The shift towards hybrid work, the widespread adoption of SaaS platforms, and the expansion of digital supply chains have collectively expanded organizational attack surfaces. These changes, coupled with the increased use of custom applications and a stronger corporate presence on social media, have necessitated a more vigilant approach to cybersecurity.
It is with this in mind that Microsoft has developed Microsoft Secure Score. This tool enables organizations to continuously monitor and assess their security posture, providing actionable insights to improve their defenses. Secure Score serves as a comprehensive measurement of an organization’s security health, offering recommendations to enhance protection across various Microsoft 365 services. By leveraging Secure Score, organizations can gain a clearer understanding of their security status and take proactive steps to mitigate potential risks.
Overview of Secure Score
Microsoft Secure Score is an assessment tool within the Microsoft 365 security center that measures an organization’s security posture. It provides a numerical score based on the implementation of recommended security controls and best practices. The higher the score, the more secure the organization’s environment is considered to be. Secure Score evaluates various aspects of security, including identity, data, devices, apps, and infrastructure. By following the recommended actions provided by Secure Score, organizations can improve their overall security posture and reduce the likelihood of successful cyber attacks.
How to Read Your Microsoft Secure Score
By understanding and implementing these practical insights, organizations can significantly improve their Secure Score and strengthen their overall cybersecurity defenses.
1. Understanding your overall Secure Score
First, the overall Secure Score provides a high-level view of your organization’s security posture. A higher score indicates better security, so this metric should be monitored regularly to track improvements over time. To give you a richer understanding of your overall score, you can add the following scores to your view:
- Planned Score: This score shows you the projected score when all your planned actions are completed.
- Current License Score: This score demonstrates the score you can achieve with your current Microsoft license.
- Achievable Score: This score reflects the score that can be attained with your Microsoft licenses and current risk acceptance.
With this improved structure and engaging information, you will have a better grasp of your current score and how to enhance it further.
2. Understand the makeup of each security area in the “category” view
Understanding the makeup of each security area is crucial to visualize where your security posture needs improvement. Microsoft Secure Score breaks down your overall score into specific categories: Identity, Device, Infrastructure, Data, and App security. These categories evaluate how well your organization is protecting user identities, devices, applications, and sensitive information.
By delving into each of these areas, you can identify specific weaknesses and take targeted actions to improve your scores. Ensuring that you have robust policies and protections in each category boosts your Secure Score and fortifies your overall security posture.
3. The “Improvement Actions” tab will be your new best friend
The “Improvement Actions” tab provides a comprehensive view of the actions you can take to improve your Microsoft Secure Score. This tab is designed to help you prioritize security improvements by listing recommended actions along with their potential impact on your score.
On this page, you’ll find a comprehensive list of recommended actions to enhance your security posture. Each action includes detailed information on its impact, implementation difficulty, and the specific security area it addresses. You can click on each item to view more details and begin taking immediate action. Focus on high-impact actions first, as these will provide the most significant boost to your Secure Score and overall security.
This tab also allows you to track the status of each recommendation, whether it’s planned, in progress, or completed. This helps you manage your security efforts effectively and ensure that critical actions are not overlooked. By regularly reviewing and acting on the recommendations in this tab, you can systematically improve your Secure Score and strengthen your organization’s cybersecurity defenses.
4. The Score History and Trends Tab will help you communicate the effectiveness of your security upgrades to key stakeholders
The Score History and Trends tab provides valuable insights into how your Secure Score has changed over time. This section allows you to track the history of your score and understand the trends, making it easier to identify areas where improvements have been effective and where further action is needed. By analyzing this historical data, you can gain a clearer picture of your security posture’s progress and adjust your strategies accordingly.
This tab helps you monitor the effectiveness of your security measures by displaying a timeline of your Secure Score. You can see how specific actions have impacted your score and identify any periods where your score may have declined. This information is crucial for understanding the impact of your security initiatives and ensuring continuous improvement. It also enables you to report the effectiveness of your changes to key stakeholders, providing concrete evidence of the progress made.
Regularly reviewing the Score History and Trends tab ensures that you stay informed about your organization’s security trajectory. By understanding past trends, you can make data-driven decisions to enhance your security posture and maintain a high Secure Score. This ongoing analysis is essential for staying ahead of potential threats and continuously improving your cybersecurity defenses.
5. Use Secure Score to see how your organization’s security stacks up against your competitors
The comparison tool is invaluable for understanding where you stand in relation to your competitors and identifying areas for improvement. In the “Overview” section, you can view a comparison chart that shows how your Secure Score compares to other organizations of similar size and industry.
This comparison provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of your security measures. By seeing where you rank, you can identify gaps in your security posture that need attention. This feature helps you set realistic goals and prioritize actions that will have the most significant impact on improving your score. It also serves as a motivational tool, encouraging your team to strive for a higher score and better security practices.
Additionally, the comparison tool allows you to create custom benchmarks, enabling you to compare your Secure Score against specific organizations or industry standards that are most relevant to your business. This tailored approach helps you focus on the most critical areas and develop a more strategic plan for enhancing your security posture. By leveraging the comparison feature, you can gain a competitive edge and ensure your organization remains resilient against evolving cyber threats.
Why You Should Utilize Microsoft Secure Score in Your Organization
Utilizing Microsoft Secure Score is a strategic move to safeguard your organization against cyber threats, improve your overall security posture, and ensure continuous compliance with evolving security standards.
Secure Score offers a comprehensive view of your security status across various domains, helping you identify and prioritize areas that need immediate attention. You can then rapidly implement best practices quickly, such as enabling multi-factor authentication or updating security policies. The ability to benchmark against industry peers gives you valuable insights into how your security measures compare and where improvements can be made.
This level of visibility and guidance strengthens your cybersecurity stature and enhances your organization’s reputation and trustworthiness in the eyes of clients and regulators. By demonstrating a robust security posture through Secure Score, organizations can potentially reduce cyberinsurance costs and, for nonprofit organizations, can leverage their improved security standing as a compelling argument in grant applications or fundraising efforts.
Why work with Apex Digital Solutions to bolster your Security
Partnering with Apex Digital Solutions ensures you receive expert guidance on leveraging Microsoft Secure Score to its fullest potential. Our team of professionals can help you interpret your Secure Score, develop a tailored roadmap, and implement the necessary security measures to enhance your organization’s defenses. Book a complimentary consultation with us today to get started on optimizing your security posture and protecting your valuable data.
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Our Microsoft Security services are designed to help you identify vulnerabilities, prioritize security improvements, and implement best practices tailored to your unique needs.