With the increasing number of cyber threats, it is essential for organisations to have a robust security posture. Microsoft Secure Score is a powerful tool designed to help businesses assess and improve their security posture across Microsoft 365 workloads. This blog post will provide an in-depth look at Microsoft Secure Score, its features, and how it can benefit businesses.
What is Microsoft Secure Score?
Microsoft Secure Score is a measurement of an organisation’s security posture, with a higher number indicating more recommended actions taken. It is a part of Microsoft Defender and can be accessed through the Microsoft Defender portal. The Secure Score provides a centralised dashboard where organisations can monitor and work on the security of their Microsoft 365 identities, apps, and devices.
The primary goal of Microsoft Secure Score is to help organisations:
- Report on the current state of their security posture: Secure Score provides a clear and comprehensive view of an organisation’s security status, highlighting areas that need improvement.
- Improve their security posture: By offering discoverability, visibility, guidance, and control, Secure Score helps organisations take actionable steps to enhance their security.
- Compare with benchmarks: Organisations can compare their Secure Score with industry benchmarks and similar organisations to understand where they stand.
- Establish key performance indicators (KPIs): Secure Score helps organisations set and track KPIs related to their security posture.
How Microsoft Secure Score Works
Microsoft Secure Score assigns points for various security-related actions and configurations. These actions are categorised into different areas such as identity, data, device, apps, and infrastructure. The score is updated in real-time to reflect the current state of the organisation’s security posture. Here are some key aspects of how Secure Score works:
- Configuring recommended security features: Organisations earn points by enabling and configuring recommended security features in their Microsoft 365 environment.
- Performing security-related tasks: Points are awarded for completing specific security tasks, such as setting up multi-factor authentication (MFA) or enabling data loss prevention (DLP) policies.
- Addressing recommended actions with non-Microsoft solutions: Secure Score also recognises and awards points for using third-party solutions to address recommended actions.
Some recommended actions provide partial points if they are only partially completed. For example, enabling MFA for some users will earn partial points, while enabling it for all users will earn full points. Organisations can also choose to accept the risk for certain actions if they cannot or do not want to implement them.
Key Features of Microsoft Secure Score
Microsoft Secure Score offers several features that make it a valuable tool for businesses looking to enhance their security posture:
- Centralised Dashboard: The Secure Score dashboard provides a comprehensive view of an organisation’s security posture, highlighting areas that need attention and offering actionable recommendations.
- Visualisations and Metrics: Secure Score offers robust visualisations of metrics and trends, helping organisations understand their security posture over time. These visualisations make it easier to identify patterns and areas for improvement.
- Integration with Other Microsoft Products: Secure Score integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft security products, such as Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, and Microsoft Cloud App Security. This integration provides a holistic view of an organisation’s security posture across different workloads.
- Score Comparison: Organisations can compare their Secure Score with similar organisations and industry benchmarks. This comparison helps businesses understand how they stack up against their peers and identify areas for improvement.
- Customisable Recommendations: Secure Score provides tailored recommendations based on an organisation’s specific environment and security needs. These recommendations are prioritised based on their potential impact on the organisation’s security posture.
- Real-Time Updates: Secure Score is updated in real-time to reflect the current state of an organisation’s security posture. This ensures that businesses always have an accurate and up-to-date view of their security status.
Benefits of Microsoft Secure Score for Businesses
Implementing Microsoft Secure Score can provide several benefits for businesses, including:
- Improved Security Posture: By following the recommendations provided by Secure Score, businesses can significantly enhance their security posture. This reduces the risk of cyberattacks and data breaches, protecting sensitive information and maintaining customer trust.
- Increased Visibility: Secure Score provides a centralised view of an organisation’s security posture, making it easier to identify and address vulnerabilities. This increased visibility helps businesses stay on top of their security and take proactive measures to mitigate risks.
- Actionable Insights: Secure Score offers actionable recommendations that are prioritised based on their potential impact on the organisation’s security posture. This helps businesses focus on the most critical areas and take effective steps to improve their security.
- Benchmarking and Comparison: By comparing their Secure Score with industry benchmarks and similar organisations, businesses can gain valuable insights into their security posture. This benchmarking helps organisations understand where they stand and identify areas for improvement.
- Compliance and Reporting: Secure Score provides detailed reports on an organisation’s security posture, which can be used for compliance and reporting purposes. These reports help businesses demonstrate their commitment to security and meet regulatory requirements.
- Cost Savings: By identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities, businesses can avoid the costly consequences of cyberattacks and data breaches. Implementing Secure Score recommendations can lead to significant cost savings in the long run.
How to Get Started with Microsoft Secure Score
Getting started with Microsoft Secure Score is straightforward. Here are the steps to begin using Secure Score to enhance your organisation’s security posture:
- Access the Secure Score Dashboard: Log in to the Microsoft Defender portal and navigate to the Secure Score dashboard. This dashboard provides an overview of your organisation’s security posture and highlights areas that need attention.
- Review Your Current Score: Take a look at your current Secure Score and compare it with industry benchmarks and similar organisations. This will give you an idea of where your organisation stands and identify areas for improvement.
- Explore Recommended Actions: Secure Score provides a list of recommended actions that can help improve your security posture. Review these recommendations and prioritise them based on their potential impact on your organisation’s security.
- Implement Security Recommendations: Start implementing the recommended actions provided by Secure Score. This may involve configuring security features, performing security-related tasks, or addressing recommended actions with third-party solutions.
- Monitor and Track Progress: Continuously monitor your Secure Score and track your progress over time. The Secure Score dashboard provides real-time updates and visualisations, making it easy to see the impact of your security efforts.
- Engage with Microsoft Security Experts: If you need assistance or have questions about Secure Score, consider engaging with Microsoft security experts. They can provide guidance and support to help you make the most of Secure Score and enhance your organisation’s security posture.
Conclusion
Microsoft Secure Score is a powerful tool that can help businesses assess and improve their security posture across Microsoft 365 workloads. By providing a centralised dashboard, actionable recommendations, and robust visualisations, Secure Score enables organisations to take proactive steps to enhance their security and protect against cyber threats. Implementing Secure Score can lead to improved security, increased visibility, actionable insights, benchmarking and comparison, compliance and reporting, and cost savings. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, businesses can get started with Secure Score and take meaningful steps to enhance their security posture.