What This Guide Covers
Cloud security operates under a shared responsibility model, where security obligations are divided between the cloud provider and the customer. This guide explains how that responsibility is distributed and how organizations must design, manage, and secure their Microsoft 365 environment accordingly.
Why Organizations Struggle With Shared Responsibility
Assumption That Microsoft Handles Security
Organizations often believe Microsoft is responsible for securing all aspects of the environment.
Unclear Ownership Of Controls
Security responsibilities are not clearly defined across IT, leadership, and operations.
Misconfigured Security Settings
Critical security controls are left unconfigured or improperly implemented.
A Structured Approach To Shared Responsibility
Understand Platform Responsibilities
Identify what Microsoft is responsible for within the service itself.
Define Customer Responsibilities
Determine what your organization must secure, manage, and control.
Establish Ownership
Assign responsibility for identity, data, devices, and security controls.
Implement Required Controls
Configure security settings, access controls, and monitoring across the environment.
Align With Compliance Requirements
Ensure responsibilities meet regulatory and audit expectations.
Continuously Monitor And Validate
Regularly assess configurations and responsibilities to maintain security posture.
Operational Considerations
Identity And Access Management
Control who can access systems, data, and administrative functions.
Security Configuration Management
Ensure security features and controls are properly configured and maintained.
Monitoring And Incident Response
Detect, investigate, and respond to threats and abnormal activity.