Many organisations of different sizes have trusted and partnered with Microsoft 365 as it offers powerful tools for productivity and collaboration. Microsoft also has a built-in platform that’s ‘secure by design’, and it is essential to learn how to fully activate and maximise these features for protection. If your team is using Microsoft 365 or just checking whether it’s right for your business, this article is for you. Read on to understand how adjusting these security settings is crucial to fully leverage Microsoft 365’s security potential.
What ‘Secure by Design’ Means in Microsoft 365
The ‘secure by design’ approach from Microsoft 365 emphasises proactive and built-in defences against threats, such as data encryption, identity protection, and regular security updates. Microsoft is committed to securing its cloud-based platform, which is evident through continuous threat intelligence and robust, layered protections.
Although Microsoft 365 has sophisticated security features, it doesn’t mean that everything is automatically optimised for maximum protection. Many of these features are initially set at a baseline level to accommodate ease of use rather than top-tier security. This is where ‘secure by default’ falls short. Understanding the difference between ‘secure by design’ and ‘secure by default’ is essential because even the best-designed protection needs some adjustment to meet an organisation’s specific needs.
Key Areas Where Default Settings May Fall Short
1. Access and Permissions
Microsoft 365’s permissions settings tend to be broad by default, which allows users greater freedom in terms of collaboration. While convenient, this can grant employees more access than they need, increasing potential vulnerabilities. To control access without compromising security, you can manage permissions by assigning roles to users like admin and standard users.
2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA is one of the best defences against unauthorised access, but it’s also not universally enforced by default for all users. When you ensure that MFA is enabled, you add an extra layer of security that requires users to verify their identity through an additional step, making it significantly harder for unauthorised users to access your accounts.
3. Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Data Loss Prevention tools are included in Microsoft 365. These tools are essential for preventing accidental or unauthorised sharing of sensitive information. These DLP policies are not fully customised by default, so ensure that you configure them. This allows your organisation to monitor and control data sharing and reduces the risk of sensitive data exposure.
4. External Sharing Controls
Microsoft 365 facilitates collaboration through external sharing, which allows files to be shared with individuals outside your organisation. By default, these settings can be more permissive than you prefer, so adjusting external sharing policies can control what data can be shared with whom.
Steps to Enhance Security Beyond Default Settings
A few key adjustments to Microsoft 365’s straightforward security can make a big difference to your business.
1. Enable MFA for all Users
Enabling MFA in the Microsoft 365 admin centre can dramatically improve your security. It is an effective way to secure accounts because it requires users to confirm their identity on a secondary device.
2. Customise DLP Policy
Your administrators can adjust the Data Loss Prevention policies in the Microsoft 365 compliance centre. Tailoring these to your business needs will help your administrators react swiftly by triggering an alert for any accidental or unauthorised sharing of sensitive information.
3. Review Access and Permissions Regularly
Regular reviews of who has permissions and access to what resources can ensure that users are not given permission for data they don’t need. This setting can be adjusted through role-based access control (RBAC), which makes it easier to control access across your team.
4. Control External Sharing Options
SharePoint and OneDrive sharing settings should be tightened according to your business standards. Many organisations reduce the risk of unauthorised access to sensitive documents just by restricting sharing capabilities.
Going beyond default settings lets you take advantage of Microsoft 365’s ‘secure by design’ security potential. By simply enabling and customising this platform’s security tools, you can better protect your business data and assets. If you are unsure where to start, you can set up a consultation with our IT professionals here at Qamba. We can help you manage these settings and align them with your business needs to maximise your Microsoft 365’s security and operational efficiency.
