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Security and Compliance in Microsoft 365: What Microsoft Protects — and What You Must Do Yourself

By Dennis Kionga November 9, 2021 7 MIN Updated: June 14, 2026

Microsoft 365 is the single most-used application for most companies — and therefore an attractive target. Rising ransomware and phishing waves, tightening compliance requirements (GDPR, NIS2) and access from anywhere on any device make M365 security and compliance an ongoing task. The key insight: Microsoft protects the platform — you protect your data and your configuration.

What Microsoft Handles

Microsoft secures the platform on three levels:

  • Physical — biometric access controls, 24/7 security and video surveillance in the data centres
  • Logical — automated server management, personnel vetting, controlled administrator access, anti-malware
  • Data — tenant isolation via independent “containers” and Entra ID separation

That’s the foundation — but it’s the security of the platform, not the security of your usage.

What You Must Configure Yourself

Data protection:

  • Rights Management Service — encryption and identity-based policies
  • S/MIME and Message Encryption for email
  • Built-in anti-malware and spam filters

Access management:

  • Single sign-on via Entra ID
  • Multi-factor authentication — the single most effective measure there is
  • Mobile Device Management with remote wipe

Compliance:

  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP) — detect and block sensitive data
  • Auditing and retention policies
  • eDiscovery — evidence preservation for legal requirements

Why a CASB Makes the Difference

The native tools are good — but they stop at the edge of Microsoft 365. A Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) extends your internal security policies to all the cloud applications in use and makes shadow IT visible. That’s exactly the move from “secure M365” to an end-to-end Zero Trust architecture, where identity and context decide access — not location.

How Cloud Cape Helps

Clean tenant configuration is mandatory; extending it into an end-to-end access architecture is where the real value sits. Our Managed Security Service Edge brings CASB, DLP and identity-based access together — from Core through Plus to Elite, operated by Cloud Cape and integrated with our SOC. That way Microsoft 365 isn’t just configured correctly but becomes part of a resilient Zero Trust strategy.

Talk to us about Managed SSE — we bring Microsoft 365 and Zero Trust together.