Measures to Strengthen your Microsoft 365 environment

Are you one of the thousands of companies worldwide that has made Microsoft 365 (M365) a staple in your day-to-day operations?

While its convenience and cost-effectiveness are undeniable, it's also a prime target for cybercriminals looking to steal your company's sensitive data. But don't worry; with the right security measures in place, you can protect your business and keep those cybercriminals at bay.

As more and more companies turn to Microsoft 365 (M365) for its convenience and cost-effectiveness, it's no surprise that cybercriminals have taken notice. With over one million businesses worldwide subscribing to M365, it's become a prime target for cyber attacks.

But where do these bad actors focus their efforts? The majority of the time, they exploit vulnerabilities in Outlook email configuration. However, M365 has other susceptible areas that businesses must be aware of.

Outlook, in particular, has become the company's go-to cloud email management service, but it comes with its own risks and security gaps. To combat these threats, M365 typically requires an added layer of protection that IT security professionals configure.

For example, M365, by default, allows users to freely share files and leave meetings open to anyone, which can be a security concern.

Other common types of attacks that M365 users may face include the following:

• Insufficient or incorrectly configured multi-factor authentication settings.
• Malicious application registrations.
• Insecure active directory synchronization in hybrid environments.

Businesses need to take these risks seriously and work with IT professionals to ensure they have the necessary security measures in place to protect their sensitive data.

Using an advanced SaaS management platform like Zluri can significantly enhance the security of your organization's Microsoft 365 environment. It's a cutting-edge SaaS management platform that offers a comprehensive solution to secure and manage your organization's Microsoft 365 environment.

With Zluri, you can easily automate tasks and connect with Azure AD to strengthen your security posture.

Implementing Proactive Measures for Enhanced Microsoft 365 Security

To ensure more robust security for your Microsoft 365 (M365) system, it's essential to take a proactive approach and implement specific measures to reduce risk. Here are some concrete steps that organizations and IT teams can take to lock out cybercriminals:

1. Improving password best practices

Improving password best practices is crucial in strengthening the security of your M365 system. One way to do this is by using a password manager application. A password manager is a software that securely stores and generates complex passwords for different accounts. This allows employees to have unique, strong passwords for each account without remembering them all.

Another way to improve password best practices is by applying the latest knowledge to choose the most secure passwords. This includes using a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, avoiding the use of personal information, and avoiding common words or phrases.

The report states that employees reuse passwords an average of 13 times. This means that if one of the accounts an employee uses a reused password gets hacked, all other accounts that use the same password are also at risk.

Therefore, by using a password manager and applying the latest knowledge to choose the most secure passwords, organizations can reduce the risk of employees reusing passwords and improve overall password security.

2. Implementing multi-factor authentication & single-sign-on

Multi-factor authentication is a security measure requiring users to provide multiple forms of identification before accessing an account. This can include a combination of something the user knows (such as a password), something the user has (such as a phone), and something the user is (such as a fingerprint).

Zluri offers a powerful solution for enhancing the security of your Microsoft 365 environment by integrating single-sign-on and multi-factor authentication. This means that employees will only have to log in once to access multiple apps and services, making it more convenient for them to finish their work.

But what makes it even more secure is the use of multi-factor authentication. This means that in addition to a password, an employee must provide a code or use a mobile authentication app to gain access to Microsoft 365. This added layer of security makes it nearly impossible for hackers to access your systems, even if they have your password.

Furthermore, Zluri uses an identity provider to authorize and authenticate access to the apps, ensuring that only authorized employees can access them. This means that the apps are discovered in your organization and are not accessible by unauthorized users.

In summary, Zluri offers a comprehensive solution to enhance the security of your Microsoft 365 environment, providing a balance between convenience and protection.

3. Protecting admin accounts

Admin accounts in any organization are crucial as they can access sensitive information and perform critical tasks, such as managing users and data. However, this also makes them vulnerable to hacking attempts.

To protect admin accounts, it is important to set up and manage the correct number of admin and user accounts and implement security principles such as least privilege access.

Least privilege access means that users and applications should only be granted access to the data they need to perform specific tasks rather than full access to the entire database. This can be achieved by using passwordless authentication methods such as Windows Hello or authenticator apps and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.

Another important aspect is to avoid custom permissions for admins and instead use built-in roles to assign permissions. Azure role-based access control (RABC) can also be used. Be used to give role-based access to resources within the organization. By implementing these security measures, organisations can ensure that their admin accounts are protected and secure.

4. Setting file-sharing permissions

Sharing files in Microsoft 365 is easy with SharePoint and OneDrive, but it's important to remember that the default settings are permissive. Changing these settings and assigning admin permissions to access files is crucial to protect your business.

You can also provide specific access levels to different users, such as view, comment, or edit, to ensure that your data is securely shared.

Zluri has created a risk management system that categorizes risk levels as low, medium, or high to assist with this. Additionally, it provides threat levels ranging from 0 to 5, with 0 indicating no threat and 5 indicating a perilous threat.

You can manage the risk and threat levels associated with your data by assigning different access levels to users, such as view, edit, or delete.

Zluri also provides a security score out of 100, which helps you understand how your applications align with your organization's security needs. A low score indicates a potential threat, while a high score indicates that the application is secure. By using these tools, you can ensure that your data is shared safely and securely.

Enhance Your Microsoft 365 Experience with Zluri

Zluri offers a comprehensive solution for strengthening your Microsoft 365 environment. With its implementation of multi-factor authentication and access to a vast SaaS library, Zluri helps ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive data and that your organization complies with industry regulations.

Additionally, Zluri's integration capabilities allow for streamlined management of SaaS applications and increased visibility into security risks. Using Zluri, your organization can boost employee productivity, reduce risk, and have peace of mind knowing that your data is always protected.

Book a demo today and experience the powerful solution yourself!