• Microsoft 365 is a powerful business platform, but organizations aren’t realizing its full potential, such as with M365 cybersecurity capabilities.
• M365 provides capabilities such as identity and access management, data security and data loss prevention, and monitoring of cyberthreats.
• A managed service provider can help organizations get the most out of their deployment with an M365 security assessment.

While Microsoft 365 (M365) is a versatile business platform with myriad cybersecurity capabilities built in, many companies haven’t received the full value from the platform.

That’s because, in part, organizations can leave the door wide open to cyberthreats. According to one study of 1.6 million Microsoft 365 users, 90% of organizations have gaps in their configuration settings that leave them vulnerable to attacks.

The right managed service provider (MSP) can address these gaps by providing expertise and services that boost the value of M365. MSPs can help organizations elevate their cybersecurity and compliance posture by shouldering the burden of email encryption, identity and access management, ensuring M365 data security, implementing security best practices, and monitoring for the latest cyberthreats.

The first step in getting the right MSP guidance is an assessment of your Microsoft environment. A M365 (Microsoft 365) security assessment can help you by identifying vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and potential security risks within your M365 environment, ultimately strengthening your overall security posture. It provides actionable recommendations and insights to mitigate threats and enhance your compliance with regulatory requirements.

 

Key Microsoft 365 features that a Microsoft Assessment can analyze

Let’s explore some of the key areas where an M365 security assessment can help an organization maximize the value of Microsoft 365 cybersecurity and compliance capabilities.

• Authentication methods and access policies. Formerly Azure Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID offers features like single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and conditional access to ensure secure user access.

MFA adds a layer of security by requiring users to verify their identity using a second factor in addition to their password. This can be done through methods like passwordless or push verification. Conditional access enables system administrators to define policies that control access to resources based on various factors, such as location, device type, or user role.

Many organizations are failing to turn on multifactor authentication, however. In one recent survey, only 38% of small to midsize organizations use MFA. Similarly, almost 97% of large organizations have an enforced password policy, compared to just under 88% of small to midsize organizations. By centralizing identity management in Microsoft Entra ID, MSPs can help organizations maintain a secure access framework and prevent excessive access and potential misuse of user privileges.

• Data loss prevention (DLP) controls. Organizations handle sensitive information such as credit card and Social Security numbers, proprietary data, and more. Regulatory requirements as well as solid client relationships require these organizations to be careful stewards of sensitive data and protect that information. With Microsoft Purview, organizations can implement data loss prevention by defining and applying DLP policies.

MSPs can help organizations maximize these capabilities by providing the expertise to effectively design, implement, and manage these DLP policies within Purview, ensuring they are tailored to the specific data landscape and compliance needs of the business.

• Microsoft Defender for Office 365 settings. As many organizations are aware, applications such as Microsoft Outlook can create significant vulnerabilities. A staggering 64% of businesses reported facing email attacks in 2024, with a typical financial loss averaging $150,000 per incident. MSPs can help organizations by effectively implementing and managing Microsoft Defender for Office 365.

This involves securing email by protecting against phishing and spoofing attacks, blocking malicious email attachments, defending against malware threats, and using Microsoft Defender to investigate and remediate threats by deleting malicious email messages. Finally, MSPs can help close the gap on one of the greatest vulnerabilities in email security. They can simulate phishing attacks, train users, and ultimately reduce user vulnerability.

• Exchange Online, SharePoint, and Teams security settings. In addition to the identity and access management and email security strategies cited previously, managed service providers can help organizations create custom SharePoint groups with appropriate user permissions and avoid modifying default groups. They can also secure Teams by limiting guest access to specific teams and channels to reduce the risk of unauthorized data exposure. MSPs can also establish policies to control user access based on signals such as user location, device compliance, or network location. MSPs can shoulder the burden of regularly reviewing and updating permissions as employees, contractors, and other members of the organization shift in and out of the organization.

• Endpoint management configuration. Endpoint management can be onerous and time-consuming, but MSPs can make tasks more repeatable while also bolstering security. Consider that 54% of organizations cited endpoint detection and response as a money waster because respondents lacked the resources to run the product effectively. At the same time, Indeed, according to one estimate, 68% of firms had suffered one or more endpoint assaults that successfully compromised data and/or IT infrastructure.

Managed service providers can centralize management capabilities to apply consistent security policies among all devices—whether these devices are iOS, Windows, or Android devices. They can also speed device configuration by expediting device onboarding, reducing setup time to approximately 15 to20 minutes per device. MSPs can also remotely wipe devices, ensuring data security without the need for physical device retrieval.

MSPs configure Intune to automate the deployment of software applications and updates across all managed devices.

• Mobile device management (MDM) implementation. While organizations have a 67% adoption rate for MDM technologies, many still encounter challenges managing multiple devices in an automated way.

By using an MDM platform, MSPs can remotely monitor and manage devices, even with various operating systems. MSPs can centralize tasks like provisioning, policy enforcement, application deployment, and security updates, all from a centralized console. Centralizing and standardizing policies reduce error and vulnerability to threats.

Compliance and governance. Microsoft 365 includes a compliance portal, Microsoft Purview, and centralized hub for various compliance solutions. The portal helps organizations manage data protection, governance, and risk management among services within M365 and includes tools to managed data retention policies, meet regulatory requirements, and manage data lifecycles.

 

How an Integris Microsoft 365 security assessment can help your organization

An MSP like Integris can help you take back the reins on your cybersecurity posture by assessing your current state, identifying gaps in your use of Microsoft 365, optimizing licensing, and centralizing management of key cybersecurity areas.

Partnering with a managed service provider, like Integris, offers optimized deployment of Microsoft 365, proactive monitoring, and strategic planning to optimize your use of Microsoft 365 tools.

Your internal IT team—and your business as a whole—can then focus on core business objectives while ensuring your IT environment runs smoothly and securely.

Our Microsoft 365 security and compliance assessment can enhance your organization’s IT infrastructure by improving security, compliance, cost-efficiency, and overall productivity.

If you want more information on how Integris can help with a Microsoft assessment, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Integris contact here.