Cyber threats are evolving. And every year, newer and bigger threats are emerging. So it’s only natural to check your security posture if you continuously want to prevent known (and unknown) vulnerabilities. And one way to do that is with Microsoft Secure Score.
Being on top of your Microsoft Secure Score means you’re more likely to increase your security strength than other companies in your industry. You - or your cyber security services company - can use every security feature available in Microsoft 365 that you may have missed before.
In this article, we will cover Microsoft Secure Score. We will highlight what it is, what it does, how it can help you, and more!
What is Microsoft Secure Score?
Microsoft Secure Score is a security analytics tool that aims to make your organisation safer by providing insights into its security posture.
It gives you a score based on the security controls you implemented in your infrastructure, the vulnerabilities in your systems, their severity, and how you can mitigate them. The higher the score, the more secure you are.
Microsoft Secure Score’s goal is to help you protect yourself and your business from cyber threats. You will have a dashboard containing detailed information about your infrastructure that you can use to monitor and improve the security of your Microsoft 365 apps, devices, and many others.
The tool also provides recommendations to improve your Secure Score by suggesting changes to your existing policies or introducing new ones. These suggestions are based on best practices and recommended by Microsoft and other industry experts. With these recommendations, you can improve your overall security posture and reduce your likelihood of attacks.
Microsoft Secure Score is available to all Microsoft 365 customers with Exchange Online, SharePoint Online or OneDrive for Business plans.
What can Microsoft Secure Score do for you?
Hackers are always on the lookout for vulnerabilities to exploit. And by following the recommendations to improve your security measures and raise your security score, you can enforce your defences further.
To be more specific, Microsoft Secure Score has convenient features for improving your security, such as reviewing current security configurations, setting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and action plans, measuring system improvements, providing specific details about your IT infrastructure, and sending recommendations and visual graphs. These recommendations are specific action plans designed to strengthen the security of your Microsoft products.
What is a good Microsoft 365 Secure Score?
Microsoft Secure Score can help you gauge the security posture of their Microsoft 365 environment. A numerical value that indicates how well-protected your data is will enable you to monitor and improve your security posture over time.
But what exactly makes for a good Microsoft 365 Secure Score?
Reaching a 100% Secure Score should be the goal for any business or individual. But understandably, that can be a challenging feat, especially if cyber security is not your top skill since it will require extensive knowledge of setting up security environments on a business level. Although having an 80% Security Score or above is also considered secure enough based on Microsoft Standards.
Having a 60% Security Score and below means you’re vulnerable to security threats and need to implement industry-standard security practices to prevent hackers from getting their hands on your data.
It’s always better to settle your Security Score as soon as you can to prevent current and new threats that may come your way. And to do that, you will need a little more technical knowledge and experience in your team to effectively fortify your infrastructure. Engage with your IT team or cyber security service provider to devise effective ways of raising your Security Score so you can focus on your goals.
Microsoft 365 Secure Score improvement actions
Many organisations struggle with improving their Microsoft 365 Secure Score due to a lack of understanding of how it works.
To improve your Security Score, it is essential to start by prioritising your security initiatives based on the highest impact areas identified by the tool. For instance, if you have multiple users with weak passwords or multi-factor authentication disabled, these are some areas that you should prioritise first. By focusing on high-impact actions that are easier to accomplish first, you can quickly boost your Security Score while building momentum towards more complex tasks.
Another way to improve your Microsoft 365 Secure Score is by leveraging additional security features offered within the platform. Ensure you enable security features like multi-factor authentication, data encryption, data backup, access controls, anti-spam, and more.
And third, consider implementing policies that ensure consistent security across all users and devices in your organisation. You can use this guide to create your cybersecurity policies.
Enhance your cyber security posture
Cyber security is a top priority for every organisation. With the ever-increasing number of cyber attacks, companies must ensure that their defences are up-to-date and effective. Fortunately, Office Solutions IT can help you enhance your Microsoft Secure Score and improve your cyber security posture.
Microsoft Secure Score is a tool that helps organisations measure their security posture across various Microsoft products and services. It provides recommendations to improve the security of your infrastructure and reduce the risk of a data breach or other security incident. Following these recommendations means you can increase your overall security score.
In addition, Microsoft 365 Secure Score provides an even more comprehensive assessment of your security posture. The tool goes beyond measuring your security infrastructure as it includes user behaviour analytics and threat intelligence.
Want to improve your Microsoft Secure Score?
Ask your IT provider about your Microsoft Secure Score or alternatively get in touch with the Office Solutions IT Team today so we can help you stay protected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Microsoft Secure Score calculated?
Microsoft Secure Score is calculated based on your organisation's current security settings and ongoing activities within the Microsoft 365 platform. You'll see your Microsoft Secure Score as a percentage, giving you a snapshot of your organisation's security posture. Just a heads up, your Microsoft Secure Score is updated daily at 1 AM Pacific Time, and it might take a few hours to finish recalculating.
How do I increase my secure score?
Microsoft will provide solutions on how to improve your Secure Score. The biggest game-changers for your score include turning on multi-factor authentication for that extra security layer, using data encryption to keep your information safe even if someone sneaky tries to access it, and setting up role-based access controls.
Is Microsoft Secure Score free?
Microsoft Secure Score is a free tool that offers valuable insights and recommendations to help organisations boost their security posture. If you're using Microsoft 365, you can easily access information to spot potential vulnerabilities in your systems and take proactive steps to mitigate those risks.
