Michael Melone is a seasoned cybersecurity professional with over two decades of experience defending digital landscapes against determined human adversaries. Currently serving as a Principal Security Researcher for Microsoft’s Defender Experts managed service, he leads threat hunting and incident response efforts while shaping the design of cutting-edge security tools.
Before this role, Michael spent more than seven years on Microsoft’s elite Detection and Response Team (DART), investigating targeted attacks across the globe. He specializes in cybersecurity theory, digital forensics and incident response (DFIR), big data, cybersecurity operations, and generative AI. Additionally, he has experience developing in KQL, PowerShell, Python, and JavaScript.
Michael holds an Executive MBA from the University of South Florida and a Master of Science in IT Management with a specialization in Information Assurance and Security from Capella University. He’s a long-time CISSP holder and has earned a variety of other industry certifications.
Beyond the corporate sphere, Michael is a published author of Designing Secure Systems and Think Like a Hacker, and shares his insights through speaking engagements, podcasts, and his GitHub repositories. Known online as @PowershellPoet, he blends technical depth with creative flair, making cybersecurity both accessible and actionable.
Michael Melone 