Protect Your Business from Cyberattacks with Office 365 Security Features

Computer with lock attached | office 365 security features

Office 365 Security Features

Office 365 is Microsoft’s powerful cloud-based subscription service for businesses and consumers alike and includes new and improved versions of beloved Microsoft products such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneDrive and many more. Unlike previous iterations of Office where you were required to purchase and install physical software, Office 365 is now completely available for download and can be activated by purchasing a license. Jammed packed with features, Microsoft has stepped up its game when it comes to Office 365 security features. As the software is now cloud-based, Microsoft can quickly release security fixes and patches that can be instantly delivered to end-users via the cloud ensuring that your software always remains up to date, reducing the risk of potential cyberattacks.

 

Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection

Every day over 4,000 small to medium businesses are hit by a cyberattack causing significant financial damage as well as the loss of consumer trust and confidence. In many of these cases, hackers have gained access via email messages, links (URLs) and malicious files that employees have mistakenly accessed. Ensuring employees are provided with sufficient training and guidance regarding potential security breaches when online remains the best method of safeguarding company data; However, accidents can and will happen, fortunately, with Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) your business will have an added layer of front-line defense against potential cyberattacks. Microsoft’s Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection is customisable only by your network’s global administrator, ensuring that your employees do not accidentally alter the security features of your network.

 

Microsoft offers Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection in two plans – Plan 1 which is included in Office 365 ES, Office 365 A5, Office 365 E5, and Office 365 for Business and Plan 2 which is available as an add-on for certain subscriptions. Office 365 Security Features included in Plan 1 include Safe Attachments, Safe Links, ATP for Sharepoint, OneDrive and Microsoft Teams, Advanced antiphishing protection and real-time detections. Plan 2 includes Plan 1 capabilities plus the following automation, investigation, remediation and education capabilities – Threat Trackers, Threat Explorer, Automated investigation and response and an Attack Simulator. Plan 2 offers best-of-class threat investigation and response tools that will allow your business to anticipate, understand and prevent potential security breaches. Key takeaways from some of these Office 365 Security Features include:

 

Safe Attachments

Safe attachments provide protection of your messaging system such as e-mail by checking attachments for malicious content. All e-mail messages are rerouted to a safe environment in which they will are checked before sending them to the intended user. In this way, the chance of an employee accidentally clicking on a malicious attachment without realizing is significantly reduced.

 

Safe Links

Safe links provide a time-of-click verification for URL’s. Links are scanned in e-mails and your Office environment for flagged or known malicious websites and are blocked before employees can access them.

 

Anti-Phishing Protection

Anti-phishing protection detects attempts to impersonate users and domains and applies advanced algorithms to prevent phishing attacks (being sent to imposter websites or receiving emails from fake accounts).

 

Multi Factor Authentication Office 365

Multi Factor Authentication is where a computer requires at least two different pieces of evidence to identify the user. Think of it as having a keycard for work but also needing a fingerprint scan to gain access to your office building. Without multi-factor identification, if an employee was to lose their keycard, there could be a potential security breach in your organisation. Before multi-factor authentication, services on the web would require a password to gain access, the problem lies in that in many cases users would use the same password across multiple sites. If one of these sites were to suffer a data breach, passwords could be leaked which could then be used to gain access to all other services users had the same password for. Microsoft has added cloud-based Multi Factor Authentication Office 365 security features that protect against security breaches in the event that an employee was to have their password stolen.  

 

Multi Factor Authentication Office 365 security features can be activated on the administrator level, requiring all employees to acknowledge a phone call, text message, or an app notification on their smartphone after correctly entering their password before gaining access to Office 365 cloud services. This added layer of protection can ensure that employees company wide maintain a level of alertness when it comes to accessing the company network and it also safeguards company data from potential threats outside of the company’s control – such as if an employee has used the same password across different services and the password has been stolen. Multi Factor Authentication for Office 365 is part of Microsoft’s on-going effort to enhance Office 365 security features ensuring that all subscribers to Office 365 can be safeguarded against potential threats both internal and external.       

Office 365 Antivirus and Antispam Protection

Office 365 offers built-in, state-of-the-art antivirus and antispam protection for Exchange Online mailboxes. All emails are by-default, automatically protected against potential spam and malware, but settings can be customised based on the needs of your business. Spam refers to any unsolicited emails and malware are potential viruses and spyware that are hidden in emails as attachments. Antivirus and Antispam Protection is another powerful Office 365 security feature included as part of the Office 365 cloud-based suite. 

 

Want to find out more about Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection or Multi Factor Authentication Office 365 and how Office 365 security features can safeguard the integrity of your business? Get in touch with us today to learn more or to find out about other IT solutions we can help you with. With Connected Platforms it’s never been easier to migrate from Office 2010 or to set-up a new subscription to Office 365 for your business.

 

 

More blog posts

How to create secure passwords

How to create secure passwords

Weak passwords are one of the biggest security risks to your business.
Why?
Because cyber criminals are getting smarter than ever before. If they manage to crack just one password, they could gain access to your sensitive business data, financial information, or even gain control of your entire system.
Cyber criminals use automated tools to guess passwords, allowing them to try out millions of combinations in seconds. So, if you’re using something like “Password123” or “CompanyName2025”, you’re practically handing them the keys to your business.
A compromised password can lead to big issues, such as:
• Data breaches
• Financial losses
• Identity theft
• Reputation damage
But how do you create strong passwords without driving yourself (and your team) mad?
Think of your password like a secret recipe, where only you should know the ingredients. It should:
• Be at least 14 characters long (the longer, the better)
• Include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters
• Contain a few numbers and symbols (like @, $, %, or &)
• Not contain any common words or easily guessable information (like birthdays, names, or the word “password”)
Instead of using a single word, you could try a passphrase – a short, random sentence that only you would understand. For example, instead of “Sailing2025”, try something like “Coffee&CloudsAreGreat9!”. This is much harder to crack, yet still easy to remember.
You should also steer clear of these common mistakes:
• Using personal info (your name, birthday, business name, etc.)
• Reusing the same passwords across multiple accounts
• Using simple sequences (“123456” or “abcdef”)
• Storing passwords in an easily accessible place (like a sticky note on your desk)
If remembering unique passwords for every account sounds impossible, there is another option: Password managers. These generate strong passwords, store them securely and autofill them for you.
With a password manager, you only need to remember one strong master password for the manager app itself. The rest are encrypted and stored safely, reducing the risk of data breaches.
Even the strongest password isn’t foolproof, which is why multi-factor authentication (MFA) is also important. MFA requires a second form of verification, like a one-time code sent to your phone or generated from an authentication app.
If you have employees accessing your business systems, it’s a good idea to have a password policy in place to explain your rules and why they’re important. This should include:
• Unique passwords for each system and account
• Regular security training on password best practices
• Business-wide use of MFA for critical systems
• Scanning for compromised passwords regularly
By making password security a priority, you can reduce the chances of a cyber attack creating a nightmare for your business.
And if you need help making your business more secure, get in touch.

Beware these common ‘malvertising’ attacks

Beware these common ‘malvertising’ attacks

Ever clicked an online ad and wondered afterwards if it was a scam?… most of us have – and cyber criminals want us to keep doing it. Here’s what to look out for to stop your business’s data (and profits) falling into the wrong hands…

Call Now Button