Office 365 Security Features Every Company Should Dwell On

Microsoft Office 365 has advanced threat protection features that protect company data and prevent data loss. But to truly understand the potential of these features, we must look at Office 365 security as a whole.

Undoubtedly, Microsoft has done plenty over the years to improve native Office 365 security features. Even so, there are a few features that stand out. It’s these features that companies focus on the most regarding data loss prevention and keeping sensitive data safe.

But that begs the question, what are these features? If you’re eager to learn more, make sure to continue reading. So with all that said, let’s start.

Multi-Factor Authentication

Few security features are better at preventing unauthorized access than multi-factor authentication (sometimes referred to as two-factor authentication). The feature adds another layer of security by requiring the user to input a code generated from an authentication application.

This code is randomly generated and expires after a minute. Users will have plenty of time to input the code, but the same cannot be said about potential threat actors. In order to get access to Office 365 accounts, hackers would need access to the authentication application, which is easier said than done.

This security feature does more than prevent unauthorized access. It is part of Office 365 access management and your first line of defense.

Microsoft Cloud App Security

Microsoft Cloud App Security is a cloud security solution that provides visibility, control, and protection of data in the cloud. It helps organizations gain insights into their cloud usage, detect threats and protect their data with advanced security policies.

By leveraging cloud app security, companies can ensure data is secure and in line with industry regulations. In addition, they can also monitor and control access to Office 365 applications and protect company data from insider threats and malicious activity.

Companies using Microsoft 365 must leverage this CASB (cloud access security broker) feature to protect sensitive information and enhance threat protection.

Use Separate User Accounts for Administrative Tasks

Businesses need to ensure that their Office 365 accounts are secure. Doing this ensures companies are protected on all fronts. One of the best ways to do this is to use separate user accounts for administrative tasks.

Administrator accounts are the focus of attention of today’s hackers. This is because these accounts have the necessary privileges to perform various tasks. Some of these tasks involve cloud security and managing business data.

So you can imagine the damage hackers could do if they get ahold of an account with administrative privileges. Luckily, we can mitigate risk by ensuring admins have a separate user account for administrative tasks and another account for non-administrative tasks.

By doing this, companies control who has access to important settings and makes it easy to identify any suspicious activity. Additionally, each user should have their own account, as this allows companies to monitor each user’s activity individually.

Leverage Office 365 Enterprise Mobility

Office 365 provides enterprise mobility solutions to companies looking to secure their data on the cloud and on their cloud services.

We discussed many of the features of enterprise mobility, such as multi-factor authentication. Additionally, Office 365 offers mobile device management solutions that allow administrators to limit user access to specific apps and control which actions are allowed on corporate devices.

Moreover, Office 365 also supports encryption and provides a range of other security features, such as conditional access policies and data loss prevention solutions. And on that note, let’s move on to the next feature.

Leverage Office 365 Encryption

Office 365 Encryption is one of the most powerful security features offered by the suite. It enables organizations to encrypt their data, both in transit and at rest, thus ensuring that it is only accessible by authorized users.

This encryption layer also helps protect sensitive information from malicious actors, whether within or outside the organization. With Office 365 Encryption, organizations can leverage additional security controls, such as access policies and authentication protocols, to further protect their data.

Encryption also works with Microsoft’s webmail service, Outlook, and other cloud apps, such as Microsoft Teams. As a result, encrypting email and MS Teams messages makes it nearly impossible for threat actors to achieve their goals of accessing company data.

Don’t Forget About Microsoft Defender

Microsoft Defender is a comprehensive security feature and a standalone app built for Office 365. Microsoft Defender will greatly improve your security score in the Security Centre and provide enhanced visibility over potential threats.

The aim of Microsoft Defender is to help organizations protect their data and systems from a wide range of threats. It works by monitoring accounts and devices for malicious activity and provides real-time protection against malware, phishing, and other threats.

In addition, it also offers advanced features such as anti-spam, firewalls, and encryption to help safeguard against cyber-attacks. With Microsoft Defender, organizations can be confident that their data and systems remain secure at all times.

Conclusion

That concludes this guide on the Office 365 security features companies must dwell on more to protect their cloud environments. The security features range from multi-factor authentication to Microsoft’s Defender app.

The aim of these built-in security features is to enhance visibility and protection and allow companies to modify their own security settings for better protection.