Intune, Security & Purview – Learn IT in Sri Lanka

intune.microsoft.com, security.microsoft.com & purview.microsoft.com

With Microsoft 365 Business Premium, a customer has access to a comprehensive suite of tools designed to protect both data and endpoints. Here’s a detailed guide on leveraging Business Premium features to enhance security:

1. Use Microsoft Intune for Device Management

Intune, included in Business Premium, provides robust tools for managing and securing devices:

Device Enrollment: Enroll all company devices in Intune to manage them centrally.
Policy Enforcement: Implement security policies, such as requiring a PIN or password to access devices, encrypting data, and configuring firewall settings.
Application Management: Control which applications are installed on devices, and use app protection policies to manage and protect corporate data within these apps.

2. Implement Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Microsoft Defender for Office 365, part of Business Premium, offers advanced threat protection features:

Threat Detection and Response: Utilize Defender’s capabilities to monitor and respond to threats across devices. It includes real-time protection, anti-virus, anti-malware, and ransomware protection.
Safe Attachments and Safe Links: Protect against malicious attachments and links in emails. These features scan content and help prevent users from accessing dangerous websites.
Anti-phishing Protection: Configure anti-phishing policies in Defender to protect users from phishing attacks by verifying sender identities and analyzing email content.

3. Use Azure Information Protection

Although not included by default in Business Premium, consider adding Azure Information Protection for enhanced data classification and protection:

Data Classification: Automatically classify data based on sensitivity and apply labels.
Protection Policies: Set up policies to control who can access data based on the sensitivity labels, including options to encrypt files and emails.

4. Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Configure DLP policies to protect sensitive information:

Identify Sensitive Information: Use DLP policies to identify and protect credit card numbers, social security numbers, or any custom-defined information.
Control Data Transfer: Prevent the unauthorized sharing of sensitive information via email or other communication channels.

5. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA is a critical security feature that adds an extra layer of protection:

Setup MFA: Enable MFA for all users. Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes Azure AD Premium P1, which provides conditional access policies that can be used to require MFA under certain conditions.

6. Secure Mobile Device Access

Ensure that mobile devices accessing company data are secured:

Mobile Device Management (MDM): Use Intune’s MDM capabilities to enforce security policies on mobile devices.
Mobile Application Management (MAM): Protect data within applications on personal devices without controlling the entire device.

7. Regular Audits and Reviews

Regularly audit security settings and logs:

Audit Logs: Utilize the unified audit log to track user and administrator activities across Microsoft 365 services, helping identify and respond to potential security issues.
Review Compliance: Regularly review compliance against security standards and regulations applicable to your industry.

8. Training and Awareness

Conduct regular security training:

Phishing Training: Educate users on how to recognize phishing attempts and suspicious emails.
Best Practices: Teach best practices for securing personal and company data, especially when working remotely.

Intune

Device Configuration:

Wi-Fi Profiles: Automatically connect to corporate Wi-Fi with pre-configured settings.
VPN Profiles: Setup VPN profiles to ensure secure remote access to the corporate network.
Email Configuration: Auto-configure Outlook or other email clients with server settings and user credentials.

Software Deployment:

Office Suite Installation: Automatically install Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
Security Software: Deploy antivirus and anti-malware software to protect devices.
Custom Applications: Install corporate-developed or specialized software necessary for business operations.

Security Policies:

BitLocker Encryption: Automatically enable BitLocker drive encryption to secure device data.
Firewall Configuration: Enforce firewall settings to block unauthorized access.
Antivirus Updates: Ensure antivirus programs are not only installed but also regularly updated.

Remote Actions:

Lock Device: Remotely lock the laptop if it is reported lost or stolen.
Password Reset: Allow users to reset their system passwords remotely if forgotten.
Data Wipe: Completely erase all data from the hard drive remotely to prevent data theft.

Compliance Reporting:

Check Device Security Status: Users can see if their devices meet the latest security requirements.
Resolve Compliance Issues: Get notifications and guides on how to fix compliance issues.
Access to Resources: Ensure only compliant devices can access certain secure business resources.

Conditional Access:

App Access Control: Restrict access to business-critical apps based on device compliance.
Data Access Management: Control data access based on the security posture of the device.
Location-based Access Rules: Set rules that restrict access to network resources based on the device’s location.

Health and Performance Monitoring:

Resource Utilization: Monitor CPU, memory, and disk usage to anticipate performance issues.
Software Health: Keep track of application crashes and instability issues.
Update Compliance: Ensure all devices are up-to-date with the latest OS and security patches.

Security

Advanced Threat Protection

Example 1: If a user accidentally downloads a malicious PDF from the internet, Defender for Endpoint will automatically scan the file and block it before it can be opened.
Example 2: While browsing, if a user clicks on a malicious advertisement leading to a drive-by download attack, Defender for Endpoint can detect and prevent the download of malicious payloads.

2. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Example 1: A remote access Trojan (RAT) is detected attempting to establish a connection to a command-and-control server. Defender for Endpoint alerts the user and blocks the connection.
Example 2: The system detects a user account attempting multiple failed logins from different locations, triggering an alert for a possible brute-force attack.

3. Automated Investigation and Response (AIR)

Example 1: A suspicious script is detected running in the background. Defender for Endpoint automatically terminates the script and quarantines the associated files without needing user intervention.
Example 2: After detecting a suspicious process attempting to modify system files, Defender for Endpoint automatically restores the affected files to their previous state.

4. Threat and Vulnerability Management

Example 1: Defender identifies that a laptop is running an outdated version of Adobe Reader, which is vulnerable to exploits. The system provides an alert with a recommendation to update the software.
Example 2: The system detects weak password settings on the device and recommends enabling password complexity requirements.

5. Attack Surface Reduction (ASR)

Example 1: Prevents a malicious macro embedded in an Excel file from executing and launching PowerShell, which could be used to download additional malware.
Example 2: Blocks an executable file received as an email attachment from running if it tries to make changes to the system settings.

6. Behavioral Analysis and Machine Learning

Example 1: Detects unusual behavior where a legitimate application is suddenly making network connections to known malicious IP addresses, indicating a possible compromise.
Example 2: Identifies a script running that matches behaviors associated with data exfiltration, such as enumerating files and compressing them for upload.

7. Web Content Filtering

Example 1: Automatically blocks access to a website known for distributing malware or hosting phishing attacks, protecting users from potential scams.
Example 2: Prevents access to social media sites or streaming services during work hours, based on organizational policies.

8. Device Health Monitoring

Example 1: Notifies the user that their antivirus definitions are outdated and prompts them to update immediately to maintain protection.
Example 2: Alerts the user if the firewall is turned off or if real-time protection has been disabled, which could expose the device to risks.

9. Integration with Microsoft Security Ecosystem

Example 1: Defender for Endpoint integrates with Microsoft Defender for Identity to correlate an endpoint attack with a compromised user account, providing a complete view of the attack chain.
Example 2: Integration with Azure Sentinel allows security teams to see endpoint alerts alongside other security events, providing a unified view of security incidents across the organization.

10. Advanced Hunting and Custom Detection

sqlCopy code- **Example 1**: Security analysts use advanced hunting queries to identify a pattern of failed login attempts across multiple laptops, indicating a potential brute-force attack.
- **Example 2**: Analysts create a custom detection rule to alert when any process attempts to access sensitive directories without the proper permissions.

11. Ransomware Protection and File Recovery

markdownCopy code- **Example 1**: Detects and blocks a ransomware attack in progress and uses file recovery capabilities to restore any encrypted files to their previous state.
- **Example 2**: Automatically creates backup copies of important files, ensuring they can be restored in case of a ransomware attack.

12. Isolation of Compromised Devices

vbnetCopy code- **Example 1**: If a device is suspected of being part of a botnet, Defender for Endpoint can isolate it from the network while allowing the user to continue working offline.
- **Example 2**: Isolates a device showing signs of lateral movement to prevent the spread of malware to other devices within the organization.

13. Protection Against Credential Theft

markdownCopy code- **Example 1**: Detects and blocks an attempt to access the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) memory, which could be used to extract credentials.
- **Example 2**: Prevents a malicious process from harvesting saved credentials from web browsers or other applications.

14. Firewall and Network Protection

vbnetCopy code- **Example 1**: Blocks an inbound connection attempt from a known malicious IP address attempting to exploit a vulnerability in a service running on the laptop.
- **Example 2**: Automatically applies network rules to block outbound traffic to known malicious domains, preventing data exfiltration.

15. Security Baseline Management

markdownCopy code- **Example 1**: Ensures all Windows laptops have BitLocker enabled for disk encryption, enforcing compliance with organizational security policies.
- **Example 2**: Configures all devices to disable the use of USB storage devices to prevent data leakage and malware introduction.

16. Support for Remote Work Scenarios

markdownCopy code- **Example 1**: Continuously monitors and protects laptops used by remote employees, even when they are connected to unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.
- **Example 2**: Provides VPN recommendations and secures connections for remote workers accessing corporate resources, ensuring secure communication.