Enhance Your Security with Zero Trust in Microsoft 365

In today's cloud-first, hybrid-working world, traditional perimeter-based security models are no longer sufficient. The rise of remote work, BYOD (bring your own device), and SaaS applications has expanded the attack surface, making it essential to rethink how we secure access to corporate resources.

Enter Zero Trust: a modern security strategy designed for the realities of the modern workplace.

Discover how our expert team can help you safeguard your organisation with Microsoft's powerful security tools. Enhance your security posture and protect your valuable assets with comprehensive, cutting-edge solutions.

What is Zero Trust?

Zero Trust is a security model based on the principle of "never trust, always verify". Unlike traditional models that assume everything inside the corporate network is safe, Zero Trust assumes breach and verifies every access request as though it originates from an open network.

The three core principles of Zero Trust

1. Verify explicitly
   Always authenticate and authorise based on all available data points: user identity, location, device health, data classification, and anomalies.
2. Use least privileged access
   Limit user access with just-in-time and just-enough-access (JIT / JEA) principles to reduce the blast radius of potential breaches.
3. Assume breach
   Design systems with the assumption that a breach has already occurred. Segment access, monitor continuously, and respond quickly.

Why use Zero Trust and Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 is uniquely positioned to support a Zero Trust architecture. With its integrated suite of identity, device management, application security and dat protection tools, Microsoft 365 enables organisations to implement Zero Trust without needing to stitch together disparate solutions.

Let's explore how Microsoft 365 supports Zero Trust across its key pillars:

Identity | Microsoft Entra

Identity is the foundation of Zero Trust. Microsoft Entra (formerly Azure AD) provides robust identity and access management capabilities:

• Conditional Access: enforce policies based on user, location, device, and risk level
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): add a critical layer of security beyond passwords
• Identity protection: detect and respond to identity-based risks in real-time
• Privileged Identity Management (PIM): enforce least privilege with just-in-time access for admins

Devices | Microsoft Intune

Device health and compliance are essential to Zero Trust and Microsoft Intune helps to manage and secure endpoints:

• Device compliance policies: ensure only healthy and compliant devices can access corporate data
• Mobile Application Management (MAM): protect data within apps, even on unmanaged devices
• Endpoint security: configure and enforce security baselines across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android

Applications | Microsoft 365 apps & Defender for cloud apps

Applications are a key control point in Zero Trust and Microsoft provides visibility and control over app usage:

• App discovery: identify and manage shadow IT with Defender for cloud apps
• Single Sign-on (SSO): simplify and secure access to SaaS apps
• App governance: monitor app behaviour and enforce policies to prevent data leaks

Data | Microsoft Purview

Protecting data - wherever it lives - is central to Zero Trust. Microsoft Purview offers comprehensive data governance and protection:

• Information protection: classify, label and encrypt sensitive data
• Data Loss Prevention (DLP): prevent accidental or malicious data leaks across email, Teams, SharePoint, and more
• Insider risk management: detect and respond to risky user behaviour
• Compliance Manager: assess and improve your compliance posture

Conclusion

Zero Trust is not just a single product, it's a strategic approach to security.

Microsoft 365 provides a powerful, integrated platform to help organisations adopt Zero Trust across identity, devices, applications and data. By leveraging the full capabilities of Microsoft Entra, Defender and Purview, businesses can build a resilient, secure and productive digital workplace.

Get in touch with our expert team if you're ready to maximise your organisation's protection with Microsoft’s powerful security tools