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Microsoft 365 Security Updates: Compliance Center, eDiscovery and More

Microsoft has added compliance, privacy management and other security features to Microsoft 365, the software-as-a-service (SaaS) bundle that includes Office 365, Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility + Security.

Microsoft 365's new features include:

  • Compliance Center: Offers a dedicated workspace to assess compliance risk, protect sensitive data and respond to data security mandates.
  • eDiscovery: Allows end users to isolate case-related contents for processing within a static set and review and redact sensitive portions of documents before exporting them as part of a legal matter.
  • File Plan Manager: Helps end users migrate governance policy configurations and retention schedules from an existing records management solution or on-premises repository into Office 365.
  • Labeling: Enables users to classify content and apply labels to documents and emails directly from Office apps on Mac and Office mobile apps.
  • Label Analytics: Allows users to analyze and validate how sensitivity and retention labels are being used across both Office 365 and non-Office 365 data.

In addition to announcing new Microsoft 365 security features, Microsoft this month unveiled Microsoft 365 Identity & Theft Protection and Information Protection & Compliance security bundles.

Identity & Theft Protection includes Azure Active Directory, Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) and other threat prevention services, according to Microsoft. Meanwhile, Information Protection & Compliance includes Office 365 Advanced Compliance and Azure Information Protection capabilities and enables users to perform risk assessments, classify and safeguard sensitive data and respond to regulatory requests.

Both Identity & Theft Protection and Information Protection & Compliance are expected to be available Feb. 1. Identity & Theft Protection will be available for $12 per user per month, and Information Protection & Compliance will be priced at $10 per user per month.

What Do Microsoft 365's New Security Features and Security Bundles Mean for MSSPs?

The number of Microsoft 365 seats grew more than 100 percent year over year following the solution's launch in August 2017, according to Microsoft. Meanwhile, cybercriminals frequently target Microsoft cloud services, and MSSPs can help Microsoft 365 users identify and stop cloud services attacks.

MSSPs can offer cloud security services to Microsoft 365 users. By doing so, MSSPs can protect Microsoft 365 users against ransomware, malware and other cyberattacks.

Dan Kobialka

Dan Kobialka is senior contributing editor, MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E. He covers IT security, IT service provider business strategies and partner programs. Dan holds a M.A. in Print and Multimedia Journalism from Emerson College and a B.A. in English from Bridgewater State University. In his free time, Dan enjoys jogging, traveling, playing sports, touring breweries and watching football.