Businesses depend on data more than ever before to drive strategy and improve business processes. At the same time, remote work broadens the attack surface, and a continually evolving regulatory landscape adds additional complications. To address this complex landscape, Microsoft security services take a three-pronged approach to data protection.
Today’s business organizations typically involve a hybrid environment that includes on-premises, as well as multiple clouds. A hybrid workforce, multi-channel retailing and the demand for remote services necessitate comprehensive security strategies to optimize and protect the business investment.
Microsoft security services include six product families in three primary areas: threat management, identity management and regulatory compliance.
Threat and Vulnerability Management
To prevent, identify and respond to attacks, Microsoft provides the Defender and Sentinel product lines.
Microsoft Defender products combine threat protection with attack detection and response, working across domains, endpoints, and apps. Using built-in AI, Defender automates prevention and remediation, providing 24×7 security. Tools include:
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud – Delivers extended detection and response (XDR) capabilities that secure multi-cloud and hybrid environments.
- Microsoft Defender for IoT – Enables organizations to discover IoT and operational technology in real time, addressing vulnerabilities and protecting against threats.
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint – Provides endpoint detection and response (EDR), using machine learning to inventory each endpoint, as well as the processes and software running on each device. Defender helps protect against breaches and reduces the ability of threats to move laterally within the system.
- Microsoft Defender for Identity – Simplifies access and identity management while monitoring Active Directory accounts for suspicious activity.
- Microsoft Defender for Office 365 – Secures email, documents, and collaboration across the Office 365 environment.
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps – Acts as a firewall in the cloud, providing visibility and protection for cloud services and apps.
Microsoft Sentinel augments security with scalable, cloud-native security incident event monitoring (SIEM) and security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR). Sentinel gathers and analyzes data at scale from all devices, users, and applications in the organization’s network. Using AI, it then hunts and investigates threats, allowing rapid incident response.
Identity Management
Microsoft tools for managing identity include Microsoft Entra and Microsoft Intune.
Entra provides sophisticated tools for identity governance to ensure appropriate access and simplify regulatory compliance. It automates the processes of creating identities and updating access when employees change roles or leave the company. Thus, it protects against privilege elevation by ensuring that users have exactly the access they need to system resources.
Microsoft Intune, on the other hand, provides cloud-based endpoint management, simplifying management of users, devices, and apps. For instance, employees can use the self-service features to reset passwords and install apps. Likewise, automated policy deployment allows IT to quickly deploy policies to user and device groups in response to threats.
Compliance and Privacy
Data security has become nearly inseparable from regulatory compliance and privacy concerns. Microsoft Purview and Microsoft Priva deliver powerful tools to help organizations achieve and maintain compliance.
The information governance features of Microsoft Purview deliver critical data visibility through an elastic data map and powerful search options. Organizations can use customized sensitivity and retention labels to monitor data across environments. And additional Purview tools provide encryption and prevent unintentional data sharing.
Microsoft Priva helps organizations address privacy risks at scale. Using customizable policy templates, Priva helps organizations reduce the risk of data exposure by controlling access to and transfers of personal data. It also provides the tools necessary to help organizations respond to individuals’ requests to view and manage their personal data.
Microsoft Security Services for Small Business
To activate the full suite of Microsoft security services, organizations need a Microsoft 365 E5 license. But even very small businesses face the threat of attack, and in many cases, they do not have a security operations team on staff. To address this need, Microsoft offers Microsoft Defender for Business, designed to deliver enterprise-grade endpoint protection to SMBs.
Available as a standalone application or as part of Microsoft 365 for Business Premium, Defender for Business moves beyond traditional antivirus and anti-malware. Instead of protecting a single device, Defender looks across all devices, users, and activities, automating the process of protecting, detecting and responding to threats.
As a Microsoft Gold Partner, eMazzanti can help organizations of all sizes identify security vulnerabilities and implement a comprehensive security strategy designed to fit their needs and budget. Start with a complimentary Cyber Security Awareness Kit to learn more about the threats you face and what can be done to protect your business.
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