Have you heard? Almost 50 million people subscribe to Microsoft 365! With Windows devices that run Microsoft 365 apps and are controlled by Microsoft Business Mobility and Security, you can build a safe, modern environment with Microsoft 365. Enabling teams to be innovative and collaborate securely also helps to create a modern workplace. Users of Office 365 can utilize any Office 365 application, including Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement, by logging in only once and doing so through the Microsoft Office 365 user interface. Nonetheless, many firms continue to have security concerns due to the abundance of sensitive data and ease of data sharing under Office 365.
Office 365 security concerns and challenges for businesses
1. Leakage of private information: Data sharing is supported by Microsoft Office 365. Using a variety of tools like OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint, users can share documents and data. Although this simple sharing is undoubtedly beneficial, it poses severe security risks. A data breach may result if the information is purposely or accidentally shared with an unauthorized party. With Office 365, sharing individual files or entire folders opens up many security vulnerabilities.
2. Abuse of Privilege: Managing privileges is a concern in many businesses. Instead of customizing permissions depending on each employee’s needs and specific job functions, they give each employee many of them.
These excessive permissions offer major security issues, even though they are easier to execute and ensure that staff can do their jobs. A user of Office 365 with excessive rights can use them to access the information they shouldn’t and leak it to undesirable parties. Additionally, if an attacker is successful in utilising stolen login credentials to gain access to a user’s Office 365 account, they might use these overly broad rights.
3. Credential Theft: One of the most frequently targeted victims of credential theft by scammers is Microsoft Office 365 credentials. A hacker who takes control of an Office 365 account has access to a wealth of confidential information that they can use to launch other assaults. To steal account passwords, cybercriminals employ a number of techniques. Employees may fall victim to phishing emails that trick them into providing their login credentials on a fake Microsoft login page. If spyware has been installed on the user’s computer, it might capture their login information when they log into a Microsoft website.
How can you protect the data you have in Microsoft Office 365?
1. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) setup: Employees typically use their username and password to verify their identification while signing into Office 365. Sadly, you can only rely on some employees to constantly be cautious about password security.
One of the easiest and most efficient ways to improve your organization’s security is through MFA, or multi-factor authentication.
MFA combines two or more authentication factors to validate an individual’s identification and guard against “soft breaches” like password, fingerprint, code, or retinal scan hacks. This implies that even if a criminal is successful in obtaining your password, they will be prevented from accessing your account without utilising the second verification method (s).
2.Limit Your Administrative Privileges: Admin accounts are prime targets for hackers and internet criminals because of their heightened privileges. Ensure that your administrators have distinct user accounts for all other uses and only use their admin accounts when absolutely necessary. By allowing you to grant temporary admin status to particular users, Privileged Identity Management enables you to minimize risks and reduce exposure.
3. Use data Encryption: If you want to ensure the security of sensitive information while it is at rest and in transit, you must implement an encryption mechanism that provides secret storage and communication. For data stored on a Windows PC, BitLocker is the available encryption method. For data stored on OneDrive for Business or SharePoint Online, TLS connections are the available encryption methods. The capability of sending secure emails to users outside the company is a nice additional feature. A Microsoft account, a Microsoft 365 account, or a one-time passcode are all required for recipients to access these emails.
4. Adopt mobile device management (MDM): Regardless of whether your business has a BYOD – Bring Your Own Device policy, your employees will probably use their own smartphones, tablets, or laptops to access company data. Using mobile devices given by their employers, employees can access email owing to Microsoft 365’s integrated MDM function. If staff use their own devices or other apps outside an email, Microsoft Intune will give you more control and protection.
5. Establish a Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Policy: To comply with corporate standards and industry requirements, many firms must create and maintain a DLP strategy. A DLP policy will ensure that private information stays inside your company by keeping track of sensitive data and forbidding users from sending it to anyone outside of it. You have two options: either you develop your policy and specify where the data is located and what kind of information must be safeguarded, or choose one of Microsoft’s pre-existing templates that complies with legal and compliance requirements (such as HIPAA).
6. Enable Advanced Threat Protection (ATP): Because they typically contain harmful links and email attachments that spread malware, phishing emails constitute one of the most significant hazards to online security. Advanced Threat Prevention helps keep your employees’ inboxes safe by blocking specific URLs and attachments.
7. Teach Your Staff: A key component of layered defense is creating a strong culture of security awareness. The ability to handle passwords, recognize phishing emails, realize the security features on their computers and mobile devices, and, most crucially, perceive and concur with the company’s security requirements are all improved by employee security training.
The Microsoft Office 365 course from Microtek Learning is specifically created to satisfy business needs for hosting online meetings, facilitating document collaboration, etc., while keeping simple data recovery in mind. You will discover how to be secure and conserve time, resources, and cash to boost your company’s productivity with the help of Microsoft 365 training.
Conclusion
Microsoft 365 has many built-in security features that help lower risk. Learning to properly set up and implement these capabilities, together with Microsoft Office 365 training, is the most excellent way to protect your sensitive corporate data. Thus, use Microtek Learning training to assist your team in maintaining your company’s security.