Deploy Microsoft Defender XDR today and start protecting your entire digital estate
The average organization now hosts 351 exploitable attack pathways, says Microsoft’s 2024 State of Multicloud Security Risk Report 1 , so it’s no wonder leaders across sectors are calling for enhanced protection of high-value assets within applications, email, endpoints, identity, and more. But deploying a comprehensive security solution like Microsoft Defender XDR can be a big lift, especially in organizations using legacy systems or a mix of third-party tools. Complex integrations and configurations combined with common issues like limited staffing resources can further delay or even prevent full product implementation. Fortunately, FastTrack for Microsoft 365 is ready to help streamline your security product deployment and today we’ll explain how. In this blog, you’ll learn: Why Microsoft Defender platform adds value beyond security. How to deploy Microsoft Defender efficiently and securely using Microsoft admin center advanced deployment guides. Answers to FAQs. Microsoft Defender: The industry leading 2 , XDR solution with added value Microsoft Defender protects your entire organization with a unified security platform that consolidates multiple security functions (e.g., endpoint, identity, cloud security) under a single tool. This comprehensive coverage creates overlapping security, which strengthens overall security and helps reduce workloads for security and IT teams. And while in some cases, transitioning security systems can create vulnerabilities in the short term, FastTrack engineers at Microsoft have solved for this by providing incremental security coverage as you wind down third-party point solutions. We’ll describe this in more detail later on but first let’s go over the Microsoft Defender platform. The Microsoft Defender platform: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Helps prevent, detect, investigate, and respond to advanced threats with next-gen antivirus, endpoint detection response (EDR), automated investigation, and prioritized remediation capabilities. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint setup guide Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Protects email and collaboration tools like SharePoint, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams against advanced threats, i.e., phishing, business email compromise, and malware attacks. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 setup guide Microsoft Defender for Identity Protects on-premises Active Directory from targeted attacks with signals that identify, detect, and investigate compromised identities and malicious insider actions. Microsoft Defender for Identity setup guide Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps A Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) that uses rich visibility, control over data travel, and sophisticated analytics to identify and combat cyber threats across cloud services. Gain visibility into Shadow IT, discover cloud apps in use, control and protect data within apps, and detect and respond to threats across all potential threat vectors. Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps setup guide Microsoft Defender XDR, powered by AI, integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft 365 products and security tools Seamless integration provides for stronger, more consistent, automated security across the entire software ecosystem. For example: Microsoft Defender is embedded with Microsoft Sentinel Microsoft Sentinel is a new FastTrack offering. It’s a very powerful cloud-native, AI-powered security information and event management (SIEM) solution that helps teams address top cyberthreats, including ransomware attacks, by: Enriching data with machine learning: Sentinel employs machine learning to enrich data with Microsoft's threat intelligence, the secret ingredient that fuels capabilities, including threat hunting, detecting, investigating, and responding to threats across an ecosystem. Reducing “alert fatigue”: Sentinel filters through billions of signals, correlates them into alerts and incidents, and even prioritizes incidents. This allows for more efficient and cost-effective remediation strategies and reduced alert fatigue for SOC teams. Microsoft Defender integrates with Azure’s Microsoft Defender for Cloud Microsoft Defender for Cloud is a cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP) that secures full-stack workloads, end to end, across Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Azure Cloud Services with constant cyberthreat monitoring at the code level. How to deploy Microsoft Defender security products efficiently and securely Because each organization’s deployment scenario will be as unique as the organization itself, Microsoft engineers designed Defender to be highly customizable and able to accommodate a variety of different scenarios. However, no one should let complexities surrounding custom configurations delay deployment. FastTrack for Microsoft 365 is here to help With a variety of self-serve resources, detailed documentation, automated, step-by-step deployment guides, and even one-on-one assistance (with an eligible license), FastTrack can help you reduce complexity and get your Microsoft Defender products up-and-running quickly. Here’s how to start: 1. Visit the Microsoft 365 Setup site Regardless of license status or credentials, start your journey at the Microsoft 365 Setup site for open, self-service access to detailed setup guides, on-demand videos, and helpful blogs to plan secure and efficient Microsoft Defender deployment workloads. 2. Sign in to the Microsoft admin center Once your organization owns a license and you’re ready to deploy, sign in to the Microsoft admin center and access Microsoft Defender advanced deployment and setup guides. 3. Deploy using Microsoft Defender advance deployment guides Start with zero trust Microsoft Defender for Endpoint setup guide Microsoft Defender for Office 365 setup guide Microsoft Defender for Identity setup guide Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps setup guide These streamlined, automated guides combine detailed documentation with stateful personalization, so you know you’re following the right instructions for your organization’s scenario. The step-by-step instructions also lead you through the correct order of operations so you can be confident you’re setting up each Microsoft Defender solution correctly, from beginning to end. Microsoft Defender setup guides: What to expect once you get there Each Microsoft Defender setup guide follows a similar pattern. They begin with an Overview, describing foundational prerequisites and Requirements, then have you identify your organization’s particular Scenario and goals, before walking you through your recommended Deployment and Configuration steps based on your scenario and Microsoft’s best practices. Let’s walk through the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint guide as an example: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint setup guide Arrive at Overview (see above) to learn more about the Defender setup guide and watch a short video. Follow the subway navigation and review Microsoft Defender for Endpoint’s minimum setup requirements to make sure you’re ready for a secure setup experience before you begin. At Scenario, identify your organization’s current security situation and your goals, for example: Do you already have an endpoint security solution in place? Would you like to see how Defender for Endpoint works before rolling it out? Do you want help designing configurations? At Deployment, find Microsoft’s recommended next steps based on your Scenario. These steps include: Preparation: Key points to consider as you prepare for migration. Setup: Guidance on which specific steps you should carry out next. Onboarding to your tenant: Advice on how to onboard while protecting other platforms in your environment. 5. Lastly, Configuration is where you’ll configure various settings and learn more about: Attack surface reduction Mobile threat defense Next-generation protection Auto remediation and investigation Microsoft Secure Score Endpoint detection and response Threat and vulnerability management Frequently asked questions Transitioning to or implementing a new security suite can be tricky. However, Microsoft Defender setup guides have been designed to eliminate as much risk and friction as possible from the deployment process. They also do a great job of anticipating and addressing questions admins frequently ask. Here are a few frequently asked questions and answers: How do I securely migrate to Microsoft Defender for Office 365? Read this Learn article to understand securely migrating from a third-party protection service or device to Microsoft Defender for Office 365. How should I deal with urgent security incident response issues? Get a better understanding of the complex threats affecting your organization. Subscribers to Defender Experts for Hunting can engage with their own security incident response teams to address urgent security incident response issues. Where can I go to learn how to fix onboarding issues myself? Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Microsoft Defender for Identity Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps 4. Does Microsoft offer training for Microsoft Defender? Yes! To get started with Microsoft Defender training, browse the list of learning paths, and filter by product, role, level, and subject. Need additional assistance? Whether you have a few questions or want assistance with deployment of your entire Microsoft Defender suite, FastTrack Engineers and Partners are ready to help. Eligible customers can request direct, remote assistance from FastTrack for Microsoft 365. [1] Microsoft’s 2024 State of Multicloud Security Report [2] Microsoft Defender was named an XDR leader in The Forrester Wave: XDR platforms, Q2 2024, receiving top scores in 15 of 22 criteria, including Endpoint Detection, Threat Hunting, and Innovation.The future of Microsoft 365 deployment: Microsoft 365 Setup Expert
Are you an IT professional, a business or technical decision-maker, or stakeholder involved with managing Microsoft 365 environments? If so, you need quick and reliable access to setup and deployment information. Now you have that access at your fingertips with Microsoft 365 Setup Expert. Read below for more details or check out the full blog post here. What is Microsoft 365 Setup Expert? Microsoft 365 Setup Expert is an innovative, AI-powered solution that helps IT, BDMS, TDMs, and related stakeholders streamline their Microsoft 365 setup and deployment workloads. Developed by FastTrack engineers, this tool responds to queries with the information you need to make informed decisions about product purchases, licensing, deployment, and troubleshooting. Advantages of Using Setup Expert Setup Expert delivers essential insights for navigating Microsoft 365 setup workflows with confidence, regardless of your job role or credentials. Key Features Prepurchase guidance: Evaluate different Microsoft 365 solutions, compare licensing options, and get recommendations for compliance, remote work, and security scenarios. Post-purchase support: Plan product rollouts, deploy advanced features, troubleshoot issues, and scale deployments based on organizational needs. Reliable information: Sourced from official Microsoft channels, ensuring accuracy and relevance. Role-based responses: Tailored insights for both technical and non-technical users. Real-World Applications Whether you're planning a new deployment or managing an existing environment, Microsoft 365 Setup Expert can help you: Simplify and expedite deployments Reduce reliance on credentialed admins Foster collaboration across roles Streamline procurement decisions Learn more about Microsoft 365 Setup Expert Dive deeper into how Setup Expert can transform your setup processes in the full blog post at the Setup site. Find Setup Expert at setup.cloud.microsoft and start leading your organization through smarter, faster, and more collaborative deployments today!3 internal obstacles to overcome for comprehensive security
Organizations today face relentless security challenges, fending off an average of 59 data security incidents each year. 1 At an average cost of $15 million, 2 successful exploits can be devasting. To address these risks, organizations need a comprehensive defense, including committed leadership and cutting-edge tools. At Microsoft, safeguarding data, technology, and secure AI adoption is a year-round priority. In fact, Charlie Bell, executive vice president of Microsoft Security, recently underscored Microsoft’s “unique responsibility in safeguarding the future for our customers and community.” As part of meeting this responsibility, Microsoft’s advanced security solutions include Microsoft Defender XDR, a platform designed to provide holistic security against today’s complex threats. While solutions like Microsoft Defender XDR are invaluable, getting them deployed can sometimes be challenging. Organizations may face internal hurdles—conflicting priorities, resource limitations, even resistance to change—that can slow or stall implementation of essential security tools. In this article, we’ll explore three common hurdles and discuss how, by deploying Microsoft security products, you can help ensure a more secure future at your organization. 3 common internal obstacles to achieving comprehensive security 1. Reluctance to replace individual, legacy solutions In the past, organizations commonly implemented individual security tools for different, siloed areas of the organization. Today, we know this fragmented approach weakens data security. In fact, according to Microsoft’s 2024 State of Multicloud Security Risk Report, organizations using multiple individual point solutions experience 2.8 times as many data security incidents as those using fewer, integrated tools. Here's a table comparing the performance of individual point solutions vs. Microsoft Defender XDR, the industry-leading unified security platform. 3 Is sunk cost fallacy to blame? “Security is an area significantly impacted by behavioral economics." 4 Sunk cost fallacy can lead cybersecurity professionals to resist replacing existing systems, even when evidence suggests it's necessary. According to Forbes: “The biggest risk in viewing cybersecurity as a sunk cost is inaction. In other words, thinking that you are safe because you haven’t yet suffered a major breach. Remember this maxim: Everyone is vulnerable." 5 To move past sunk-cost fallacy, Forbes says decision-makers need to understand that “the implementation of robust security measures can deliver substantial value beyond just mitigating risks.” By examining ROI and a products’ impact on improving security, reducing complexity, and streamlining operations “...businesses can start recognizing cybersecurity as a driver of competitive advantage, innovation and operational efficiency,” instead of as simply a cost center 6 [Emphasis added]. As an example of the potential for ROI, a 2022 Forrester TEI study found that a composite company achieved an ROI of 242% over three years and a net present value (NPV) of $17 million from switching to Microsoft Defender. It's easy to overestimate the value of individual or legacy security solutions but the clear security advantages and proven ROI of Microsoft Defender XDR demonstrate that replacing legacy systems can be well worth the effort. 2. Concerns about ensuring secure integration If not managed carefully, integrations involving newly opened communication, authentication, or data transfer channels can introduce vulnerabilities that become attack vectors. Microsoft’s 2024 State of Multicloud Security Risk Report notes that “...misconfigured APIs were one of the leading causes of cloud data breaches in 2023.” As a unified security platform, Microsoft Defender XDR mitigates such risks through a multilayered approach, through a multilayered approach, offering centralized management (including identity access), comprehensive visibility, and stronger security controls to help prevent human error. This approach “help[s] security teams proactively detect and monitor misconfigurations so they can remediate as needed." 7 Consistent, automated security with Microsoft Defender XDR Microsoft Defender XDR integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft security tools, Microsoft 365 products, and AI, delivering consistent, automated security across the entire stack. For example: Microsoft Defender XDR is embedded with Microsoft Sentinel, a cloud-native, AI-powered SIEM solution that aids Microsoft Defender XDR in addressing top cyberthreats like ransomware through: Improved visibility across domains: By ingesting data from an organization's infrastructure, devices, users, applications, and cloud environments, Microsoft Sentinel gives security teams a broad view of security threats. Enriched data with machine learning: Sentinel employs machine learning to enrich data with Microsoft threat intelligence, powering threat hunting, detection, investigation, and response across an ecosystem. Reduced alert fatigue: Filtering billions of signals, correlating them into alerts, and prioritizing incidents helps SOC teams handle alerts more efficiently, minimizing fatigue and enabling focused remediation. Microsoft Defender integrates with Azure’s Microsoft Defender for Cloud, a cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP) that secures workloads across Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Azure Cloud Services with constant cyberthreat monitoring at the code level. This capability allows: Broad attack investigation: Security teams can investigate threats across cloud resources, devices, and identities. Workload-specific protections: Dedicated protections extend to servers, containers, storage, databases, and more. Actionable security recommendations: Defender for Cloud provides insights to improve overall security posture and prevent breaches. 3. Resource, staff, and time constraints Resource constraints, staff shortages, and time limitations are intensifying today’s already challenging cybersecurity landscape and can, understandably, impede deployments of new security products. For example: Resource constraints: Many organizations face limited budgets for security tools, technology, and personnel, leading them to continue with patchwork solutions or delay implementing critical security measures, potentially leaving gaps in security. Staff shortages: As cyber threats become more sophisticated, global demand for skilled IT and security professionals continues to grow while supply hasn’t been able to keep up. 8 When insufficient staff results in missed security tasks, reduced monitoring, and slower incident responses, organizations can be left vulnerable to risk. Limited time: Time constraints are a problem as old as time itself, but for IT teams with already heavy workloads, one more thing to do is more than stressful, it can leave systems vulnerable and increase windows of opportunity for bad actors. FastTrack resources to help you get Microsoft Defender up and running For Microsoft 365 customers experiencing any of the issues mentioned above, FastTrack for Microsoft 365 is here to help with accessible resources, automated, prescriptive setup guides, and even one-on-one assistance. Here’s how to start: 1. Visit the Microsoft 365 Setup site Review openly accessible setup resources at the Microsoft 365 Setup site. Both business and IT leaders will find value in perusing detailed Microsoft Defender setup guides, on-demand videos, and helpful blogs to plan for safe, efficient Microsoft Defender deployment workloads. 2. Sign in to the Microsoft Admin Center (MAC) and start deploying Microsoft Defender using FastTrack’s automated setup guides When you deploy Microsoft Defender XDR from the MAC using advanced deployment guides, you’re taking the most accurate, efficient, and secure deployment path possible. These automated guides combine detailed documentation with step-by-step instructions tailored specifically for your environment to give you streamlined guidance from beginning to end. Start by setting up Microsoft Defender Zero Trust security model for your organization. 3. Request assistance from FastTrack for Microsoft 365 Customers with eligible licenses can request remote, one-on-one assistance from FastTrack before, during, or even post-deployment of Microsoft Defender. Take the next step to implement unified protection Security is too crucial—and the cost of breaches are too high—to let any impediments, real or potential, delay or dissuade you from fully implementing your security investments. When you deploy Microsoft Defender, you’re protecting your organization with a unified security platform that combines multiple security functions—including endpoint, identity, and cloud security—under a single tool. Start protecting your entire digital estate today: Keep your organization, data, and users safe by implementing the comprehensive power of Microsoft Defender, the industry-leading XDR solution that reduces costs and overhead while helping you keep your organization secure across all domains from costly cybercrime. To learn more about improving your security posture with Microsoft Defender, check out our recent webinar: Supercharging your SOC: Unlock the power of endpoint security in Microsoft Defender XDR. Footnotes 1 Microsoft’s 2024 State of Multicloud Security Risk Report 2 Microsoft’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook Insight Report, 2022 3 Microsoft Defender was named an XDR leader in The Forrester Wave: XDR platforms, Q2 2024 4 3 Ways Behavioral Economics Obstructs Cybersecurity 5 Closing the cybersecurity skills gap 6 Cybersecurity As a Strategic Investment (forbes.com) 7 2024-State-of-Multicloud-Security-Risk-Report.pdf (microsoft.com) 8 Closing the cybersecurity skills gap (microsoft.com)
Simplify your Windows 365 Enterprise deployment with the updated Windows 365 deployment checklist
We’re excited to announce that we’ve just released an updated Windows 365 deployment checklist in the Microsoft 365 admin center (MAC). What is Windows 365? Windows 365 is a cloud-based Desktop as a service (DaaS) solution that automatically creates a new type of Windows virtual machine for your customer, known as a Cloud PC. A Cloud PC is a highly available, optimized, and scalable virtual machine that provides customers with a rich Windows desktop experience. Cloud PCs are hosted in the Windows 365 service and is accessible from anywhere, on any device (Learn more about Windows 365). Windows 365 deployment is made to be simple (to see an end-to-end deployment overview, visit Overview of Windows 365 deployment). However, we understand that our customers have unique and complex environments. What is the Windows 365 deployment checklist? To help you integrate Windows 365 with your existing enterprise environment, we've compiled learnings and best practices from the Microsoft 365 FastTrack Team, which has worked with hundreds of enterprise customers. We're excited to offer these in an updated Windows 365 deployment checklist experience as part of the Advanced Deployment Guides in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. This checklist will guide you as you plan, deploy, and scale Windows 365 in your environment. The Windows 365 deployment checklist guides admins through the considerations around Azure basics, identity, networking, licensing, management, security, applications, and end user experiences that are applicable to their deployment configuration. Admins can assign tasks for each area to the responsible stakeholders and define a target date of completion. Admins can also see a summary view with an overall status to track progress against their timelines. How can I access the Windows 365 deployment checklist? To access the Windows Enterprise 365 checklist, visit this link or directly at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2251210. Additional Resources: Product Info: Windows 365 Enterprise on Microsoft.com Microsoft Learn: What is Windows 365 Enterprise? Microsoft Learn: Requirements for Windows 365 Access all Microsoft 365 Advanced Deployment Guides
