5 ways to prevent a phishing attack in Microsoft 365

Data breaches can have serious consequences for organizations. A phishing attack, the most common type of business breach, is a way for hackers or cybercriminals to use fake emails or messages to trick users into revealing sensitive information or inadvertently installing malware by clicking on malicious links. These emails often try to impersonate colleagues or suppliers. 

Therefore, companies need to implement correct policies and procedures on their platforms to keep company data secure. A simple phishing attack can grant a hacker access to various company systems, such as the CRM or SharePoint environment. 
 

5 ways to prevent a phishing attack in Microsoft 365

• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication  (MFA)

Enabling multi-factor authentication for all accounts adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to enter a second form of authentication besides the password. There are several methods to configure MFA in Microsoft 365, such as: 
o    Microsoft Authenticator
o    FIDO2 Security Key
o    SMS
o    OATH Hardware Token (Preview)
o    Third-Party OATH Software Tokens
o    Voice call
o    One-Time Passcode via Email (OTP)
 

• Educate users

Educating users helps reduce data breaches. It is recommended that training and support be provided to employees to reduce the risk of phishing attacks. 
 

• Configure anti-phishing policies

Exchange Online can protect against phishing attacks by using anti-phishing policies. When configured correctly, these policies can help detect and block phishing emails based on various criteria, such as suspicious sender domains, known phishing URLs, and impersonation attempts.
 

• Implement domain-based message authentication, reporting & conformance (DMARC)

DMARC helps prevent email spoofing by verifying the authenticity of the sender’s domain. This policy helps distinguish the real from the fake. Thus, if the sender’s domain is protected with a DMARC record, any receiving email server can verify the received email based on the published data.  
 

• Regularly update security software

Para garantir a segurança é necessário manter o software de segurança sempre atualizado. As atualizações regulares garantem que as defesas estão equipas para lidar com novas ameaças de phishing. 

Combining technical policies, user education, and proactive monitoring is the best way to protect an organization. Contact Hydra iT and keep your company always safe!