Enhancing Security in MS365 with Zero Trust Access Policies
Many organizations rely on Microsoft Office for productivity and collaboration, especially in a post-COVID world where remote work is prevalent. While MS365 offers a seamless out-of-the-box experience, it may not always prioritize security. However, MS365 has robust security controls that, when configured correctly, enable Zero Trust Secure Access to the environment. This high-level set of recommended policies can bolster your MS365 security:
- Import Hardware IDs and Register Devices: Import hardware IDs into Microsoft and register all devices with Microsoft InTune.
- Geographic Restrictions: Block connections from countries where you don’t have users.
- Cloud-Based Secure Gateway: If budget permits, deploy a cloud-based secure gateway and allow connections only from behind it.
- Compliance Rules and Reports: Enable compliance rules and run reports to monitor device OS and patch levels. Block connections from devices that fail compliance checks.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enable MFA for all users and devices.
- MFA Best Practices: Limit MFA to phishing-resistant devices like FIDO2-compliant hardware keys. Block MFA through SMS, phone calls, and secondary email addresses.
- Legacy Authentication: Block legacy authentication methods for Exchange Online.
With these policies in place, even if a user’s credentials are compromised, an attacker must breach multiple layers of security to gain access. Physical device access, MFA compromise, and compliance checks make unauthorized access highly unlikely. Implementing these policies is crucial to securing your MS365 environment and safeguarding your data from skilled hackers. If you need assistance, we’re here to help. Let’s enhance the security of MS365 tenants, one tenant at a time.
#CyberSecurity #MS365 #ZeroTrust #nForceIT
