A lot is said about Microsoft Office 365 security and whether it can detect threats. While it’s important to hear both sides, one thing we have to acknowledge is that Microsoft does take security seriously.
That’s precisely why Microsoft dishes out numerous Office 365 security features for data loss prevention, security management, and fast retrieval. But what exactly are these features, and can we take advantage of them? If security is your priority when using Office 365, this is the guide for you.
This guide will look at best practices to secure your cloud environment and protect sensitive information. With all that said, let’s start.
6 Office 365 Security Features Users Should Take Advantage Of
To help protect data from malware and advanced threats, users should take advantage of these six security features Microsoft makes available through Office 365. Let’s see what these features are.
Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor or multi-factor authentication is the first of many security features available in Office 365. Office 365 administrators can enable 2FA for every user to protect their accounts against unauthorized access.
In order for admins to enable 2FA, they need to disable legacy authentication first. Admins can also access management for 2FA only if they have global admin access in Microsoft 365. With this feature, tenant and admin accounts gain an additional layer of protection by needing to input a six-digit security code available through an authentication app.
The code is randomly generated and refreshes every 60 seconds, giving users enough time to add the code while complicating matters for hackers. 2FA or MFA is an essential Microsoft cloud app security feature that every company should take advantage of.
Mobile Device Management
With Office 365 becoming increasingly accessible through mobile devices, one feature users must take advantage of is mobile device management (MDM).
MDM helps protect Office 365 users by allowing them to control mobile devices connected to their accounts, such as requiring a password, restricting access to Microsft 365 apps, and wiping any data stored on the device if it is lost.
MDM is integral for Microsoft 365 business accounts, where insider risk management becomes a top priority. These accounts are tasked with handling sensitive data that could lead to untold consequences. Therefore, the last thing a company wants is one of these devices to get lost or in the hands of threat actors.
Companies must utilize MDM to its fullest to ensure data is kept safe at all times and control access to said business data.
Advanced Threat Protection
Few Office 365 security features are as important as advanced threat protection (ATP). ATP can be used in various ways, but its primary purpose is to protect against malicious software, phishing attempts, and other cyber threats that could potentially put your data at risk.
It does this by actively scanning for malicious files or malicious links that are sent through emails, as well as providing real-time protection from advanced malicious attacks. As a result, ATP is one of the most sophisticated analytics and threat protection tools to prevent hackers from accessing company data.
Unfortunately, ATP isn’t available for every Microsoft license. Only companies with E5, A5, and Business Premium licenses can access Microsoft ATP.
Microsoft Cloud Access Security Broker
More companies are moving to the cloud, and few cloud-based services are better than Office 365. Therefore, it becomes a necessity for users to take the necessary steps to protect their data on the cloud.
One of the most important steps is to take advantage of Microsoft Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), which helps protect data in the Office 365 environment. CASB provides visibility into how data is being used and scans and monitors for threats in real time.
With CASB, users can be sure that their Office 365 data is safe and secure and that they can have peace of mind when it comes to protecting their data.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) For Business Compliance
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) keeps companies compliant with industry standards and regulations, from the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
It also helps businesses comply with their own internal policies for data security. The feature works by identifying, monitoring, and protecting confidential data. It can detect and prevent data breaches and also provides organizations with visibility into their sensitive data.
DLP is essential for business continuity as few features can protect data like this one. After all, the name of the feature is Data Loss Prevention, and it is one of the most sophisticated ways to ensure business compliance.
Office 365 Basic Backup
While all the previously-mentioned features are more than capable of doing their jobs, can we say the same about Office 365 backups? Contrary to popular belief, Microsoft does offer basic backup capabilities for Office 365 tenants.
Through native backup tools, Office 365 gives users the peace of mind that their data will remain safe and secure. These tools are easy to use and help protect users from malicious threats.
Additionally, these tools also provide users with the ability to restore their data if something were to happen to their system, allowing them to be better prepared for any potential issues. So, how does Office 365 back up your data?
The basic and built-in backup tools are easy to use and help protect users from malicious threats. These features back up data every 12 hours and have a retention period for local and cloud backups of up to 14 days.
In the case of a potential data breach, companies can reach out to Microsoft to restore data. But, sadly, users shouldn’t rely on Microsoft’s basic backup capabilities alone. Instead, they should use third-party backup tools focusing on total backup and recovery.
Conclusion
That concludes this guide on the six Office 365 security features companies and users should take advantage of. These features can protect your data, get rid of advanced threats, keep your company compliant with regulatory requirements, and more.
Therefore, users should familiarize themselves more with these features to use them to the fullest.
