Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is a powerhouse software that is used by over 1 million businesses worldwide. However, because it is used by so many companies, businesses need to ensure that their technology is protected from cyber-attacks.

With over 2,200 cyber-attacks happening per day, ensuring cyber security should be a top priority of any business, especially one that regularly deals with sensitive information. If your business uses Microsoft 365, here is everything you need to know about how to protect your business from cyber-attacks.

What are the biggest cyber threats to Microsoft 365?

The first step to understanding how to protect a Microsoft system from cyber attacks is to know the biggest factors that can affect the security of the software. Here are some of the biggest cyber threats for businesses that use Microsoft 365:

Sensitive data leaks: Microsoft is designed to support data sharing, and while this is certainly a huge advantage of the software, it also creates security risks. Employees can easily (intentionally or unintentionally) share information with a third party, which can result in a data breach and harm business.

Account breaches: As with any system, there is always a chance that a hacker might be able to figure out how to infiltrate an account without having the employee's personal login details. If they manage to do so, they could gain access to sensitive data.

Email security: Phishing attacks happen all of the time, and hackers are getting smarter about how they target users. If successful, hackers can access email accounts to scale up the breach and find more data.

What security features does Microsoft 365 already have?

Of course, as Microsoft 365 is used by so many companies, they have a number of security features to help protect their clients from threats. Here are some of the best security features that 365 offers:

Multi-factor authentication: Microsoft allows for extra protection by allowing you to use both your password and a second authentication method, such as a fingerprint scan or face ID. If a criminal finds your password, they still won’t be able to pass the second authentication step.

Advanced threat protection: This is an add-on but stops ransomware attacks via links. Before an email is sent to your inbox, the attachment is opened in a virtual environment and tested for malicious activity.

Other security features:

  • Encrypted email
  • Data loss potential
  • Device management

What additional security should a business be using?

Although Microsoft 365 offers a number of security features, businesses need to do everything they can to protect their data. Fortunately, there are several security solutions to protect your sensitive information while you use Microsoft 365.

Barracuda: Barracuda is a two cloud-based service that has been designed to protect all business emails by filtering through every inbound and outbound email. This can help to stop spam, viruses and data leaks quickly.

Bitdefender: Bitdefender is antivirus software that works smoothly with Microsoft 365 to provide security to businesses that need protection. This software offers many different features, including SafePay, a fully secure browser that allows you to complete sensitive tasks like online banking. They also offer a vulnerability scanner, password manager and a WIFI security advisor.

How can employees help protect a business from cyber threats?

Keeping your business safe is more about using software to protect your sensitive information. Many employees deal with different and sensitive information and mistakes can happen without them knowing. Therefore, in order to ensure that your business is truly secure, you need to take the time to train your employees on good security practices.

Here are some ways employees can protect themselves and the company from cyber threats:

Training: Cyber security is important as it can help ensure that employees don’t accidentally share information, click on bad links or make mistakes that could leak sensitive information.

Policy: Once training has been completed and employees are aware of what they need to do, you should write a policy that tells employees how they are expected to act in regard to cyber security. Many data breaches happen by accident, so you should not unfairly penalise your team members for accidents.