Secure Your Sensitive Data In The Cloud With A Microsoft Cloud Access Security CASB
Previously, we looked at why you may need a Google cloud access security CASB solution to secure your team’s G Suite environment. Today, we will disucss how to secure cloud access in Microsoft for all you Office 365 fans out there.
A Brief History of CASB
So, what is CASB? As more companies make the move to cloud computing, vendors have quickly realized the unique security challenges that storing and accessing data in the cloud creates. These challenges gave rise to a new type of cybersecurity solution: the cloud access security broker, or CASB.
Cloud Access Security Broker is a term coined by Gartner and refers to the first-generation CASB use of proxies. Today, there are more advanced cloud security platforms that use the cloud application’s native APIs to monitor, control, and secure activity.
What Is Microsoft Cloud Access Security CASB?
What does all this CASB security talk mean for Microsoft users? If your organization uses Office 365 for Outlook, Word, Excel, etc. then you are using a cloud application! Using a Microsoft cloud access security CASB is every bit as important to securing your organization’s sensitive data as any other cloud-based SaaS application.
Third Party vs Microsoft Cloud Access Security
You may be thinking that you already have the cloud security you need through your Office 365 license. Whether you actually do or not depends on your license level and if your team uses any other cloud applications. The benefits of using a third party Microsoft cloud access security CASB include:
- If your company uses additional cloud applications, a third party solution will usually offer security and control over them as well as Office. Other popular SaaS applications that need to be secured include G Suite, Slack, Box, and Dropbox (to name a few).
- A third party offers effective redundancy. This is a system that’s intricately designed so that if a component in your system fails, there’s a backup process in place. This redundancy duplicates the system so that you can protect your organization’s information and you won’t lose data.
- Almost all third party cloud access security CASBs offer customizable data loss prevention controls to ensure your cloud environment is secure. Since employees are prone to accidentally signing up for potentially risky applications without looking into them, it’s important to have a system that can catch security threats and automatically remove them before any damage is done.
Microsoft’s Take On API vs Proxy Cloud Access Security
CASB architecture does matter, so it’s important to know the difference between API and proxy cloud access security. When it comes to APIs vs. proxies, you should also understand where Microsoft stands on the matter before you decide which is right for your company.
In 2018, Microsoft published a blog on third party network devices for Office 365. In this blog, Microsoft states that they do not recommend using proxy CASBs. The company does allow the use of proxy cloud access security, however they do not support any security or performance issues that may occur due to the CASB. The article also states that only third party vendors that use Microsoft’s public APIs will be notified of any important updates or changes.
If your company uses Microsoft Office 365, then you definitely need a Microsoft Cloud Access Security CASB. This will help to protect your system from a data breach or other potential threats that could harm your system. Claim your cloud security free trial today and start securing your company’s cloud data.
