Using Microsoft Secure Score Correctly
Reduce risks with Microsoft Defender
How secure is your cloud really? The Microsoft Secure Score provides a clear answer - almost in real time. Together with the Defender security platform, you can identify vulnerabilities, prioritize risks and systematically improve the protection of your IT environment. Many measures can be implemented immediately - without lengthy analyses or external help.
Microsoft Secure Score: Why Cloud Security Is More Important Today than Ever Before
The cloud has long been an integral part of everyday working life - whether in the office, moving, or working from home. However, this flexibility also increases the attack surface for cyber criminals. Traditional protection mechanisms such as firewalls or VPNs (virtual private networks) are often insufficient to prevent modern threats. Employees access sensitive data from different devices and locations, a risk many companies underestimate.
Current Security Risks at a Glance
Today's cyberattacks on central systems are usually carried out via compromised end devices and user identities. A stolen login or a compromised notebook can be enough to access company data. This makes it increasingly difficult for IT departments to detect suspicious activity and act quickly - especially in hybrid working environments where cloud and on-premise systems work together.
What Is the Microsoft Secure Score?
The Microsoft Secure Score is your personal security coach in Microsoft 365 and Azure. It continuously measures how well your environment is protected against threats, based on internationally recognized standards such as NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) and CIS (Center for Internet Security).
The score evaluates four key areas:
- Identities - pure cloud and hybrid identities
- End devices - Client computers, servers, and mobile devices under Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, and iOS
- Applications - such as Exchange Online,SharePoint, and OneDrive
- Data - Microsoft Information Protection, Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
The security status is specified as a percentage. A maximum of 100% is possible - realistically, the value is usually lower. Important: The aim is not perfection, but a well-founded risk assessment. A traffic light color scale (red - yellow - green) indicates the need for action at a glance.
Microsoft Secure Score in Practice
The Secure Score is based on a comprehensive set of rules consisting of best practices and security guidelines. For each vulnerability you receive:
- A clear description of the risk
- The underlying rule or recommendation (e.g., NIST or CIS)
- A step-by-step guide to implementation
Recommended measures are prioritized according to effectiveness and effort - many can be implemented directly in the Intune portal, for example. Ideal for IT teams with limited resources but high security requirements.
Microsoft Defender: The Security Platform for Modern IT Environments
Microsoft has developed the Microsoft Defender product family to cope with the increasing complexity of modern IT landscapes. It offers comprehensive protection for cloud and hybrid environments - from end devices and identities to applications and data. All Defender modules analyze, monitor, and protect resources that are located in a company's tenant or are closely connected to it. This provides a holistic overview of security-relevant processes within the company's IT environment.
The most essential building blocks:
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint protects Windows, macOS, and Linux devices from attacks.
- Microsoft Defender for Identity detects suspicious activity in the local Active Directory.
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud continuously assesses cloud workloads and supports compliance.
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps analyzes SaaS usage, identifies shadow IT, and protects corporate data.
- Microsoft Defender for Office 365 protects email, Teams, and other services from phishing, malware, and zero-day attacks.
All modules deliver security data to the central Microsoft 365 Defender portal - the shared database for your Secure Score.
Microsoft Secure Score: Strategic Benefits for Companies
The Microsoft Secure Score offers IT decision-makers and CISOs decisive advantages:
- Transparency: Clear overview of your security situation
- Prioritization: Concentration on measures with the most significant effect
- Compliance support: e.g., for ISO 27001, GDPR, BSI basic protection
- Efficiency: IT administration receives detailed instructions
The combination of Microsoft Defender and the Microsoft Secure Score offers a powerful toolset for modern cloud security. Companies receive transparency and concrete recommendations for action, as well as directly implementable, scalable, and compliance-compliant solutions.
