Microsoft 365 isn’t secure out of the box, and that misunderstanding can put your business at serious risk. Most organizations assume that because they’re paying for Microsoft 365, it’s fully protected by default. However, while Microsoft provides a powerful, enterprise-grade platform, the security of your data, users, and configurations is your responsibility. This is part of the shared responsibility model, and failing to understand it can expose your organization to data loss, legal risk, and compliance issues.
While Microsoft provides an incredibly robust platform, the security and protection of your data, users, and configurations are your responsibility. This is known as the shared responsibility model, and most businesses go wrong by ignoring it.
Microsoft 365 Isn’t Secure Out of the Box — Shared Responsibility is Real
Every IT decision-maker needs to understand that Microsoft 365 isn’t secure out of the box. Microsoft is responsible for the infrastructure, its uptime, server health, and global availability. However, you’re on the hook for securing your users, access permissions, and data policies.
This means that without custom configurations, your email, files, and Teams chats are not backed up beyond default retention periods. It also means your users might not be required to use multi-factor authentication (MFA), making them easy targets for phishing attacks.
There’s No Built-In Backup for Microsoft 365 Data
One of the most misunderstood facts is that Microsoft does not offer traditional backup services for 365 data. If a user deletes emails or accidentally wipes a Teams conversation, depending on your plan, you may only have 30 to 90 days to recover it.
If ransomware hits or someone intentionally deletes data, your recovery options are limited. The only way to ensure long-term protection is to deploy a third-party Microsoft 365 backup solution. Again, Microsoft 365 isn’t secure and out of the box when it comes to data retention and recovery.
Default Settings Leave You Exposed
When Microsoft 365 is deployed, most organizations skip hardening steps. Unfortunately, the default settings in a new tenant leave plenty of room for trouble. Often, MFA is not enforced for all users, guest access is unrestricted, and internal sharing is overly permissive.
Additionally, your Microsoft Secure Score, a tool that measures your security posture, is likely very low unless actively managed. In many cases, clients have Secure Scores in the red and don’t even realize it.
Microsoft 365 Isn’t Secure Out of the Box — And the Legal Risk Falls on You
This is where things get even more serious. If your organization experiences a data breach, the liability doesn’t fall on Microsoft. Instead, it falls on the business for failing to enforce proper security controls. You’re expected to implement identity management, data loss prevention (DLP), user training, and regular assessments.
Ignoring the shared responsibility model doesn’t protect you in court, with auditors, or during a cyber insurance claim. In fact, insurance carriers increasingly ask if you’ve implemented proper controls inside Microsoft 365. If you haven’t, your policy could be denied or your claim rejected.
Secure Score and MDR Help Bridge the Gap
To truly protect your Microsoft 365 environment, it’s time to go beyond the basics. Start with improving your Secure Score, which offers a detailed breakdown of vulnerabilities and missed opportunities to enhance protection. Then, layer in managed detection and response (MDR) tools that actively monitor your environment for threats.
MDR adds a real-time view of your tenant’s activities. It allows you to respond quickly to login anomalies, compromised accounts, and data access attempts. When combined with Microsoft Defender and proper configurations, this creates a much more secure and resilient platform.
Microsoft 365 Isn’t Secure Out of the Box – But It Can Be
It’s time to rethink the assumption that Microsoft has it all covered. While they offer incredible tools, the setup, security, and compliance are still on you. Fortunately, with the right strategy, your Microsoft 365 tenant can be locked down, monitored, and fully protected.
Let’s Secure Your Microsoft 365 Environment — Before It’s Too Late
Are you worried your Microsoft 365 tenant is wide open? Let’s find out. Our no-cost Microsoft 365 security audit evaluates your Secure Score, identifies risks, and helps you build a roadmap to protection. Don’t wait for an incident—fix it before it breaks.
