But Office 365 isn't just popular with business users. The widespread implementation of Office 365 makes it an attractive target for cybercriminals, especially in the wake of COVID-19.
In times of turmoil, malicious actors take advantage of people's fear and uncertainty, knowing that they are distracted by global events and may be less diligent about internet security. As a result, the pandemic has led to an increase in cyber-attacks, especially phishing and other user-driven social engineering threats that deploy malware.
COVID-19 has also revealed new security vulnerabilities when millions of businesses have had to quickly set up remote working environments without adequate security infrastructure. Employees accessing sensitive company resources from outside the firewall - often through a virtual private network (VPN), many of which use devices outside the company - the attack surface grew exponentially almost overnight.
As the pressure begins to ease and businesses search for the best solution, one of the first places to start is to strengthen Office 365 data security. Navigating normally in the new world of business is hard enough, without that it does not result in a data breach or a ransomware attack.
As a leader in business application services, Office 365 takes care of the infrastructure very well, but it's up to you to protect your data. Microsoft offers Office 365 backup on a shared responsibility model, which means they maintain the platform uptime, but it is the user's responsibility to prevent data loss.
If you feel that your current data protection plan is insufficient to tackle the increased levels of current cyber threats, now is a good time to reassess your process. Consider the following four critical areas when creating an Office 365 data protection policy.
1. INVEST IN A LONG-TERM PRESERVATION SOLUTION
Long-term data retention is crucial in the event of a major system failure, but Office 365 is not designed for that.
For example, Office 365 only keeps items in the recycle bin for 90 days. If the recycle bin is emptied, the items cannot be recovered. Office 365 also does not support over time recovery , which further complicates data recovery. Without the possibility of point-in-time recovery, your data will only be current from the last backup.
By investing in a long-term data retention solution that offers granular recovery from any point and fast recovery to Office 365, you can be sure your data will not be lost forever if your system crashes. Out of order.
2. USE THIRD-PARTY DATA PROTECTION
Microsoft's shared responsibility model places the responsibility for protecting Office 365 data on the user. To protect critical assets against a variety of threats, such as ransomware and phishing, as well as intentional deletion files, human errors and software bugs, you need a third-party data protection solution.
When considering an Office 365 data protection solution, make sure that it offers the latest security technologies, such as AI-powered cyber protection and offsite or cloud backup for disaster recovery.
Choose an Office 365 data protection tool that includes comprehensive protection for all Office 365 services, including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive for Business, as well as all of your physical, virtual, and cloud workloads.
3. MITIGATE LEGAL RISK AND MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE
No one wants to be on the wrong side of a compliance audit. Data loss and the exposure of user data can cost businesses exorbitant amounts in fines and legal fees, not to mention loss of reputation and trust, which can hit a company's bottom line hard.
Office 365 Litigation Hold can be used to preserve data for a period of time for eDiscovery, but it does not offer protection against the potential legal consequences of data loss or absence.
Litigation Hold should never be seen as a substitute for data backup. Your third-party data protection solution should be your primary line of defense to maintain compliance and protect data from breaches that could result in fines or settlements.
Look for a data protection solution that offers built-in auditing and compliance capabilities such as AES encryption and strong identity and access management capabilities (more on this below).
4. MAKE ACCESS CONTROL A PRIORITY
The Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recently released a list of recommendations to protect Office 365 from cyber-attacks.
According to the report, access management is essential to maintaining a secure Office 365 environment. According to the report, access management is essential to maintaining a secure Office 365 environment. Some of the most common access vulnerabilities are over-privileged users who have access to sensitive data that they shouldn't have access to, and insecure administration accounts that create weak spots for hackers.
All it takes is a poorly secured account or an accidental click on a malicious link for a hacker to break into and move sideways through the system. Once they find an unprotected privileged account, the attacker can move vertically to critical business applications, and your organization is almost guaranteed to be negatively affected.
Implementing an Office 365 data protection solution that provides a unified management console and role-based access control and administration will add a layer of protection between your sensitive digital assets and potential threats to the environment. security.
PROTECT OFFICE 365 AGAINST DATA LOSS AND DOWNTIME
Office 365 has established itself as a leading SaaS business solution. With hundreds of millions of users, it's no wonder that Office 365 has become a prime target for malicious actors. Protecting your Office 365 infrastructure should be a top priority to avoid data loss and costly recovery operations. Office 365 disaster recovery solution is a good choice to get as a backup and recovery tool.
By employing a solution provider with decades of experience
focused on protecting Office 365 data, you'll increase security and minimize
your business's attack surface. A trusted vendor will assure you that your data
loss prevention and disaster recovery initiatives are fully engaged.
