Most small to medium businesses are increasingly adopting cloud technologies; the importance of securing applications cannot be emphasised more in this context. Microsoft Cloud App Security provides a robust solution to safeguard cloud applications and data with features tailored for both large enterprises and small businesses. Users can leverage its capabilities to manage security incidents and ensure proactive compliance with industry regulations. Let’s understand why Microsoft Cloud App Security is critical in today’s digital landscape.
What are the Uses of Microsoft Cloud App Security?
Microsoft Cloud App Security is a robust cloud access security broker (CASB) that provides organisations with increased visibility and control over their cloud applications. The application helps monitor user activity, manage app usage, and enforce security policies effectively.
The highlight of Microsoft Cloud App Security solutions is its ability to address security challenges associated with the rapid adoption of cloud services by growing businesses.
Microsoft Cloud App Security enhances data protection by employing data loss prevention (DLP) policies that businesses can use to safeguard sensitive data from unauthorised access or sharing. It uses real-time monitoring to detect unusual activities and potential threats. The advent and integration of machine learning algorithms help in proactive identification of risks before they escalate into serious issues. Microsoft Cloud App Security provides customisable security strategies that can be tailored to specific business needs, ensuring that data remains protected without disrupting productivity.
Introducing Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps:
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, formerly known as Microsoft Cloud App Security (CASB-Cloud Access Security Broker), offers comprehensive security for cloud applications, integrating threat protection and data security. MDCA ensures visibility and control over cloud application use, implements data protection, and integrates with identity – classic CASB functions.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps particularly helps SMBs identify the type of cloud services in use, protect sensitive information, detect threats like account compromise or suspicious data downloads, and enforce policies to prevent leaks. MDCA integrates with other tools to provide a well-rounded defence without the need for a large security team.
Key Features of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps delivers multiple layers of protection across all areas of cloud security. Its key features include:
| Feature | MDCA capabilities | Use cases |
| CASB Core Functions | Shadow IT discovery (via network logs & endpoint telemetry) – Visibility into all discovered cloud app usage and all-around risk assessment of apps. | Identify all SaaS services that users access and flag non-compliant apps against GDPR or HIPAA. Generate a risk score for the same. |
| SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) | Assess SaaS app configuration security and detect misconfigurations against standards (CIS benchmarks). Provide actionable steps as it integrates with Microsoft Secure Score for tracking and remediation. | Ensure MFA is enabled on Salesforce/ServiceNow – Remediate risky default settings in Teams/OneDrive. Help improve compliance posture over time |
| Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) & Anomaly Detection | User & Entity Behaviour Analytics (UEBA). Machine learning–based anomaly tracking. Built-in detection policies (travel, mass downloads, ransomware-like behaviour, spikes in deletions). Correlates incidents with Microsoft 365 Defender (XDR) | Alert if a user logs in from the US and India within minutes. Detect ransomware encrypting SharePoint files. Flag mass infiltration attempts. Link signals across endpoints, email, and identity. |
| App-to-App Protection (OAuth App Governance) | Discovery of OAuth-enabled apps that have consented to user access. Assess permissions and behaviour and define policies (alert on apps with high privileges). Ban or revoke risky/malicious OAuth apps. | Alert if multiple users consent to an app with “read/write all files” access. Block malicious apps integrated with Office 365 – Govern inter-app data exchange in a secure manner. |
| Information Protection & Data Loss Prevention | Scan SaaS files for sensitive customer data and apply/enforce sensitivity labels via Microsoft Purview. Enforce encryption and governance actions. | Auto-label confidential docs with “Confidential” and encrypt – Block download of files with SSNs to unmanaged devices. Remove external collaborators from sensitive SharePoint folders or in OneDrive. |
| Real-time Access Control | Integrates with Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) conditional access. Apply session-level monitoring and restrictions. Adaptive access for risky sessions (non-compliant devices, suspicious geos) | Allow viewing but block download of files from unmanaged devices. Require MFA for login from unusual IPs. Tag sessions as “risky” and implement read-only mode. |
Kloudify and Microsoft Security for Cloud Apps:
Kloudify Technologies is a Microsoft Gold Partner and a leading consulting and implementation services provider of Microsoft productivity solutions and cyber-security services in Australia. We have extensive experience and expertise in deploying Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, especially for small and medium businesses. Our customised solutions:
- Discover all your cloud apps and assess their risk levels.
- Apply granular policies and controls to govern data access and usage.
- Detect anomalous user behaviour and malicious activities.
- Protect sensitive data from leakage or exposure.
- Respond first to incidents with automated remediation actions
Kloudify offers ongoing support and maintenance for Microsoft security solutions, ensuring that your cloud security posture is always up-to-date. We can monitor your cloud environment for any changes or issues, provide regular reports on cloud app usage and risk profile, and utilise tools like Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (MDCA) or Microsoft Cloud App Security (MCAS). Talk to our team to take this discussion further.
