Important Microsoft cybersecurity and data privacy updates you need to know about

In a recent article, Microsoft discussed its significant advancements in security offerings from 2022 to provide its customers with enhanced protection against cyber threats. Here are some essential changes that Microsoft has made to its security offering to help us in 2023:

• Zero Trust - Microsoft is expanding its Zero Trust approach to security, which focuses on verifying access requests for every user and device, regardless of location or network. This approach ensures that only authorised users and devices can access corporate resources and helps prevent data breaches.

• Security Score - Microsoft is introducing a new Security Score feature that provides a unified view of an organisation's security posture across its entire Microsoft 365 environment. This feature includes a dashboard that displays an organisation's security score, and recommendations and action plans to improve security.

• Azure Sentinel - Microsoft's cloud-native Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution, Azure Sentinel, is expanding its capabilities with new connectors, improved automation, and enhanced threat intelligence. These updates help organisations to detect and respond to threats more quickly and effectively.

• Passwordless Authentication - Microsoft is promoting passwordless authentication methods, such as biometrics, FIDO2 keys, and the Microsoft Authenticator app, to help reduce the risk of password-based attacks.

• Cloud Security - Microsoft is continuously improving the security of its cloud services, such as Azure, Microsoft 365, and Dynamics 365. This includes new security features such as Cloud App Security, which provides visibility and control over cloud applications, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, which detects and mitigates risks in cloud environments.

Specific software to help Microsoft address these issues in your business comes in the form of:

1. Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) - Microsoft Defender ATP is a cloud-based platform that provides comprehensive endpoint security and protection against threats and attacks.

2. Microsoft Azure Active Directory (AD) - Microsoft Azure AD is a cloud-based identity and access management solution that helps businesses secure and manage access to applications and services.

3. Microsoft Information Protection - Microsoft Information Protection is a data classification and protection solution that helps businesses classify, protect, and monitor sensitive information, regardless of where it's stored or used.

4. Microsoft Cloud App Security - Microsoft Cloud App Security is a cloud-based solution that helps businesses monitor and secure cloud apps, including those from third-party providers.

5. Microsoft Compliance Manager - Microsoft Compliance Manager is a cloud-based solution that helps businesses assess and improve compliance for regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA.

By using Microsoft's cybersecurity and data privacy solutions, businesses can better protect their information, meet compliance requirements, and reduce the risk of data breaches and cyber-attacks.

Need further help assessing how vulnerable your business is to cyber threats? Here’s our guide to common cyber attacks and how to prevent them.