Microsoft 365 Security for Louisville Small Businesses: What Default Settings Don't Cover

Microsoft 365 ships functional but not secure by default. New tenants typically score 20–35 out of 100 on Microsoft's Secure Score. Legacy authentication protocols remain enabled, Conditional Access policies don't exist, and email security sits at baseline configuration. This gap is where attackers operate.

The Controls That Matter Most

MFA — enforced, not suggested. Must be mandatory via Conditional Access policy. Users cannot bypass it.

Legacy authentication blocked. SMTP AUTH, POP3, and IMAP lack MFA support. They allow account access even when MFA is enforced elsewhere.

Conditional Access policies. Govern who accesses your tenant, from which devices and locations, and under what conditions.

Audit logging enabled. Captures mailbox access, file activity, admin changes, and sign-in events. Essential for breach investigation.

Exchange Online Protection configured properly. Anti-phishing, anti-spoofing, and safe links require explicit setup beyond defaults.

Admin accounts separated. Global admin accounts need dedicated credentials, hardware MFA, and exclusive administrative use.

The Security Drift Problem

Security is not one-time configuration. Microsoft updates change defaults, new features affect security posture, and admin changes introduce gaps. Continuous monitoring is the only way to stay ahead.

What Your License Already Includes

Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes Defender for Business, Intune, and Azure AD P1. These are already paid for — they just need to be properly configured.

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