A Quick Intro
Microsoft 365 is one of the most widely used platforms for business productivity. However, its popularity also makes it a major target for cyberattacks. According to reports, there was a 53% increase in daily cyberthreats on Microsoft Office in 2023.
Some of the common challenges businesses face when using Office 365 include:
- Unauthorized access to emails
- Data leaks via attachments
- Insider threats
- Compliance violations (GDPR, HIPAA)
As remote work becomes more common, ensuring data security on Office 365 is more critical than ever. Without proper security measures in place, companies could risk losing sensitive data and face financial penalties. That’s where CASB and DLP solutions come in to safeguard your sensitive information.
What is CASB?
A Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) is a tool that acts as a security layer between your Microsoft 365 apps and users, monitoring and controlling data access in the cloud.
Businesses can use CASB solutions to gain visibility into application usage, detect threats, enforce access controls, and ensure compliance with security policies. It helps prevent unauthorized access, detect suspicious activities, and implement security rules that keep sensitive business data protected at all times.
What is DLP?
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is another security solution that helps businesses prevent unapproved sharing or leakage of sensitive data. It works by monitoring & controlling data transfer across different platforms, including emails, cloud storage, and devices.
DLP solutions scan emails & files in Office 365 for confidential information, such as credit card details, customer records, or trade secrets. If any sensitive data is detected, DLP can block the transmission, notify the user, or enforce encryption. This ensures that critical business information does not fall into the wrong hands, either intentionally or accidentally.
How CASB Secures Your Data on MS Office 365?
MS 365 CASB solution adds an extra layer of security to Office 365 by monitoring user interactions with the platform and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data. It helps block unapproved downloads from untrusted devices or locations, reducing the risk of data leaks. Additionally, CASB detects unusual user behavior, such as multiple login attempts from different networks and regions, which could signal a potential hacking attempt.
To further enhance security, it enforces multi-factor authentication (MFA), ensuring that only authorized users can access company data. With CASB, businesses gain better control over their Microsoft 365 security through various protective measures.
Here’s how CASB helps protect data on Office 365:
- Device Restrictions: Only authorized and compliant devices can access Office 365 apps and data.
- Office IP Restriction: Whitelist trusted networks to prevent unauthorized access.
- Data Download Restrictions: Limit file downloads to admins and authorized users to prevent leaks.
- Data Security: Blocks unauthorized access and sharing of sensitive information.
- User Risk Scoring: Automatically revokes access if the risk score exceeds a set threshold.
How DLP Secures Your Emails on MS Outlook?
Outlook emails are a primary mode of communication for many businesses, but they also pose significant security risks. Employees might accidentally send an email containing sensitive customer data to the wrong person. While cybercriminals might attempt to trick users into sharing confidential business information through phishing attacks.
Email DLP for Microsoft 365 helps mitigate these risks by scanning outgoing emails for sensitive data, blocking unauthorized transmissions, and preventing potential data breaches. It can enforce automatic encryption for emails containing confidential information, ensuring secure communication within and outside the organization.
DLP solutions also provide real-time alerts and auditing capabilities to monitor compliance with data security policies. By implementing Email DLP, businesses can prevent accidental leaks, protect against phishing attempts, and maintain compliance with regulations like GDPR and HIPAA.
Real-World Use Case
Scenario 1: Blocking Unauthorized Data Downloads
Imagine an employee working remotely who tries to download sensitive company data onto their personal laptop from an unknown location. Without security measures in place, this data could be exposed to security threats.
With miniOrange CASB, the system detects that the access request is coming from an untrusted device and blocks the download instantly. This prevents data leakage and ensures that company information is only accessed on secure devices.
Scenario 2: Preventing Data Leaks via Email
An employee might unknowingly try to send confidential company reports to an external recipient via email. If this email contains financial details or trade secrets, it could lead to serious data breaches.
Email DLP scans the email in real-time, detects the presence of sensitive data, and blocks the email before it leaves the organization. This ensures that confidential business information is not exposed outside the company.
Benefits of CASB and DLP
By implementing miniOrange CASB and DLP, businesses can strengthen their security posture and protect their Office 365 data and emails effectively. Here are some key benefits:
- Improved Security: Prevents unauthorized access, data leaks, and cyber threats on Microsoft 365.
- Regulatory Compliance: Helps businesses comply with GDPR, HIPAA, and other industry regulations.
- Better Visibility: Provides insights into user activity and potential security risks.
- Automated Protection: Enforces security policies without requiring manual intervention.
- Reduces Insider Threats: Stops accidental or intentional data leaks caused by employees.
Summary
Protecting Microsoft 365 data and emails is essential for businesses, especially with the growing number of cyber threats. miniOrange CASB and DLP offer a powerful combination to safeguard sensitive business information.
CASB ensures that only authorized users can access company data, while DLP prevents accidental or intentional data leaks. By implementing these solutions, businesses can maintain data security, comply with industry regulations, and prevent financial and reputational damage.
To learn more, contact us at info@xecurify.com.
Additional Resources
- CASB vs DLP: Understanding the Differences
- How to secure your Jira & Confluence data with Atlassian Data Encryption?
- Microsoft Office 365 CASB: An Overview
- Securing Microsoft Teams with the miniOrange MS 365 CASB cloud security solution
- What are the 4 Pillars of CASB?
- What is CASB in Cyber Security?

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