{"id":63638,"date":"2023-01-30T17:06:17","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T09:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/version-2.com.sg\/?p=63638"},"modified":"2024-09-13T16:31:47","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T08:31:47","slug":"microsoft-office-365-security-best-practices-for-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/version-2.com\/zh\/2023\/01\/microsoft-office-365-security-best-practices-for-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft Office 365 security best practices for business"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Office 365 is a popular business platform worldwide. Its blend of collaboration tools, office apps, and cloud storage components makes Office 365 a go-to option for many companies. But the popularity of Office also makes it a popular target for cyber-attackers.<\/p>

Securing data and protecting assets is critically important when using Office 365. This blog will discuss the major threats faced by users and we will suggest some security best practices. Office 365 is a safe place to run business operations. But you need awareness and policies to make that safety a reality.<\/p>

How secure is Office 365?<\/h2>

Office 365 is a suite of cloud-based business tools. Like all cloud applications and platforms, Office is vulnerable to external attackers. Cyber-attackers can breach user defenses. They can access sensitive data, disrupt operations, and cause plenty of damage before they are stopped.<\/p>

Security concerns are real. Up to 85% of organizations using Office 365 suffered an email data loss in 2021<\/a>. 15% of organizations using the platform suffered more than 500 breaches in the same year. Just 4% of organizations not using Office 365 reported the same data breach frequency.<\/p>

Microsoft has toughened Office security features in the past few years. However, Office 365 users still need to control their security posture. If you can find a secure configuration that meets your needs, you can use the platform safely. The first step in doing so is mastering the security features supplied by Microsoft.<\/p>

Security features in Office 365<\/h2>

Users can access most Office 365 security features via the Security and Compliance Center <\/strong>on Microsoft Accounts. This cloud-based portal allows users to choose several critical security functions. These functions include:<\/p>

1. Identity and Access Management (IAM)<\/h3>

Microsoft\u2019s IAM solution lets you set up digital identities for all Office users.<\/p>

Every user has a digital identity containing their authentication details and authorization information. This lets administrators add adaptive multi-factor authentication for all log-ins. Admins can manage passwords efficiently, onboard and remove users as needed.<\/p>

IAM also allows you to manage authorization options for all users. Admins can set privileges based on roles or individual requirements. This limits app access to users with appropriate permissions. Unauthorized outsiders won\u2019t be able to intrude.<\/p>

2. Information security<\/h3>

With Microsoft Information Protection<\/strong> (MIP), users can manage data as it travels across Office cloud resources and even on remote work devices.<\/p>

Users can classify data to ensure it only reaches authorized devices. Set different sensitivity levels to make data available or defend it as required.<\/p>

Classification works alongside Data Loss Prevention <\/strong>(DLP) and Microsoft Information Governance <\/strong>(MIG) tools. Create robust security controls for confidential data, and set lifecycle controls to delete data when it is not needed.<\/p>

3. Threat defenses<\/h3>

Microsoft offers Office-native Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and Extended Detection and Response (XDR) features. Together, they neutralize cyber threats and track traffic to assess security weaknesses.<\/p>

Azure Sentinel <\/strong>is a SIEM system that uses Artificial Intelligence to monitor the Office environment. Sentinel can track every active Office application and device. Security teams benefit from real-time visibility across the threat surface.<\/p>

Azure Defender<\/strong> and Office 365 Defender<\/strong> are XDR tools. They extend threat detection to all endpoints, including email accounts and cloud applications.<\/p>

4. Risk management<\/h3>

Office 365 includes a suite of tools to manage risks and ensure compliance. These tools identify and classify risks, focusing on data protection across an Office 365 environment.<\/p>

Risk management tools allow security teams to assess insider threats, manage the risk of insecure communications, and fine-tune privileges for admin accounts. Audit tools let you drill down into compliance issues until every data security weakness is covered.<\/p>

What are the most important Office 365 security concerns?<\/h2>

The security tools above are comprehensive and flexible. But they are generally voluntary. Users need to create their own security setup and choose measures that fit their Office implementation<\/strong>.<\/p>

Office 365 leaves plenty of room for misconfigurations. And these gaps are the ideal space for attackers to work. Here are some critical threats for security managers to assess:<\/p>

1. Credential theft and unauthorized access<\/h3>

Cyber attackers may gain access to your entire Office 365 environment if they steal user credentials. Users can leak credentials in many ways. For instance, employees could:<\/p>