Microsoft 365: where do you start securing your team’s accounts?

Start with authentication

A strong password is only one part of protection. In Microsoft Entra, security defaults help establish a baseline, including multifactor authentication and blocking legacy authentication. Before changing policies, check how your team and applications sign in to services.

Choose an appropriate policy

Organizations with specific needs can use Conditional Access, subject to the applicable licensing. The choice should account for users, devices, and applications. Avoid replacing an existing protection without preparing and testing the alternative.

For sensitive access, evaluate phishing-resistant methods. Microsoft distinguishes these methods from MFA options that can still be bypassed through phishing attacks.

A simple review with the team

• Identify who has administrative roles and whether they still need them.
• Review registered authentication methods and the account recovery process.
• Ask the team to report unexpected authentication requests.
• Define who should be contacted when an account appears compromised.

These questions help prepare an environment review. Changes should be tested to avoid locking users out or disrupting applications.