Keeping your business safe from cyber threats is a constant challenge, and securing your data and IT network is now more important than ever. Besides offering a powerful suite of productivity tools, Microsoft 365 also comes with robust, built-in security features that can protect your business from cyberattacks. Let’s explore how you can strengthen your cybersecurity and keep your IT systems running smoothly and securely with Microsoft 365.
1. Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
The simplest and most effective way to improve your cybersecurity is by enabling MFA, where users are required to provide two or more verification methods before they can access their accounts. This additional layer of security significantly reduces the chances of unauthorised access, even when your passwords have been compromised.
How to Set It Up:
It is easy to enable MFA in Microsoft 365. Just go to the Microsoft 365 Admin Centre and choose the MFA method that bet suits your team. MFA options include SMS, phone calls and authenticator apps, making it flexible and simple.
2. Leverage Conditional Access Policies
Microsoft 365’s Conditional Access lets you set rules for how users can access your business. You can set conditions like requiring MFA when someone tries to log in from unknown or untrusted location or device, or entirely blocking access based on risk factors. This ensures that only authorised users that meet the appropriate conditions can access sensitive data in your network.
How It Helps:
Conditional Access offers dynamic protection that prevents potential breaches by allowing or denying access based on real-time risk factors. This is a great way to balance security and convenience for your team.
3. Regularly Update and Patch Systems
Keeping software updated is a basic but often overlooked step in cybersecurity. Microsoft continuously updates Microsoft 365, and it’s also important that your own team regularly installs any new updates and patches that become available for your devices and applications. These updates usually include fixes for known vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers if not installed.
Best Practice:
To ensure that all systems are up-to-date, set up automatic updates for all Microsoft 365 apps and make it a policy for employees to regularly restart their systems to ensure new updates are applied.
4. Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Policies
Microsoft 365 comes with built-in Data Loss Prevention capabilities that keep sensitive information safe. Using DLP, you can monitor and restrict sharing of confidential data like financial records, customer information and other personal identifiers. It also helps prevent accidental leakage of data by alerting users or blocking the sharing of content.
Why It Matters:
DLP policies in Microsoft 365 are essential for preventing both unintentional and malicious data breaches. You can create custom rules that automatically detect sensitive information and trigger security actions like notifying administrators or restricting sharing of data.
5. Use Microsoft Defender for Office 365
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is a comprehensive security tool that’s designed to prevent phishing attacks, malware and other threats that target your email and collaboration tools. Before suspicious activities can cause any harm, they are immediately detected and blocked through real-time monitoring, advanced threat protection and automated responses.
Benefits:
Your business gets advance protection against new and evolving cyber threats when you use Microsoft Defender. This built-in protection ensures that email-based attacks are mitigated without the need to purchase additional security software.
6. Encrypt Emails and Data
Encryption is a critical part of protecting sensitive information. With Microsoft 365, your email and documents can be easily encrypted to ensure that only the intended recipients can access and read them. This extra layer of security is especially important when sharing confidential information over email.
Simple Setup:
Encryption can be enabled for specific emails or documents with just a few clicks in Outlook or SharePoint. Microsoft 365 takes care of the complex encryption in the background, so your team doesn’t have to worry about the technical details.
7. Train Employees on Security Best Practices
Your team plays a crucial role in cybersecurity. Even with all the built-in security features of Microsoft 365, ensuring that every member of your team understands basic security practices like recognising phishing attempts, using strong passwords and securing their devices. These best practices reduce the risk of human error which can lead to security breaches.
Pro Tip:
Microsoft 365 has a feature called Attack Simulation Training that allows you to run phishing simulations and other exercises to educate and test your employees. Regular trainings like this help reinforce good habits and keep cybersecurity at the forefront of your team’s mind.
Microsoft 365 offers a wide range of powerful tools from basic measures, like enabling MFA to more advanced protections like Conditional Access and Microsoft Defender, to enhance your business’ cybersecurity. Using these built-in features can protect your business from cyber threats and safeguard your data, and let you focus on growing your operations with confidence.
Ready to improve your cybersecurity? Contact Qamba to schedule consultations, and let our expert IT professionals help you build a safer and more efficient IT environment tailored to your business needs.