Top 10 Microsoft 365 Security Settings Every Admin Should Know

Microsoft 365 is a powerful suite of tools that combines productivity, collaboration, and communication services. However, with great power comes great responsibility, especially in terms of security. As an admin, it's crucial to configure and maintain robust security settings to protect your organization's data and user accounts from potential threats. Here are the top 10 Microsoft 365 security settings every admin should know to keep their environment secure.

1. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is one of the most effective ways to enhance security. MFA requires users to provide two or more verification methods before accessing their accounts, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access even if passwords are compromised. To enable MFA in Microsoft 365:

Go to the Microsoft 365 admin center.
Navigate to Users > Active users.
Select the user(s) you want to enable MFA for.
Click on "Manage multi-factor authentication" and follow the prompts to configure it.
2. Conditional Access Policies
Conditional Access policies allow you to control access to your Microsoft 365 resources based on specific conditions such as user location, device state, and risk level. This helps ensure that only authorized users and compliant devices can access sensitive data. To set up Conditional Access policies:

Go to the Azure AD admin center.
Navigate to Security > Conditional Access.
Click on "New policy" and define the conditions and controls you want to apply.
3. Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies help protect sensitive information by preventing its accidental or malicious sharing. DLP policies can be applied across Microsoft 365 services such as Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Microsoft Teams. To create a DLP policy:

Go to the Microsoft 365 compliance center.
Navigate to Data loss prevention > Policy.
Click on "Create a policy" and follow the wizard to configure your DLP settings.
4. Advanced Threat Protection (ATP)
Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) provides comprehensive protection against sophisticated threats like phishing, malware, and ransomware. ATP includes features such as Safe Links, Safe Attachments, and anti-phishing policies. To configure ATP:

Go to the Microsoft 365 security center.
Navigate to Threat management > Policy.
Configure Safe Links, Safe Attachments, and anti-phishing policies as needed.
5. Secure Score
Microsoft Secure Score provides a numerical score that reflects your organization’s security posture, offering recommendations to improve it. Regularly reviewing and acting on Secure Score insights helps enhance overall security. To access Secure Score:

Go to the Microsoft 365 security center.
Navigate to Secure Score.
Review your score and follow the recommendations to improve it.
6. Azure Identity Protection
Azure Identity Protection helps detect and respond to identity-based risks in your environment. It provides real-time risk detection and remediation recommendations. To configure Azure Identity Protection:

Go to the Azure AD admin center.
Navigate to Security > Identity Protection.
Review and configure the risk policies and alerts.
7. Information Protection
Microsoft Information Protection (MIP) allows you to classify, label, and protect sensitive data based on its sensitivity. Labels can be applied manually or automatically to emails, documents, and other content. To configure Information Protection:

Go to the Microsoft 365 compliance center.
Navigate to Information protection > Labels.
Create and configure sensitivity labels as needed.
8. Exchange Online Protection (EOP)
Exchange Online Protection (EOP) provides robust email security features to protect against spam, malware, and phishing attacks. To configure EOP settings:

Go to the Microsoft 365 security center.
Navigate to Threat management > Policy > Anti-spam.
Configure anti-spam, anti-malware, and other protection settings.
9. Mobile Device Management (MDM)
Mobile Device Management (MDM) helps ensure that mobile devices accessing your Microsoft 365 environment are secure and compliant. MDM allows you to enforce security policies, manage device settings, and remotely wipe devices if necessary. To set up MDM:

Go to the Microsoft 365 admin center.
Navigate to Devices > Policies.
Create and configure MDM policies to enforce security on mobile devices.
10. Audit Logging
Audit logging helps track and monitor user and admin activities within Microsoft 365. Enabling audit logs allows you to review logs for security incidents, compliance audits, and troubleshooting. To enable audit logging:

Go to the Microsoft 365 compliance center.
Navigate to Audit.
Click on "Start recording user and admin activities" to enable auditing.
Conclusion
Securing your Microsoft 365 environment requires a proactive approach and a thorough understanding of the available security features. By enabling and configuring these top 10 security settings, you can significantly enhance your organization's security posture, protect sensitive data, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Regularly review and update your security settings to adapt to evolving threats and maintain a robust defense against potential security breaches.