The Role of Microsoft 365 in Cyberattack and Phishing Prevention

Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated. So should your business. 

According to the 2024 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, phishing is still the primary method of cybercrime, representing almost 20% of all breaches. The threat is getting bigger every day, with sophisticated technology like ChatGPT being used to create convincing emails.

 So, how can your business respond?

Enter Microsoft 365. You likely know it as Outlook, Teams, and Excel. What you may not know is that it can be one of the most potent cybersecurity platforms in the market (when configured adequately).

In this article, you’ll learn:

• Why phishing remains the top threat to businesses in 2024
• How Microsoft 365 tools like Defender, Safe Links, and Conditional Access help block attacks
  What the Microsoft Secure Score is and how to use it to assess your environment
• How to simulate phishing attacks to strengthen your human firewall
• Common security gaps in Microsoft 365—and how to fix them
• When to bring in expert help to maximize your cybersecurity setup

By the end, you’ll know whether your Microsoft 365 setup is truly secure or if it’s time to get expert eyes on it.

The Threat: Compromised Credentials Are the #1 Entry Point

Even with more zero-day attacks and ransomware out there, the biggest way hackers get into systems is still through stolen credentials. Here’s why phishing is so effective: 

• It takes advantage of human mistakes. Even employees who know their work and colleagues can get tricked by emails that seem urgent. 
• Hackers are using AI to craft messages that look like they come from your boss, which makes it easier to fool folks. 
• Many companies don’t have real-time scanning, so employees might click on bad links without even knowing it.

And once hackers get in? 

According to the 2024 FBI’s cost of a data breach report, the average data breach cost is $4.88 million, an increase of 10%, and the highest average cost to date.

That’s a long time for damage to be done.

The Problem: Traditional Tools Can’t Keep Up

The majority of companies continue to use antiquated firewalls, antivirus programs, and email filters.

Although this worked ten years ago, phishing assaults now are more sophisticated, quicker, and more difficult to identify. One-size-fits-all templates are no longer used by attackers. They undertake recon, customize their assaults, and use zero-day tactics to hide malware.

Malicious attachments can still pass through antivirus software if it doesn’t sandbox or scan in real time. Furthermore, a single hacked login can result in a complete system takeover in the absence of robust identification safeguards.

The layered security features of Microsoft 365 truly come into their own here. 

The Solution: Microsoft 365 as a Cybersecurity Powerhouse

Instead of scare tactics, let’s discuss solutions.

Microsoft 365 offers more than simply tools for productivity. It provides a range of cloud-native, intelligent security capabilities that are intended to prevent phishing and cyberattacks before they begin.

Office 365’s Microsoft Defender

Microsoft Defender scans and blocks dangers in all of your emails, URLs, and attachments using artificial intelligence. By examining file signatures, URL redirection, and sender behavior, it goes beyond conventional filters.

Defender detects dangerous Excel files and phishing links that are concealed behind Google redirects before the user ever interacts with them.

Defender for Office 365 stops more than 40 million phishing emails per day, according to Microsoft.

Azure AD and Conditional Access

Attackers no longer physically infiltrate systems—they simply log in. 

For this reason, Azure Active Directory (which has been renamed Entra ID) plays a significant role. It recognizes unusual login situations, such as logging in to a user account from 2 countries in under an hour, and blocks them accordingly. 

Even further, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Conditional Access add another layer of protection. Microsoft estimates that enabling MFA alone stops 99.9% of all identity-based attacks.

Real-World Impact: A Before and After Example

Let’s say your CFO receives a spoofed invoice from a familiar-looking supplier.

Without Microsoft 365 security:

• The email lands in their inbox, looks legitimate, and they click the link.
• Their credentials are harvested via a fake login page.
• Hackers gain full access to the company email and SharePoint.
• Sensitive financial data is downloaded and held for ransom.

With Microsoft 365:

• The phishing email is quarantined by Defender before it reaches the inbox.
• If the link is clicked, Safe Links rewrites the URL and blocks access in real time.
• Conditional Access denies login from an untrusted device or country.
• The security team is alerted via Microsoft Sentinel in seconds.

The difference is night and day.

Table: Microsoft 365 vs. Traditional Email Security Tools

Source: Microsoft Security Documentation, 2024

Maximizing Your Microsoft 365 Security Investment

The harsh reality is that most businesses aren’t even utilizing half of the security features they have paid for. Many Microsoft 365 tenants are left in their default configuration, leaving huge security gaps. Others choose not to use MFA because it seems inconvenient—until it’s too late. 

If you’re unsure if your Microsoft 365 is protected against cyber threats, here are two wise steps to take:

1. Run a Microsoft Secure Score Assessment

This is a built-in dashboard that shows your security posture and suggests improvements. A score below 50% means your environment is highly vulnerable. Learn more via Microsoft’s Secure Score.

2. Simulate a Phishing Attack

Microsoft 365 lets you run internal phishing simulations to test your employees. This is a proactive way to educate staff and identify weak points before real attackers do.

3. Review and Limit Admin Privileges

One of the biggest security risks in Microsoft 365 environments is over-permissioned accounts. It’s common for users—especially IT staff—to have global admin rights when they don’t need them for daily tasks. These accounts are a prime target for attackers.

Reducing the number of global admins and applying the Principle of Least Privilege dramatically lowers your risk. You can use Microsoft’s Privileged Identity Management (PIM) to grant temporary elevated access only when necessary, with full auditing in place.

Need help setting these up or interpreting the results? Let’s talk. Our experts can guide you through it during a free consultation.

When to Bring in the Experts

You can use Microsoft 365 effectively, but only if you have the time and expertise to set it up.

The majority of internal IT teams run into trouble there. They are occupied with overseeing daily operations rather than establishing Sentinel rules or optimizing Conditional Access regulations.

A security partner is crucial in this situation:

• We evaluate your setup using the most recent Microsoft best practices.
• Depending on your particular requirements, we assist in deploying MFA, Defender, Sentinel, and other tools. We also find configuration errors that expose you to phishing.
• Giving up control is not a requirement of working with us. It entails having the assurance that your system is securely locked.

Let’s stop the guesswork. Book a free consultation today and we’ll walk through your setup together—no pressure, just clarity.

Don’t Just Use Microsoft 365—Secure It

You are already using Microsoft 365. But are you using it to protect your business, or simply to run your business? 

With phishing attacks changing and evolving faster than ever, it is not enough to rely on old-school antivirus or hope that employees won’t click on suspicious links.  

Microsoft 365 provides what you need to fight back: Defender, MFA, Sentinel, Secure Score, Safe Links, and more. However, if you don’t configure it, you are leaving your front door wide open. 

Let’s change this. At ASi, we help organizations like yours get the maximum benefit from Microsoft 365—in a security context, not just a productivity context. 

👉 Book your free consultation now and we’ll help you review your current setup, patch vulnerabilities, and set up a modern defense that works 24/7.

FAQs: 

Is Microsoft 365 secure enough for businesses?

Yes—if configured properly. Most features like MFA and Conditional Access need to be turned on and customized.

Can Microsoft 365 stop ransomware?

Yes, with tools like Safe Links, Safe Attachments, and Defender. But backups and user training are still crucial.

What is Microsoft Secure Score, and why does it matter?

It’s a Microsoft tool that rates your security setup. A low score means you have gaps that need fixing.

How does Microsoft Defender for Office 365 help?

It scans emails, attachments, and links in real-time to block phishing and malware before they reach users.

Do I really need Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?

Yes—MFA blocks over 99% of account compromise attempts, even if passwords are stolen.

Can I simulate phishing attacks with Microsoft 365?

Yes. Built-in tools let you test users with fake phishing emails to improve awareness and training.

How do I know if my Microsoft 365 setup is secure?

Check your Secure Score, run a phishing test, and review admin privileges. Or book a free consultation for expert help.