How To Improve Cybersecurity With Microsoft 365 Business

However, with great power comes great responsibility. The more your company relies on technology, the more it becomes a target for cybercriminals. So, investing in cybersecurity improvements to safeguard your company’s data and operations from ever-evolving cyberattacks is not just sensible, it’s vital.

With various security features to help businesses protect their data, devices, and users, Microsoft 365 Business provides the best of both worlds – a trustworthy, all-in-one solution to keep business operations accessible and safe.

A company that counts on Microsoft 365 Business to run its operations is protected by the following security features:

Encryption and data loss prevention

Encryption is one of the most essential measures to protect sensitive data. Microsoft 365 Business encrypts your data at rest and in transit. It also uses several strong encryption protocols, including TLS/SSL, IPSec, and AES, meaning all files and messages are encoded and only authorized recipients can decrypt them.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is also essential for companies that store highly sensitive data, such as financial information, credit card details, and personal identification numbers.

With a Microsoft 365 Business Premium account, you can count on Microsoft Purview to define and apply DLP policies that help you identify, monitor, and protect sensitive information across services like Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

MFA requires users to provide additional forms of identification when signing into an account or app, which is extremely important as it adds an extra layer of security.

In addition to a password, the method requires scanning a fingerprint or entering a code received via text message or email, making it harder for unauthorized parties to access your account.

Enabling it, emphasizing its importance, and encouraging all users to set multi-factor authentication is key to strengthening account protection.

Email security with Exchange Online Protection (EOP)

As email communication plays an important role in any business, securing this channel is essential. EOP is a filtering service that protects organizations against email threats like malware, spam, and phishing.

Plus, companies that need advanced email security against sophisticated threats can count on Advanced Threat Protection. It has robust email filtering capabilities, scans and evaluates links in real time to block access to malicious websites, includes zero-day threat protection, and more.

The feature comes with Microsoft Defender, which is included in a Microsoft 365 Business Premium and available as an add-on to Microsoft 365 Business Standard.

Endpoint security with Microsoft Defender for endpoint

Microsoft Defender also leverages protection against ransomware, malware, phishing, and other threats. As a comprehensive endpoint security solution, the service uses cloud analytics and machine learning to provide proactive and reactive security measures.

Moreover, through behavioral sensors and threat intelligence, Microsoft Defender detects anomalies to identify potential threats and mitigate them with advanced remediation actions.

SharePoint and OneDrive ensure the security of file sharing and collaboration within teams. SharePoint allows you to determine who can access each file and even block external sharing altogether.

In addition to end-to-end encryption, OneDrive also allows users to protect files with link-sharing and editing permissions, as well as add passwords and expiration dates for shared links.

4 best practices for managing access controls for shared documents

When setting up access controls for shared documents, keep in mind these practices:

1. Give users access only to the files that are necessary to perform their tasks to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
2. Create SharePoint groups according to users’ roles and responsibilities. This practice makes it easier to assign and manage common access and sharing permissions all at once.
3. Regularly review document sharing permissions and make adjustments according to the current organizational needs.
4. Limit external sharing to trusted collaborators to avoid unnecessary public sharing.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium comes with a dedicated security and compliance center to manage risks and compliance in a centralized environment.

In addition to advanced threat protection and data loss prevention, Microsoft 365’s compliance center also provides eDiscovery and legal hold to make it easier to search, preserve, and produce electronic data for legal purposes. Plus, auditing and reporting tools keep IT admins informed of user activity, system events, and more.

Moreover, businesses can count on Microsoft 365’s numerous features and tools to establish governance, risk management, and compliance practices to meet regulatory requirements and enhance overall security.

All Microsoft 365 Business’ endless safety features aren’t enough if users don’t follow the protection recommendations.

It’s extremely important that companies properly educate employees about cybersecurity best practices and make sure they’re aware of how to be safe when using digital tools to communicate, share files, and store sensitive data.

When preparing security awareness training programs, follow some important guidelines:

• Teach staff about security tools like Microsoft Defender, clearly demonstrating their functionalities.
• Simulate real-world cyberthreat scenarios like phishing and third-party log-in attempts to demonstrate the importance of security measures and how to mitigate threats using Microsoft 365 Business tools.
• Educate users on the importance of enabling MFA and provide guides on how to set it up across apps and devices.

In addition to all the comprehensive security features Microsoft 365 Business offers, there are other best practices you should follow to protect your company against ever-evolving cyberthreats:

• Keep all Microsoft 365 apps updated with the latest security patches.
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium users should use Azure AD to implement conditional access polices, which are essential to secure and manage identities on hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
• Run periodical assessments on Microsoft Secure Score to evaluate your current security configuration and improve your safety strategy if needed.
• Regularly check Microsoft’s news and alerts to stay informed about emerging risks.

Continuous monitoring and strategy improvements are the key to fortifying cybersecurity defenses and protecting your business from digital threats.

No matter its size, digitally managing a business requires a constant commitment to cybersecurity measures. Having a 365-degree view of your business from your smartphone is one of the many wonders of digital advancements. Still, it’s crucial to protect the digital safety of your business operations and data.

At the end of the day, both Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium provide comprehensive tools and features that secure business operations. Its numerous file storage capabilities, along with sharing, collaboration, and communication tools allow organizations to exist in the digital world while being protected from its dangers and cyberattacks.

If you’re considering trusting Microsoft 365 Business with your company’s files and operations, enjoy its generous 30-day free trial to thoroughly test the platform. Then, if you decide to go for it, keep in mind that annual subscription plans cost 15% less than monthly payments.