Microsoft 365 is where attacks start.
We lock it down.
Your email, files, and identities live in Microsoft 365. That makes it the number one target for attackers. CIO Tech hardens your M365 tenant with Conditional Access, MFA enforcement, Defender policies, data loss prevention, and email authentication. Included in every Assured plan.
Six controls that close the gaps most tenants leave open
A default Microsoft 365 tenant is not secure. Legacy authentication is enabled. Conditional Access is off. Defender is not configured. Most businesses are running M365 the way Microsoft shipped it, not the way it should be run.
Conditional Access policies
Rules that control who can access what, from where, and on which devices. Block sign-ins from countries you do not operate in. Require compliant devices for sensitive data. Block legacy authentication protocols that bypass MFA entirely.
MFA enforcement
Multi-factor authentication on every account. Not optional, not a suggestion. Every user, every admin, every service account that supports it. A stolen password alone cannot get an attacker into your email.
Defender for Office 365
Safe Links scans every URL your team clicks. Safe Attachments detonates suspicious files in a sandbox before they reach the inbox. Anti-phishing policies detect impersonation attempts. These features exist in your M365 licence. We configure them properly.
Data loss prevention (DLP)
Policies that prevent sensitive information from leaving your organisation by email or file sharing. Tax file numbers, credit card data, medical records. If someone tries to email a spreadsheet full of client TFNs to their personal Gmail, the policy blocks it.
Advanced email filtering
Anti-spam and anti-phishing tuned beyond defaults. External sender tagging so your team can see when an email is coming from outside the organisation. Mailbox forwarding rules monitored to catch attackers redirecting email to external addresses.
SPF, DKIM, and DMARC alignment
Three email authentication protocols that prevent attackers from sending emails that look like they come from your domain. Without these, anyone can spoof your business email address. We configure and align all three to protect your reputation and your clients.
Most breaches start in the inbox
Email is still the primary way attackers get into businesses. A phishing email that tricks one person into clicking a link or entering their password. That is all it takes. M365 hardening reduces the chance of that working and limits the damage if it does.
Of breaches start with email
Phishing, business email compromise, and credential theft. The inbox is the front door for most attacks against Australian businesses.
Attacker dwell time
Once inside an email account, attackers often sit undetected for days, reading messages and learning how your business communicates before they act.
Extra cost to harden
Most of these features already exist in your M365 licence. They just need to be configured properly. CIO Tech includes M365 hardening in every Assured plan.
We track your progress with Microsoft Secure Score
Microsoft Secure Score is a number from 0 to 100 that measures how well your M365 tenant is configured for security. Most businesses we audit for the first time score between 20 and 40. After hardening, our clients typically sit above 70.
What a low Secure Score means
- Legacy authentication is letting attackers bypass MFA
- Defender policies are not configured or are at default settings
- Admin accounts lack proper protection
- Email spoofing is possible because SPF/DKIM/DMARC are missing
What CIO Tech does about it
- Audit your current Secure Score during the IT Audit
- Implement hardening controls during the 90-day onboarding
- Track the score monthly and continue improving it
- Report progress in plain English at every review
Questions about M365 security
Is Microsoft 365 not secure by default?
Do I need a specific M365 licence for these features?
What are SPF, DKIM, and DMARC?
Will hardening disrupt how my team uses email?
Ready to get your IT sorted?
Start with a 90-day IT Audit to see exactly where you stand. Or take our free maturity assessment for a quick snapshot.
