Enabling Advanced Data Protection
In today’s digital landscape, the importance of protecting sensitive information cannot be overstated. With the increasing risk of cyber attacks and data breaches, it is more crucial than ever to implement robust measures to safeguard your organization’s vital data. One such measure is enabling advanced data protection features in Microsoft 365.
What are Advanced Data Protection Features?
Advanced data protection features in Microsoft 365 provide an additional layer of security for sensitive information stored or transmitted within the platform. These features include encryption, access control, and threat detection capabilities that help prevent unauthorized access to your organization’s confidential data.
Step-by-Step Guide to Enabling Advanced Data Protection
- Access Your Organization’s Microsoft 365 Admin Center
Begin by accessing your organization’s Microsoft 365 admin center from the Azure portal. You can do this by signing in with your Azure AD credentials, and then clicking on “Microsoft 365” under the “Subscriptions” section. - Navigate to Security & Compliance
Once you are logged into the admin center, navigate to the “Security & compliance” area. Here, you will find various features related to security and compliance. - Enable Azure Information Protection (AIP)
Under the “Azure Information Protection (AIP)” section, toggle the switch next to “Configure AIP settings” from off to on. This will enable AIP’s advanced data protection features for your organization.
Understanding Encryption
When you enable Advanced Data Protection in Microsoft 365, Azure Information Protection automatically generates encryption policies for your organization. These policies dictate how sensitive information should be protected and transmitted.
Step-by-Step Guide to Configuring Encryption Policies
- Access the AIP Policy Manager
From the “Azure Information Protection (AIP)” section of the admin center, click on “Policy manager”. This will take you to the Azure portal’s policy management page. - Create a New Policy or Modify an Existing One
On this page, create a current policy or modify an existing one by clicking on either option. In both cases, select your organization as the target and then specify which users and groups should be protected. -
Specify Protection Levels
For each protection level (e.g., “Confidential”, “Internal Only”, etc.), choose whether you want AIP to encrypt data using a specific algorithm or method.
- Configure Retention Periods
Set retention periods for encrypted data, ranging from 1 day to indefinitely.
Enabling Threat Detection and Prevention
To enable advanced threat detection and prevention features in Microsoft 365, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the “Threat Intelligence” Section
In your organization’s admin center, navigate to the “Security & compliance” area and select the “Threat intelligence” option. - Toggle On Threat Detection Capabilities
Next to each threat detection capability (e.g., Phishing protection, Office 365 ATP), toggle the switch from off to on.
Additional Tips for Advanced Data Protection
- Ensure you have a robust backup system in place to mitigate against potential data losses during encryption and decryption processes.
- Set up custom alerts and notifications for AIP-related events, such as policy changes or user activity breaches.
- Regularly review your organization’s security settings, including Azure Information Protection policies.
Conclusion
By following the steps outlined above, you have successfully enabled advanced data protection features in Microsoft 365. This comprehensive suite of security tools will help safeguard your organization’s sensitive information against cyber threats and unauthorized access. Remember to regularly monitor and update your AIP configuratoins to ensure continued robustness for your enterprise’s evolving security needs.