Microsoft 365: the best solution to protect your data comprehensively

Security in the handling of the data you generate is essential to protect yourself from cyber attacks. Discover what security Microsoft 365 can do for you and why it’s such a must-have tool.

Microsoft 365: the best solution to protect your data

The common denominator of Microsoft 365 services is simple: your data belongs to you. In other words, the company will never sell them to third parties for profit. In addition, the programme guarantees you the following advantages:

• Strict compliance with the GDPR and privacy standards such as ISO/IEC 27018.
• Access to independent audit reports. Other companies certify that Microsoft complies with its privacy obligations. You will then be able to check whether you also meet the standard.
• Your data is only processed with your consent. It is when you sign the contract that you can select how the information will be managed. Data mining is neither practised nor used for advertising-related research.
• Subcontractors do not have access to your data. If Microsoft hires an outside company to do work for you, it will honour the agreement you signed. You can check who the subcontractors are on the company’s website.
• The choice of the data center. You can choose between Microsoft Azure, Power Platform, Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Dynamics 365. Regarding the residence of your data, it is accessible anywhere in the world and always in compliance with the regulations of each country.

How Microsoft 365 security tools can protect your data

The data security policy offered by Microsoft is verified with the use of different tools:

• The Microsoft cloud is responsible for encrypting data at rest with functionality up to AES-256 (a 256-bit key that encrypts blocks of messages). This makes it easier for you to choose the alternative that best suits your business.
• TLS (Transport Layer Security) and Ipsec (Internet Protocol Security) are two protocols that encrypt data in transit.
• Azure Key Vault allows you to manage keys, access passwords, and other types of encryption.

How Microsoft Identity and Access can help you protect your data

Identity and access are managed by Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure). Data protection is guaranteed thanks to:

• Zero trust. The concept allows you to create a security strategy that focuses on the identities (human or cyber) that can access your system. The objective is to control all access requests to your local or multi-cloud environment.
• Risk assessment. It will be up to you to schedule regular risk assessment and granular (layered) controls. You have to automatically protect your company by preventing both unauthorised access and dangerous identities. Staying one step ahead of cybercriminals is highly recommended.
• Innovation continues. At Microsoft, identity and access solutions are continually evolving to keep pace with your needs.
• The satisfaction of system users. Customers, partners and employees will have the option to customise their login to more easily access the resources they will use.

How Microsoft data encryption can help you protect your data

Encryption consists of converting data into a code. It affects data both at rest and in transit and prevents unauthorised users from accessing it. However, they will be able to find out where they are located. This technology included in Microsoft 365 is mainly used to protect:

• All personal information of clients and employees.
• The financial data, your company and customer data, as well as financial statements and banking information.
• The health information such as service received, test results or diagnoses.
• Data relating to industrial and intellectual property such as patents and business secrets.
• The business operations as the characteristics of the production process and the supply chain.

The most common threats

Encryption protection is vital to avoid threats such as the following:

• Hacking understood as an attempt to steal data using a computer medium. Damage to files or networks can occur and can end up severely affecting the digital environment of any organisation. The direct consequence of this is business interruption. Threats such as phishing (identity theft) or malware (spyware or Trojans) are included in this section.
• Data leak. It could be intentional or accidental and caused by negligence. Without encryption, your company would be totally exposed to anyone who wanted to access the most compromised information.
• The theft of data. It is possible to use them for sale on the darkweb or to obtain financial benefits.

How Microsoft Data Protection can help you protect your data

The data protection included in Microsoft Purview Information Protection is divided into four sections:

• The integrated capabilities of other brand services, such as Microsoft 365. They help to protect and label data for correct classification.
• The intelligent classifiers. Classification is accurate and each classifier can be programmed thanks to machine learning and exact data matching.
• A single administration console. All policies can be configured and managed while scanning both the local environment and the applications included in Microsoft 365.
• Trust in an extensible platform. The protection does not only apply to Microsoft applications, but also to other widely used options designed by other companies. Incorporating a specific SDK (software development kit) helps to achieve optimal results.

Data protection is an appropriate preventive measure against the actions of cyber criminals. Thus, the use of Microsoft 365 and the other options mentioned above contributes to increasing security in information management. Its use is synonymous with success and continuous adaptability to emerging security challenges on the Internet.