Partner Case Study | DEFEND

Embracing modern cloud technology can significantly help organizations deliver their services more efficiently, protect sensitive data, and navigate a complex web of security threats. However, this journey isn’t always straightforward for public-sector agencies, where budgets are tightly monitored and compliance is crucial. Striking the right balance between security, transparency, and cost-effectiveness is vital, especially as agencies strive to modernize while ensuring every expense is justified and resilient.

DEFEND, a cybersecurity services provider based in New Zealand, is well-equipped to assist organizations facing these challenges. Their approach focuses on collaborating with clients to enhance security investments in a safe, effective manner that ensures measurable returns.

As a long-standing Microsoft partner and the 2025 Microsoft Security Partner of the Year, DEFEND has held the title of Solutions Partner for Security since the program’s inception and was the first company globally to achieve all four advanced specializations in security. These achievements not only set DEFEND apart in the industry but also highlight their extensive technical partnerships and collaborative efforts with Microsoft’s engineering and partner teams over many years.

This strong foundation has enabled DEFEND to aid New Zealand’s Ministry for the Environment (MfE), a key government agency involved in environmental policy, national programs, and working closely with regional and indigenous groups.

MfE aimed to modernise their cloud setup securely and sustainably, enabling them to handle large volumes of data and diverse operations more effectively. In their line of work, maintaining the integrity of information and public trust is critical, making resilience, transparency, and control essential elements of their modernization efforts.

At the same time, MfE sought to lower their operational costs. With every expenditure under close examination, they needed a way to improve without adding to their financial burden or complexity. Their current technology landscape included several security tools from multiple vendors, leading to unnecessary operational stress and rising costs.

As one of DEFEND’s longest-standing clients, MfE was well-prepared for a collaborative effort. Together, they made a strategic choice to fortify MfE’s security approach by consolidating with Microsoft as their sole vendor.

“Instead of using a bit of Microsoft here and a bit from elsewhere, they wanted to unify and take full advantage of the Microsoft stack,” explained Jono Green, Lead Microsoft Strategist at DEFEND. “Since Microsoft has embraced Zero Trust themselves, we saw that their capabilities aligned perfectly with MfE’s goals.”

MfE’s prior investments in Microsoft 365 created a solid foundation for implementing Zero Trust security, which protects data, applications, and employees by requiring verification for every access. DEFEND collaborated with MfE to devise a plan that would streamline their systems, reduce fragmentation, and enhance resilience—all while adhering to budgetary limits.

Read more about this case study here