When you’re choosing a technology partner, it’s about more than just products, it’s about trust, expertise and, above all, people. At Quorum Cyber, we invest in building a culture where ongoing learning and professional development are at the heart of everything we do.
That’s why the accreditations achieved across our teams aren’t just badges, they’re your assurance that you’re working with genuine experts who are committed to staying ahead of evolving cyber threats. Our customers benefit from this collective excellence every day.
A great example is our Solutions Director, Clive Watson. Clive has been presented with the prestigious Microsoft Security Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award three years in a row; a recognition reserved for global leaders who demonstrate deep expertise and share their knowledge to benefit the wider community.
Here, he explains how he’s earned the right to be named a Microsoft Security Most Valuable Professional (MVP).
Hard work – buts lots of rewards
As I mentioned in my previous post What is a Microsoft MVP and How Did I Become One? – Quorum Cyber, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to earn this title. Every year, every MVP must re-apply and attest to the work in the community that they have accomplished – and hopefully they’ll get accepted again and get to add a ‘year disc’ to their award. This is to keep the standards to the extremely high level that Microsoft sets for people. So, I’ll have to do all this again in 2026.
What has been my MVP journey in 2025?
Earlier in 2025 I had to apply for renewal into the programme, and then I had to wait to see if my submission was accepted, and on 10th July all MVPs were told their fate (this is why you may see all MVPs posting updates on LinkedIn at the same time). It’s a nail-biting time waiting so long for the good or bad news – some will unfortunately be rejected.
Fortunately, my renewal was accepted (or this would have been a very different post), so I’m a three times MVP now!
What Microsoft looks for is your continued commitment and contribution to your chosen community (or communities if you’re an MVP in multiple areas). So how do we do that and what is asked of us? Basically, we log everything we do, each event, each blog, each question or answer – I keep a running monthly log to help me remember (and you can put these in the MVP portal Microsoft provides whenever you like).
Whilst there is a little bit of stress as you wait to hear back from Microsoft, I do think there is merit for the continual checking each year to make sure MVPs are continuing our journey or even adapting to industry changes – I bet there are far more Security Copilot MVPs this year than ever before!
What is the MVP award, what do you get (and it’s not Minimal Viable Product as some joke)?
Well, we get quite a lot in return:
- Recognition of Expertise
The MVP programme recognises exceptional community leaders for their technical expertise, leadership, speaking experience, online influence, and commitment to solving real world problems.
- Community Contribution
It’s not just about technical skill – the award is given to those who actively contribute to the security community. This might include:
- Speaking at conferences and user groups
- Writing blogs, whitepapers, or books, an example of this is a series of LinkedIn articles myself and Jon Shectman (Microsoft) have been doing about the Unified Portal – something that I’ll be adding to my justification for next year’s renewal. What I also like about these is that we have asked others to help with posts as well, extending the community contribution. Look out for more guest speakers in the coming weeks, from Quorum Cyber and others.
- Creating security tools or open-source projects
- Helping others through forums like Microsoft Q&A, GitHub etc…
- Hosting webinars or courses
- Access to Microsoft’s Inner Circle
MVPs receive exclusive access to Microsoft’s product teams, including:
- Direct communication channels with engineers and product managers
- NDA briefings about upcoming security features and roadmap
- Participation in private previews and feedback groups.
This empowers them to influence the development of Microsoft’s security products like Microsoft Defender, Microsoft Sentinel, Purview, etc.
- Career and Networking Benefits
- It boosts credibility and visibility in the industry
- Opens doors to opportunities, speaking engagements, or knowledge sharing
- Connects them with a global network of elite professionals and other MVPs.
- Validation of Impact
Most importantly, it validates that their efforts to educate, mentor, and protect the broader tech ecosystem are making a real impact – and that Microsoft values those efforts.
So, although it’s a lot of hard work, it brings immense rewards and personal satisfaction to be named a Microsoft Security Most Valuable Professional for another year.
Ultimately, Clive’s ongoing recognition as a Microsoft Security MVP isn’t just a badge of personal excellence, it’s a reflection of the expertise and dedication that all our customers can rely on. At Quorum Cyber, every step we take to invest in our people translates directly into stronger, smarter security solutions for your business. When our team leads the way in professional development and achievement, you gain a trusted partner who’s equipped to protect you against today’s threats and keep you ahead of what’s next. Your security gets stronger because our people do.
