Benefits of Using Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is a series of security tools to protect data and detect unknown malware.

Any company using Office 365 should investigate in more detail what type of protection Microsoft offers. However, we’re here to tell you precisely what Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is and how it benefits your company.

Top 3 Benefits of Microsoft Defender for Office 365

The Office 365 suite includes excellent tools that improve collaboration and productivity.

Given the operational scale of Office 365, companies must ensure critical data security and provide Microsoft backup for their operations to go smoothly.

Therefore, it makes sense to use Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to protect company data and maintain business continuity.

But what exactly do companies get with Microsoft Defender for Office 365? Let’s explore these three benefits.

Scanning for Email Threats

Email is the perfect medium for sending malicious links, attachments, and other sophisticated threats compromising your data. An estimated 25% of all email threats sneak into Office 365.

Hackers will target company employees via email using phishing attacks, business email compromises, and other malware.

Protecting company email and employee accounts should be a top priority. One way to do that is to use Microsoft Defender for Office 365 for email.

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 works by scanning email for malicious links and attachments and alerting your cybersecurity team to a possible attack.

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 ensures that company employees receive secure connections free of malware or other possible advanced threats.

Microsoft Defender Security Links for Office 365 ensure business continuity, allowing companies to implement anti-phishing policies.

Total Office 365 Protection

Even though email is an integral tool of Office 365, it does deserve a section of its own, as most Microsoft Defender for Office 365 capabilities are geared towards this service.

On the other hand, the Office 365 suite includes a wide range of products, including Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, etc.

These tools are by no means less necessary than email. As such, Office 365 advanced threat protection provides total protection of all Office 365 applications.

With Microsoft Defender for Office 365, companies rest assured knowing that team sites, shared databases, document libraries, contacts, and calendar data are protected. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 primary role is to analyze recent threats and uncover techniques to detect malicious intent.

Even if email is the primary medium for cyber attacks, that doesn’t mean we should stop threat investigation for other Office applications. With Microsoft Defender for Office 365, you get total protection for all Office 365 applications.

Email Encryption — Ransomware Protection

Companies can encrypt email for added security. Since companies communicate a lot via email, it makes sense to implement an encryption model where employees get access to a decryption key to decrypt incoming messages from co-workers.

Email encryption comes standard with Microsoft Defender for Office 365. With email encryption, companies know which emails are legitimate and which aren’t.

Because each employee receives a decryption and encryption key, filtering out malicious code, URLs, and links via email is more accessible. Ransomware is one of the most harmful malware. Much like all other forms of malware, the primary venue for ransomware attacks is email.

However, ransomware attacks have recently infected victims through Windows updates. It further reinforces that ransomware protection is a top priority for any business using Office 365.

What makes ransomware so devastating is that it encrypts your computer and demands a ransom. As you sit locked out of your system, you only have two options: pay or risk losing your data.

Ransomware is at the very top of the list of most dangerous malware. Ransomware attacks can result in significant sales losses and even bankruptcy.

Conclusion

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 works by scanning email and endpoints and monitoring suspicious network activity to identify these threats.

Since the primary goal is to stop potential attacks before they can damage, it makes sense to protect your business with Microsoft Defender for Office 365.