK threat management platform. The company also delivers cybersecurity advisory, assessments, and transformation services through frameworks including DEFEND Cyber 7, plus a virtual CISO offering (Cybersecurity Office) and supporting modules for Microsoft 365 security posture and configuration management.

Product overview

DEFEND is a managed cybersecurity services provider offering a portfolio of detection, response, and advisory services. The core offering consists of two tiers of Guardian XDR (Extended Detection and Response) managed services: Guardian XDR for Enterprise for large organisations, and Guardian XDR for Business for SMBs. Both leverage Microsoft's security platform and are enhanced by proprietary tools including SHERLOCK threat management and Find & Remediate security testing. Supporting modules include DEFEND Insights SSPM for Microsoft 365 posture management, Secure365 for configuration management, and the Cybersecurity Office (CSO) virtual CISO service. The company also offers assessment services using frameworks like NIST CSF, ISO27001, CIS18, and its own DEFEND Cyber 7 methodology, delivered across four areas: Plan, Transform, Operate, and Assure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DEFEND Guardian XDR: Managed extended detection and response (XDR) service for enterprise organizations, powered by Microsoft's Unified Security Operations Platform.
• DEFEND Guardian XDR for Business
• DEFEND Insights SSPM
• SHERLOCK
• Secure365
• DEFEND Cybersecurity Office (CSO)

Products and services

• DEFEND Guardian XDR for Enterprise Fully managed 24/7 security operations service for large organisations, powered by Microsoft's Unified Security Operations Platform (integrating Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel). Provides end-to-end detection, investigation, response, threat hunting, and continuous optimisation backed by the SHERLOCK Threat Management platform. Designed for enterprise customers across government, finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure.
• DEFEND Guardian XDR for Business Managed detection and response service for small to medium businesses, leveraging Microsoft 365 Business Premium security capabilities with 24/7 monitoring and incident response. Targeted at SMBs that need enterprise-grade detection and response but lack in-house security operations.
• DEFEND Insights SSPM Ongoing Microsoft 365 security posture and permission management service (SaaS Security Posture Management). Provides continuous visibility of security configurations and helps organisations understand their security standing and what to address next.
• Secure365 Managed services for securing Microsoft 365 tenants and Defender applications. Available in Essentials (configuration review) and Premium (adds proactive monitoring and health-checks) tiers, offered on a monthly subscription basis.
• SHERLOCK World-class threat management platform offering the latest threat intelligence, attack surface monitoring, and exposure visibility. Backed by threat intelligence from NCSC's Malware Free Networks and CERT NZ's Phishing Disruption Service. Powers 24/7 threat hunting and incident response capabilities.
• Find & Remediate (FiRe) Application security testing and secure development support service that enhances application security across organisations.
• DEFEND Cybersecurity Office (CSO) Virtual Chief Security Officer service providing access to top-tier cybersecurity expertise for establishing, governing, and running a robust cybersecurity management system. Available in Foundational, Enabled, and Optimised tiers starting from $4,780 per month.
• DEFEND Cyber 7 Proprietary assessment tool consisting of seven key governance-related controls that highlight potential resilience challenges in an organisation. Used as a lightweight framework for smaller organisations to assess cyber resilience, developed and refined over years as a foundational assessment methodology.

Quantifiable outcome

• Enabled Zespri to improve cyber resilience significantly, supporting operations during COVID-19 disruption
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• One NZcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDEFEND has joined forces with One NZ to deliver expertise in market-leading secure services. DEFEND's specialist cybersecurity solutions are united with One NZ's vast connectivity and service capability, delivering network connectivity and integrated ICT requirements with Zero Trust secure services. The partnership embeds security features across One NZ's network, providing an additional layer of security for One NZ mobile and broadband customers at no extra cost.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• InPhySec: New Zealand cybersecurity specialist providing managed security services and security testing. Direct competitor in the NZ MSSP market, particularly around critical infrastructure and enterprise customers.
• Aura Information Security: New Zealand-based cybersecurity services firm offering managed security, advisory, and testing. Directly comparable MSSP competing for the same NZ enterprise and government customers with similar services.
• Insomnia Cybersecurity: NZ-focused cybersecurity consultancy and MSSP offering managed detection, response, and advisory services. Direct competitor in the same domestic market with overlapping enterprise/government segment focus.

Broad incumbents

• Trustwave: Global MSSP and MDR provider offering managed detection, response, and cybersecurity advisory across multiple vendor stacks. Larger incumbent competing for the same enterprise customers seeking managed XDR/SOC services.
• Secureworks: Global MDR/XDR provider offering managed security operations and threat detection. Comparable in delivering 24/7 managed detection and response, though operates at much larger scale globally.
• DXC Technology: Global IT services and security provider with managed security operations offerings. Competes for enterprise MSS contracts and has ANZ presence; broader portfolio than Defend but overlapping managed XDR services.
• Datacom: Large NZ-headquartered IT services provider with a significant cybersecurity practice. Broader incumbent offering managed security as part of a wider ICT services portfolio; competes for the same NZ enterprise and government security contracts.

Others

• Microsoft (Defender XDR / Sentinel): Defend is built entirely on Microsoft's security stack; Microsoft itself competes by offering first-party Defender XDR and Sentinel capabilities. Defend's value is the managed service wrapper, but Microsoft remains both Defend's primary partner and a structural competitive threat.

Emerging players

• Arctic Wolf: Fast-growing global MDR provider with a security operations platform approach. Comparable managed detection and response service for SMB and mid-market; expanding into ANZ and competing for similar Microsoft-ecosystem customers.

Regional players

• CyberCX: Australia and New Zealand-focused cybersecurity services firm offering MSSP, advisory, and managed detection and response. Closest ANZ-scale peer to Defend in target market, geography, and service mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NZDefend
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/defend_ltd

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Defend