Microsoft 365 is a comprehensive suite of cloud-based services that includes Office applications, email, collaboration tools, and more. Ensuring the security of your Microsoft 365 tenant is crucial to protect sensitive data and maintain compliance with industry standards. This blog post will guide you through the steps to conduct a thorough security assessment of your Microsoft 365 tenant, covering key settings and configurations that should be checked.
Access and Identity Management
Azure Active Directory (AAD)
User Accounts: Review all user accounts for any inactive or unnecessary accounts. Ensure that each account has the appropriate level of access.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Verify that MFA is enabled for all users, especially for administrative accounts.
Conditional Access Policies: Check the conditional access policies to ensure they are configured to enforce MFA, restrict access based on location, device compliance, and risk level.
Password Policies: Ensure strong password policies are in place, including complexity requirements and expiration periods.
Administrative Roles and Permissions
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Global Admins: Limit the number of global administrators to the minimum necessary. Review the roles assigned to ensure they are appropriate.
Privileged Identity Management (PIM): Use PIM to manage, control, and monitor access to important roles. Ensure that just-in-time access is configured for administrative roles.
Data Protection
Microsoft Information Protection (MIP)
Sensitivity Labels: Implement sensitivity labels to classify and protect data. Ensure labels are applied consistently across the tenant.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Configure DLP policies to prevent sensitive information from being shared outside the organisation. Review the policies to ensure they cover all necessary data types and locations.
Email Security
Exchange Online Protection (EOP)
Anti-Malware and Anti-Spam Policies: Verify that anti-malware and anti-spam policies are configured and up-to-date.
Safe Links and Safe Attachments: Ensure Safe Links and Safe Attachments are enabled to protect users from malicious URLs and attachments.
Phishing Protection: Review and configure anti-phishing policies to protect against phishing attacks.
Compliance and Auditing
Compliance Manager
Assessments: Use Compliance Manager to conduct assessments based on regulatory requirements and industry standards. Review the score and recommendations provided.
Audit Logs: Ensure audit logging is enabled for all services. Regularly review audit logs for any suspicious activities.
Security Centre and Threat Management
Microsoft 365 Defender
Threat Protection: Verify that Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is configured to provide advanced threat protection.
Security Alerts: Review security alerts and incidents regularly. Ensure that alerts are being monitored and responded to promptly.
Attack Surface Reduction: Implement attack surface reduction rules to minimise the risk of exploitation.
Endpoint Security
Microsoft Endpoint Manager
Device Compliance Policies: Ensure device compliance policies are configured to enforce security requirements on all managed devices.
App Protection Policies: Implement app protection policies to secure corporate data within mobile apps.
Backup and Recovery
Data Backup
Backup Policies: Verify that backup policies are in place for critical data. Ensure regular backups are performed and stored securely.
Recovery Plans: Review recovery plans to ensure they are comprehensive and tested regularly.
Conclusion
Conducting a security assessment on your Microsoft 365 tenant involves a thorough review of various settings and configurations to ensure the protection of your data and compliance with industry standards. Regular assessments and updates to security policies are essential to maintain a secure environment. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can identify potential vulnerabilities and take proactive measures to enhance the security of your Microsoft 365 tenant.