With the exponential rise in sophisticated cyber threats, ensuring the protection of sensitive data, users, and infrastructure has become an indispensable priority for every business.
Fortunately, if your team is utilising Microsoft 365 for daily workflows, there are numerous features embedded in your licence that you might overlook.
Microsoft 365 packs a comprehensive array of advanced security features and capabilities designed to fortify the digital defences of businesses operating in an increasingly interconnected and vulnerable environment. It includes a bunch of features that help keep your data, users, and tech safe from all kinds of digital shenanigans.
In this guide we’ll walk through the top Microsoft 365 security features and how each one can be leveraged as an essential component of any business looking to beef up its security posture, regardless of scale or sector.
At a glance: the 10 features
Built-in security stack
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Defender for Office 365
Real-time email + collaboration protection against phishing, malware and ransomware.
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Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Scans, classifies and blocks sensitive data from leaving the organisation.
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Microsoft Entra ID
Identity-as-a-service with MFA, SSO and conditional access at the core.
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Defender for Endpoint
Behavioural threat detection across laptops, desktops and mobile devices.
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Purview Compliance Portal
Central hub for security policies, audit logs and compliance reporting.
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Microsoft Secure Score
A measurable benchmark of your security posture, with prioritised recommendations.
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Teams Security Controls
Safe Links, Safe Attachments and audit-trail visibility on collaboration.
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Insider Risk Management
Surfaces risky internal behaviour, data leakage, IP theft, policy violations.
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Defender for Cloud Apps
Visibility and policy enforcement across cloud-app usage outside Microsoft 365.
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Identity Protection + Conditional Access
Adaptive policies that respond to user, device and location signals in real time.
Diving deeper into each feature
Defender for Office 365 (formerly Advanced Threat Protection)
Defender for Office 365, previously known as Advanced Threat Protection (ATP), is a vital component of Microsoft 365 security arsenal, providing real-time protection against a range of modern cyber threats, including malware, infections, phishing attacks, and ransomware. Defender for Office 365 works across the Microsoft 365 environment by continuously monitoring incoming and outgoing emails, files, and links, leveraging sophisticated algorithms and machine learning to identify and neutralise potential threats before they can compromise the network.
For instance, consider a situation where an employee unknowingly clicks on a phishing link in an email. Microsoft 365 Defender’s Safe Links and automated investigation features would detect the malicious link and block any attempt by malicious actors to infiltrate the company’s network.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Data Loss Prevention (DLP), a core capability within the Microsoft Purview Compliance Portal, is a critical feature in Microsoft 365 that helps businesses prevent sensitive data from being inadvertently or maliciously shared outside the organisation. DLP operates by scanning and identifying sensitive information based on predefined policies, ensuring that it remains secure during transit and at rest.
By enforcing encryption access controls, information protection rules, and granular control over how sensitive files are handled, Microsoft 365 Data Loss Prevention mitigates the risks of data breaches and leaks, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations and safeguarding the company’s reputation.
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory)
Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), now known as Microsoft Entra ID, is a comprehensive identity and access management solution offered by Microsoft 365, enabling businesses to manage user identities and access privileges securely. With features such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Single Sign-On (SSO), Azure AD enhances the security of digital assets by ensuring that only authorised personnel can access critical resources.
It also works alongside conditional access policies to provide stronger control over authentication requirements and access conditions. These identity controls also influence how Microsoft Copilot accesses workplace data, ensuring it only surfaces information that users are permitted to view.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a powerful Microsoft 365 security solution that provides advanced threat intelligence and endpoint security across all devices. It operates by utilising cutting-edge technologies such as machine learning and behavioural analytics to proactively identify and mitigate potential security risks on desktop and mobile devices.
You can integrate Microsoft Defender for Endpoint with Microsoft Intune as a Mobile Threat Defence solution to prevent security breaches by setting up device compliance and conditional access policy to block users from accessing corporate resources from high-risk devices.
Microsoft Purview Compliance Portal (formerly Security and Compliance Centre)
The Microsoft Purview Compliance Portal serves as a centralised hub for managing and monitoring the security posture of an organization. It enables businesses to configure security policies, track potential threats, and gain actionable insights through a unified interface. By leveraging Microsoft Purview and its built-in compliance features, businesses can streamline their security management processes, ensuring adherence to industry-specific compliance requirements.
Secure Score
Microsoft Secure Score is a benchmarking tool that lets organisations evaluate their overall security posture. A score is calculated based on a range of factors, including configurations, user behaviour, and adherence to Microsoft security best practices. Based on the results, the tool provides recommendations on improving security. By following Secure Score’s insights, organisations can enhance threat detection, maintain secure communication, and reduce the likelihood of issues such as business email compromise.
If you only do one thing this quarter, raise your Microsoft Secure Score by 10 points. Each recommendation is concrete, prioritised, and tied to a measurable risk reduction.
Microsoft Teams Security Controls
Microsoft Teams has become a central workspace for many organisations, which means its security configuration has a direct impact on how safely people work every day. Microsoft 365 Teams relies on well-managed user accounts and access policies, allowing admins to control who can view or share information. The tool supports Safe Links and Safe Attachments, which scan URLs, Office documents and other attachments to prevent access to malicious websites and block malicious content.
Administrators can review audit logs to spot unusual behaviour, such as unexpected file-sharing patterns or access attempts coming from unfamiliar locations.
Insider Risk Management
Not every security incident starts outside the business. Insider Risk Management, part of the Microsoft Purview suite, helps organisations identify and address risks from internal users, such as data leakage, intellectual property theft, and security violations.
The system analyses activity across a range of services and uses alerts to highlight behaviour that needs closer attention. When something falls outside normal patterns, Insider Risk Management can trigger automated investigation and review recent events through audit logs to understand what happened.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (formerly Microsoft Cloud App Security)
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is a solution that helps businesses secure their cloud applications by providing visibility into user activities, data exposure, and compliance risks. It monitors cloud-app usage and identifies any suspicious behaviour or security policy violations, enabling businesses to enforce stringent security measures and maintain data integrity within their cloud environment.
Microsoft Entra ID Protection & Conditional Access Policies
Identity protection and conditional access policies are integral components of the Microsoft 365 security framework, focusing on enhancing identity security and regulating access to critical resources. Identity Protection monitors user accounts and implements adaptive security policies to prevent unauthorised access. Conditional access enables organisations to define access policies based on specific user and device conditions.
For example, if an employee’s email is hacked or login credentials are compromised, Identity Protection would immediately detect the suspicious activity and trigger multi-factor authentication measures to verify the user’s identity.
How Sereno Can Help
In this wild digital era, staying secure is the name of the game. So, if you haven’t been leveraging the full potential of Microsoft 365 security features to keep your business safe from all the digital chaos, now’s the time.
If you’re feeling a bit lost in the cybersecurity jungle, fear not, we’ve got your back. Our comprehensive Microsoft 365 support services include cybersecurity solutions that help businesses understand and implement Microsoft 365 security features. From multi-factor authentication to access controls, we’ll guide you through the setup and make sure everything works as it should.
Reach out to us for a free consultation, and we’ll break down the Microsoft 365 security superpowers for you and tailor a plan to fit your unique needs.
Written by
Sahaj Arrora
Part of the Sereno IT team helping growing UK businesses make confident, jargon-free technology decisions. Read more microsoft 365 guidance in our Microsoft 365 library.
