How to stop getting attacked in Microsoft 365

 Hey, you’ll never believe what happened at work the other day. So, we have this Microsoft 365 tenant, right? Everything was running smoothly until we noticed some unusual activity on one of our user accounts. It turns out, someone was trying to brute force their way in!

At first, we thought it might just be a fluke, but the attempts kept coming. It was like watching a relentless wave crashing against a sturdy wall. The attacker was trying every possible password combination to break in. It was pretty intense.

We immediately took action. First, we enabled multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all our users. This added an extra layer of security, making it much harder for anyone to get in without the proper credentials. Then, we set up conditional access policies to restrict login attempts from suspicious locations.

But the attacks didn’t stop. It was clear that this wasn’t just some random hacker; they were determined. So, we decided to block the IP addresses from which the attacks were originating. This significantly reduced the number of attempts, but we didn’t stop there.

We also educated our users about the importance of strong, unique passwords and how to recognize phishing attempts. It was a team effort, and everyone was on board to ensure our data stayed safe.

In the end, we managed to block the attacker and secure our tenant. It was a bit of a roller coaster, but it felt great to know that our proactive measures paid off. Plus, it was a good reminder of how important it is to stay vigilant and prepared for any security threats.

So you're being attacked in Microsoft 365. What do you do? First you need to see the attack type. It's probably a brute force attack if the attacker keeps trying to login and failing. There are a number of steps you can do to protect yourself from this type of attack.

1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): This adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to verify their identity through a second method, such as a phone call, text message, or app notification.
2. Conditional Access Policies: Implement policies that restrict access based on specific conditions, such as location, device compliance, or risk level. This can help prevent unauthorized access from unfamiliar locations.
3. Disable Legacy Authentication: Legacy authentication protocols do not support MFA and are more vulnerable to brute force attacks. Disabling these protocols can significantly reduce your risk.
4. Password Policies: Ensure that your password policies enforce strong, complex passwords and regular password changes. This makes it harder for attackers to guess passwords.
5. Monitor and Respond: Regularly monitor sign-in activity and set up alerts for suspicious behavior. This allows you to respond quickly to potential threats.

By combining these strategies, you can create a robust defense against brute force attacks and enhance the overall security of your Microsoft 365 environment.

If you need more detailed guidance on any of these steps, feel free to ask!