Microsoft 365 governance is a critical aspect of ensuring the security, compliance, and efficient management of an organization's digital workspace. But in reality, how easy is it to pull this off?
You might have heard of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), but in this blog post, we look at Microsoft 365 governance through Rarely Asked Questions (RAQs). First, let me explain what RAQs are. RAQs are the questions organizations and IT administrators must ask more often to ensure employees can collaborate freely and securely. Often, it is the simplest of questions that can help you get started on your M365 governance journey!
On to the questions...
Balancing security with user autonomy involves setting clear governance policies that define user permissions while enabling productivity. Implementing role-based access controls ensures that users have the access they need without compromising security. Regularly reviewing and updating these permissions is crucial to maintaining this balance.
External sharing is vital for collaboration; there’s hardly any doubt about that, but it also poses security risks if security guardrails are not implemented and managed beforehand. Mandating multi-factor authentication (MFA) for external users and using sensitivity labels to classify and protect sensitive data are among the first steps IT administrators can take.
Rencore Governance provides you with maximum flexibility and efficiency in managing external collaboration across Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Entra ID, Exchange, Viva Engage, and Power Platform. The external access dashboard provides organizations with an instant view of all externally shared files and the status of external and guest users.
Download our Microsoft 365 Security Checklist - a set of actionable recommendations to get you started with strengthening the security posture of your organization.
Let’s face it: collaborating in the cloud has perhaps never been this easy, and users are going to create new teams and channels to communicate and to coordinate tasks/projects. Microsoft Teams sprawl can lead to unmanaged data and several security risks, which grow by the minute if ignored. Discovering and deleting channels that are no longer in use or have no owner, for example, makes your Teams environment clearer and tidier.
If you’d like to learn more about keeping your Microsoft Teams tidy and clean, we recommend reading our whitepaper on Teams governance best practices.
Shadow IT refers to the use of applications not authorized by the IT team, which often goes undetected or unreported. Needless to say, shadow IT opens up the organization to cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities.
We cannot stress this enough: for any organization, proactively addressing shadow IT by implementing a clear governance strategy, enabling open communication with employees, providing appropriate Microsoft 365 productivity solutions, and promoting awareness of the risks associated with shadow IT is key. By doing so, organizations can minimize the negative impact of shadow IT while maintaining a secure and efficient technology landscape.
Head over to our detailed blog post on Keeping shadow IT in check with a cloud governance strategy to learn efficient ways to manage shadow IT.
Automated governance tools can significantly reduce the manual workload. These tools can automate tasks such as data classification, policy enforcement, and threat detection, helping to maintain compliance and security. Rencore Governance is the only M365 governance solution that covers the breadth of M365 services in a deep and interconnected way. With the automation builder, organizations can customize any built-in automation template or create their own, helping them not only detect issues but also implement fixes easily.
The keyword to emphasize here is ‘now.’ As they say, the best time to invest in a governance solution that protects an organization’s valuable data was yesterday!
Investing in a Microsoft 365 governance solution is a strategic move that offers several key benefits for organizations, especially in the current digital landscape. Apart from enhancing data protection and ensuring compliance with industry-specific regulations, a governance framework provides insights into how organizations use M365 tools. By having an overview of usage data, organizations can save on unwanted licensing and storage costs, for example.
Addressing these RAQs can help your organization strengthen its Microsoft 365 governance framework and ensure a secure, compliant, and efficient digital workspace. For more detailed guidance, consider reaching out to our governance experts and mapping out your own governance journey.