How Office 365 Can Make Your Data More Secure

When it comes to keeping data secure, most people and organizations think first of password protocols, malware protection, and perhaps firewalls. What they rarely consider is the office suite platform they use. 

Microsoft’s Office 365 has a number of features that help make it easier to keep your data secure. Let’s take a look at some of them:

What is Microsoft Office 365?

Microsoft Office 365 is a cloud-based productivity platform. Subscribers have access to the full suite of Office apps including the latest versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, of course. Office 365 also incorporates cloud storage (OneDrive). The platform also syncs with almost any popular Microsoft app you can think of, including Teams, SharePoint, Access, Outlook, OneNote, Defender, Skype, and even Microsoft To Do. 

How Data Security is Baked Into Office 365

Office 365 was developed for the cloud, so it comes with a healthy amount of built-in security measures. We appreciate their “shared risk” model in particular and the fact that Microsoft claims no ownership over your content. Access to your data within Microsoft is very limited for security reasons and they also do not infomine your content for marketing or any other purposes.

Data sent to and from your Office 365 apps is not only encrypted in transit using the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol. Your data is also encrypted when it’s at rest in your OneDrive cloud storage. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is also available. Office 365 and OneDrive services are hosted among Microsoft’s secure data centers throughout the world. 

Using the Outlook Mail client with Office 365 offers additional security, including Exchange Online Protection (EOP), anti-malware, anti-spam, anti-phishing, quarantine and monitoring features. Given the fact that email is a prime vector for attack these days, you should take all the email security you can get, for both incoming and outgoing mail. Finally, you can use OneDrive (or Azure backup for larger enterprises) to back up your data seamlessly so it can be restored in the event of a breach. 

Microsoft’s Office 365 platform includes robust data security features including:

• Encryption of data in transit from apps or cloud storage.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is available across all accounts.
• Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption of all data in transit.
• Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) to avert phishing and other attacks.
• Data encryption of your content in Microsoft OneDrive cloud storage.
• Redundant physical data center locations are also disaster-safe.

Remember, You Are The Weakest Link

It’s always important to remember that network and data security is only as robust as it’s weakest link. More often than not, when malware attacks or other hacks or exploits are successful, it’s a result of someone not following best practices. Using simple, easy-to-guess passwords, using the same password for everything. 

Not changing or updating your passwords, disabling security features, not using multi-factor authentication. The list goes on. Office 365 has some great data security built right in, but it’s the responsibility of you and your fellow employees to follow guidelines to keep your data safe. A little bit of education and training can go a long way in helping your organization adhere to security best practices. 

Office 365 Support and Much More from Seattle’s Best IT Services Provider

RHYNO Networks has become one of the best IT service providers in Seattle by following a few simple rules. We always put our clients’ best interests first. We always do more than simply what’s required and we never stop learning, improving, and growing. 

When you hire RHYNO Networks as your IT services company, you’re getting a technology partner who is there to help your company do more. From IT services to consulting, we are the Seattle IT support company that always rises to the challenge. Doesn’t your organization deserve the very best IT services Seattle has available? 

Call (855) 749 6648 to find out how RHYNO Networks can exceed your expectations of what an IT services company can do for your business. Or, start by requesting a Free Network Assessment here.