Understand How Secure is Office 365?

One of the major concerns that hold many organizations back from switching their infrastructure to cloud is security. For an IT professional, it is really important to use the latest security measures to keep their data protected running the organization at high speed. Therefore, it always really difficult for the user to trust a third-party service like MS Office 365. But to keep all employees of an organization on the same page, it is beneficial to use Office 365 by Microsoft. However, Office 365 provides an easy access to all services anywhere without any other application dependency. Before switching to the cloud, users always think about the security. Thus, keeping this concern of users in mind we have covered how secure is Office 365 in detail.

Different Inbuilt Security Tools Offered Microsoft Office 365

There are several inbuilt security tools provided by Microsoft in order to keep all data safe from unauthorized users. However, all these features are given to each and every account holder but need to be enabled first as by default they are turned off.

1. Multi-factor Authentication: Every Microsoft Office 365 accounts use single login in order to use the email and cloud services. It becomes easier for the users with the help of this simplistic feature. However, it also becomes easy for an unauthorized user to break into multiple accounts. Moreover, if they are in one of the employee accounts, then it becomes really easy for them to get into any other employee account also.

Thus, it will be better to keep your account safe & secure. For this one needs to turn on or enable multi-factor authentication for each of your employees. And for this, one needs to sign to Office 365 account first and then navigate to Office 365 admin center.

1. Now, go to Users and click on Active Users button
2. After that, click on the More and Setup Azure multi-factor auth in the Admin center
3. Then, look for the users for whom you want to turn on multi-factor authentication. If required, then you can change the view also according to your needs from the top to see all users
4. Next, check the respective box of the users for whom you want to enable multi-factor authentication
5. After that, from the right-hand side, choose Enable option
6. At last, a new dialog box will pop-up. Click enable multi-factor auth option

Now, its time to setup the two-factor verification and for that follow the section below.

2. Two Factor Authentication: After enabling multi-factor authentication, it's time to set up 2-factor verification service. The main motive of this feature is that it asks users to enter an additional code while signing into any browser-based accounts. A random code is generated, which comes via text message, phone call, any other email, or via MS Authenticator app.

To start the process after multi-factor authentication, each employee needs to log in to their account first.

1. As you logged in to account, choose Set it now option
2. After that, choose the desired authentication method, which suits you best and follows the instruction displayed on the screen
3. As you done with the above step, Microsoft will ask you for the secondary code whenever login again. However, the code is received by you via method selected during the setup.

A user can select multiple verification methods that are recommended ad in the event a user is not allowed to access your conventional method.

3. Setting Up App Password: After enabling multi-factor authentication, employees are allowed to set application passwords for the different applications. However, if a user is using a desktop-based application like Outlook, then one must have a particular application password yo log in, not a traditional password. However, if a user is using two-factor authentication, then for a non-browser application it is necessary to set a separate password.

Steps to Set up Password for an Application:

1. First of all, login to your Microsoft Office 365 account and use both the password and the verification code
2. After that, select to set and then click on the Microsoft Office 365
3. Choose the Security and Privacy >> Additional security verification
4. Then, on the Addition Security Verification page, select update my phone numbers used for account security option. It will bring up the page with the application password setting
5. After that, select the App Passwords from the top of the page
6. Now, click on the Create button and Microsoft will create a random password.
7. Simply copy the password to clipboard. No need to write it down or memorize it.
8. Next, open the application that requires a password
9. After that, when it asks, simply paste the password into password box. However, verify that you have checked the “remember my credentials” box before clicking on the OK button

When it is stored, application saves the password in the memory. Every time you change the account password, you have to generate a new password for each application.

How CloudCodes Help in Saving Office 365?

As it is clear that Microsoft provides average backup support for all Office 365 services. So, to maintain high-security protocols, a user can take help from CloudCodes. It offers different type of security to Office 365 and all of them are discussed below:

Access Control: It provides granular visibility and proper control on the devices that are using Office 365. It has different set of restriction like login time restriction, browser restriction, IP restriction, etc.

DLP: Data Loss Prevention will not allow users to move confidential data outside the organization network. It uses standard DLP policies that prevent data failure via instant blocking.

Single Sign-On (SSO): Security of Office 365 is done by setting strong password for all the application. It also allows users to use on-premises program from any mobile devices.

Identity Management: It provides great measures for handling identity enterprise security. It becomes easy for the administrator to manage users identifications via an identity management platform.

Shadow IT: It basically provides a balancing demands between the users and organization for proper security and compliance. It handles all potential threats such as data breaches.

Value Add-on: Appending a new Add-ons in the existing ones will obviously improve the functionality of office 365.

Most of the organizations use cloud-based services and for the security is a major concern. Microsoft Office 365 has reaches the height of popularity due to which it is important to understand how secure is Office 365. As discussed Microsoft offers various features for security. Moreover, one can use the services offered by CloudCodes for better security results.