Why standard cybersecurity tools aren’t enough to keep your data safe

Let’s face it, the modern workforce is becoming more mobile every day and it’s never been easier to work from anywhere.

Better connectivity, and the growing adoption of cloud-based applications and services, have made it possible for users to access what they need to regardless of location or device.

But this presents a new set of challenges. How does an organisation manage its users and data, and ensure they’re not risking data loss or misuse?

With the dawn of GDPR and greater pressure to ensure data governance, it’s no longer enough to depend on standard Cybersecurity tools such as anti-virus software and firewalls to protect your data.

Cybersecurity needs to encompass identity-drive solutions and the granular management of mobile users and devices.

Until fairly recently, the management of mobile devices and users was limited and left gaping holes in terms of security and compliance.

All of that is changing. Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) is here to help you keep pace with security challenges. At the heart of the solution is Identity-Driven Security.

Imagine the scenario. A disgruntled employee decides that they’re going to distribute sensitive data to a competitor from the comfort of their own home with nobody watching.

Or maybe it’s a bit more innocent than that and somebody in the office has just sent a sensitive document out by mistake.

Azure Information Protection (AIP) is included is part of EMS and allows you to avoid this kind of scenario by applying granular restrictions to your data and users. By assigning pre-defined policies it can prevent users from sending sensitive data outside of your organisation.

Conditional access means you can even go as far as limiting access based on a number of variables such as location, risk level of the user and the type of application they’re trying to access.

Data loss prevention policies also allow you to predefine sensitive data types (such as a driving licence number or national insurance number) and apply rules to ensure the data is kept secure.

In addition to this E-mail Encryption is included and can be setup to prevent forwarding, printing or even make messages Company Confidential meaning no external party can open them.

Microsoft Intune also comes as part of EMS and allows for the slick management of Windows, Android and iOS/Mac devices. It can protect data on your Windows 10 devices by enabling BitLocker encryption, meaning lost or stolen devices need not be a worry.

Bringing everything together and allowing for the management of your users and devices is Microsoft Azure Active Directory (AAD).

This allows user privileges to be managed to a granular level from the cloud, and enables features such as Single Sign-On (SSO) allowing you to access all of your applications with a single login and password.

In summary, keeping your data safe is as much about processes and user/device management as it is about cyber-security.