10 years of M365: 10 years of privacy and security innovation

Microsoft 365, previously known as Office 365, is a cloud-based productivity platform. It includes apps like Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive. Each of these apps were designed with privacy and security in mind.

OneDrive security

OneDrive is a file-hosting service that was launched in 2007. It allows you to access your files from anywhere. Each file that you upload to OneDrive is encrypted with a unique Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit key. This encryption key is the strongest type of encryption available, and it’s nearly impossible to crack through brute-force methods. AES256 encryption is so secure that it’s trusted by governments and banks to store data.

In September 2019, Personal Vault was introduced to OneDrive. Personal Vault is a place where OneDrive users can save sensitive files while still being able to access them from anywhere. To access Personal Vault, users must use two-factor authentication using their fingerprint, PIN, face, or a code sent to their email or phone. This extra layer of security can give OneDrive users extra peace of mind when storing sensitive documents like tax statements, bank information, or passports.

Microsoft Defender

In 2020, Microsoft Defender was introduced. It was previously known as Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection. Microsoft Defender is an antivirus software that is seamlessly integrated into your Microsoft 365 subscription. Some notable features of Microsoft Defender include:

• Safe Attachments: Cybercriminals use email to easily get viruses or malware onto your devices. Microsoft Defender is constantly scanning email attachments for viruses or malware. Safe Attachments is also a feature in SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams.
• Safe Links: This M365 security feature scans links in emails and M365 apps for viruses and malware. You’ll receive a warning from Defender if the link is unsafe.
• Anti-phishing protection: Phishing is a technique that cybercriminals use. In phishing, you’ll receive an email that appears to be from a legitimate sender but aims to steal your information. The anti-phishing protection feature in Microsoft Defender scans emails for signs of phishing. If an email is suspicious, it’s moved to your junk mail.
• Identity protection: Defender works alongside Experian to protect your identity. Defender monitors the web for your personal data and notifies you if your personal information is compromised or at risk.

Microsoft Defender also includes a security app that makes it easy to monitor the security status of your devices.

Multifactor authentication

Multi-factor authentication, also known as MFA, was added to Office 365 for free in 2014. Multi-factor authentication is different from two-factor authentication (2FA). In short, it’s much more secure than two-factor authentication. Multi-factor authentication means that a user must provide more than two authentication factors to log in to an account. In two-factor authentication, only two authentication factors are required. For example, a code can be sent to your email, phone, or to the Microsoft Authenticator app.

SharePoint security

SharePoint is an M365 collaboration software that allows you to share files, data, resources, and more. It was launched in 2001 and is the perfect software for teamwork. Like OneDrive, SharePoint is encrypted with AES 256-bit keys. SharePoint also includes advanced sharing settings that allow you to control who can access your files and information. You have the option to share site content with:

• Anyone (anyone can access the SharePoint site without a log-in)
• New and existing guests (guests must sign into their Microsoft account or use a verification code)
• Existing guests only (only guests within your organization can access your SharePoint site)
• Only people in your organization (no one can share site documents with external users)

You can also limit sharing by domain.

Microsoft Family Safety

Microsoft Family Safety was released in March 2020. It comes with the Microsoft 365 Family plan. This app is loaded with features that help parents keep their children safe on the web. Microsoft Family Safety gives parents the ability to set content filters and block inappropriate games and apps. It also gives parents the ability to set screen time limits so they can help their children build healthy digital habits. Parents can also take advantage of activity reporting, which gives them insights into their web and app activity. Parents can see which websites their family members visited as well as which apps or games their children played.

M365 privacy and security tips

While M365 is loaded with privacy and security features, it’s still important to stay vigilant while using these apps. To ensure online security:

• Choose a strong password. Keep your online files safe through a strong, hard-to-guess password. Strong passwords should include numbers and special characters.
• Turn on 2FA or MFA. Turning on two-factor authentication or multi-factor authentication will provide an extra layer of security to your M365 account.
• Educate yourself on cybercriminal tactics. Social engineering and phishing are popular ways that cybercriminals can hack into your accounts and steal your information.

Learn more about the history of Microsoft 365 and its 10 years of being in the cloud.