Correct Configuration Is Critical

Agility and efficiency are paramount in business so the correct configuration of your Microsoft 365 suite can significantly determine your organisation’s success.

Microsoft 365 offers a robust platform that combines the familiar Office applications with powerful cloud-based productivity services. However, the true potential of these tools is unlocked only through precise configuration tailored to the specific needs of your business and the challenges facing it.

Optimising your M365 setup not only boosts productivity but also fortifies your organisation’s cyber security and ensures compliance with regulations.

Advanced Microsoft 365 Configuration: Unlock Enhanced Security and Business Performance

Configuring Cybersecurity Defences to Prevent Data Breaches

Getting the right Microsoft 365 configuration is vital for good cybersecurity. With cyberthreats becoming more sophisticated, the security features embedded in Microsoft 365 – if correctly configured – are a formidable defence against cyberattacks.

Tools such as Microsoft Defender for Office 365 provide advanced threat protection against malware and phishing attacks. This tool uses machine learning capabilities to analyse communication patterns in your organisation – and can identify threats before they cause harm – but its efficacy depends largely on being correctly configured to reflect your specific security policies.

Correct M365 Configuration for Compliance

Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager is a pivotal tool in maintaining and managing compliance within Microsoft 365. It helps SMEs to assess and manage compliance risks – providing rich insights and actionable recommendations.

This powerful software plays a crucial role in helping SMEs to meet GDPR requirements, including data protection, data subject rights, data minimisation and accountability. It can also assist with ISO 27001 information security management, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) plus various other international standards and regulations.

Purview helps to identify the relevant controls and provides guidance on implementing them, helping organisations to avoid potential fines and reputational damage. But incorrect configuration and implementation can lead to compliance gaps, data loss or exposure, inadequate risk assessments, higher operational costs, reduced productivity, impaired control of data, and an ineffective response to data subject requests.

SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business

SharePoint Online, a part of the Microsoft 365 suite, allows for the creation and management of workspaces for sharing information and collaborating on documents. The correct configuration of SharePoint can significantly affect how well your team can work together on projects and share information internally.

Tailoring the setup of SharePoint to align with your company’s document management strategies and security policies ensures that data is accessible yet secure – bolstering both productivity and compliance.

Proper configuration of Microsoft 365 also includes setting up OneDrive for Business effectively. OneDrive offers a secure place to store, share and access your files from any device, anywhere. Correctly configuring OneDrive to sync with local devices – and establishing clear data retention and sharing policies – is essential for safeguarding your data and ensuring that your workforce can operate efficiently and securely.

Strategic Alignment for Business Success

The correct configuration of Microsoft 365 is not just about leveraging a suite of tools; it’s about strategically aligning these tools to the unique requirements of your business. This alignment ensures that your operations are secure, compliant and as efficient as possible. 

Investing the time and resources to configure Microsoft 365 correctly – or partnering with a specialised provider – can lead to significant business advantages. It not only enhances your operational capabilities but also secures your digital assets and ensures that your business remains compliant with ever-evolving regulations, setting a solid foundation for success.

As a Microsoft Gold Partner, PSTG understands the intricacies involved and is dedicated to helping SMEs to achieve these outcomes through expert configuration and tailored solutions.

Underpinning and Driving Business Growth

Correct configuration of Microsoft 365 is more than a technical necessity for your SME – it’s a strategic imperative that supports nearly every aspect of your business operations.

From enhancing security to ensuring compliance, Microsoft 365’s advanced features, when configured correctly, provide a comprehensive solution that empowers SME owners and directors to focus on what they do best – growing their business.

Microsoft 365’s ease of management, facilitated by centralised administration features, allows SMEs to maintain their IT infrastructure with minimal effort. Automation of routine tasks, combined with the integration of productivity tools, frees up time for focusing on core business activities such as strategy and development.

Robust and reliable – IT system downtime can cripple an SME’s operations, resulting in lost productivity, lower revenues and less customer trust. Minimising downtime starts with a Microsoft 365 configuration that ensures systems are always running and updated.

Securing company data – Microsoft 365 offers tools such as Microsoft Defender for Identity (formerly Azure Advanced Threat Protection) and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to safeguard against malware, ransomware and phishing attacks. Configuring these tools according to your specific business needs ensures that your data is protected in real time, mitigating risks before they can cause harm.

Keeping pace with technology – Microsoft 365 integrates easily with existing tools and services, reducing the learning curve and helping businesses to adopt new technologies seamlessly. Proper configuration optimises these integrations, ensuring that all systems work together to support business processes.

Strategies for scaling IT provision – as your business grows, so too must your IT infrastructure. Strategic configuration of cloud services and subscription plans can align IT capabilities with growth trajectories, ensuring that you pay only for what you use.

Enhancing Remote Work Security – with more employees working remotely, securing off-site operations is crucial. Microsoft 365’s security configurations allow businesses to set up secure virtual environments. Tools such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), secure VPNs and Endpoint Manager ensure that remote work remains as secure as in-office operations, protecting your data across different networks and devices.

Get Expert Technical Help

WithHow well is your business using Microsoft? How secure is your IT system? Ask us about Microsoft 365 and cybersecurity audits. 

PSTG is a highly experienced Microsoft Gold Partner that offers organisations enterprise-level expertise at an SME price point.

We are an accredited supplier to the Crown Commercial Service, an executive agency sponsored by the Cabinet Office.
PSTG is also ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus certified.