FastTrack now assists with more threat protection capabilities
Announcing FastTrack remote guidance for Microsoft Cloud App Security and Microsoft 365 Defender solutions for endpoints, identities, cloud apps, email, and docs Microsoft FastTrack is committed to helping you realize the value of your Microsoft 365 security solutions by providing remote deployment guidance. FastTrack for Microsoft 365 provides remote deployment guidance at no additional cost for customers with 150 or more licenses of eligible plans. In addition to the baseline security assistance we already offer, FastTrack has expanded the benefit in threat protection to now include Microsoft Defender for Identity and Microsoft Cloud App Security, and guidance to leverage Microsoft 365 Defender. FastTrack will provide remote deployment guidance to help eligible customers configure and deploy these Microsoft security products: Microsoft Cloud App Security discovers and controls Shadow IT, helps ensure secure access to your apps and resources, protects your sensitive information, and detects threats in the cloud for you to take action on, surfacing valuable insights and recommendations to help improve your cloud security posture. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (formerly Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection) delivers preventative protection, post-breach detection, automated investigation, and response for your endpoints. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 (formerly Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection) helps protect all of Office 365 against advanced threats like business email compromise and credential phishing, and automatically investigates and remediates attacks. Microsoft Defender for Identity (formerly Azure Advanced Threat Protection) helps secure on-premises identities across your organization by leveraging Active Directory signals to identify, detect, and investigate advanced threats, compromised identities, and malicious insider actions directed at your organization. In addition, Microsoft FastTrack will show you how to leverage the capabilities of Microsoft 365 Defender (formerly Microsoft Threat Protection), which protects against attacks with automated cross-domain security. You can use your security data to prevent and detect threats, heal affected assets, and proactively hunt across your Microsoft 365 data. FastTrack for Microsoft 365 provides remote guidance for customers with 150 or more licenses, at no additional cost with your eligible Microsoft 365 subscription. This is an ongoing benefit throughout the duration of your eligible subscription, delivered by Microsoft and approved FastTrack Ready Partners. If you want to learn more, review eligibility and the service description here. If you’re ready to get started, request assistance at microsoft.com/FastTrack (sign in required). When you request assistance from FastTrack, you’ll select which product you want guidance on, and Microsoft 365 Defender assistance will also be included with that product. Here is a screen shot of the Request for Assistance page on the FastTrack site: Interested in deploying Azure services to improve your security posture? FastTrack for Azure is a technical enablement program that works directly with customers and partners to help you build Azure solutions quickly and confidently. FastTrack for Azure brings together best practices and tools from engineering and real customer experiences, including business continuity and disaster recovery, security and management, and many more to guide customers from design, configuration, and development to production of Azure solutions. Learn more and check your eligibility at azure.microsoft.com/programs/azure-fasttrack/. We’d love to hear from you on our Tech Community channel. Give us feedback in comments or tell us what we should write about in the future.3 internal obstacles to overcome for comprehensive security
Organizations today face relentless security challenges, fending off an average of 59 data security incidents each year. 1 At an average cost of $15 million, 2 successful exploits can be devasting. To address these risks, organizations need a comprehensive defense, including committed leadership and cutting-edge tools. At Microsoft, safeguarding data, technology, and secure AI adoption is a year-round priority. In fact, Charlie Bell, executive vice president of Microsoft Security, recently underscored Microsoft’s “unique responsibility in safeguarding the future for our customers and community.” As part of meeting this responsibility, Microsoft’s advanced security solutions include Microsoft Defender XDR, a platform designed to provide holistic security against today’s complex threats. While solutions like Microsoft Defender XDR are invaluable, getting them deployed can sometimes be challenging. Organizations may face internal hurdles—conflicting priorities, resource limitations, even resistance to change—that can slow or stall implementation of essential security tools. In this article, we’ll explore three common hurdles and discuss how, by deploying Microsoft security products, you can help ensure a more secure future at your organization. 3 common internal obstacles to achieving comprehensive security 1. Reluctance to replace individual, legacy solutions In the past, organizations commonly implemented individual security tools for different, siloed areas of the organization. Today, we know this fragmented approach weakens data security. In fact, according to Microsoft’s 2024 State of Multicloud Security Risk Report, organizations using multiple individual point solutions experience 2.8 times as many data security incidents as those using fewer, integrated tools. Here's a table comparing the performance of individual point solutions vs. Microsoft Defender XDR, the industry-leading unified security platform. 3 Is sunk cost fallacy to blame? “Security is an area significantly impacted by behavioral economics." 4 Sunk cost fallacy can lead cybersecurity professionals to resist replacing existing systems, even when evidence suggests it's necessary. According to Forbes: “The biggest risk in viewing cybersecurity as a sunk cost is inaction. In other words, thinking that you are safe because you haven’t yet suffered a major breach. Remember this maxim: Everyone is vulnerable." 5 To move past sunk-cost fallacy, Forbes says decision-makers need to understand that “the implementation of robust security measures can deliver substantial value beyond just mitigating risks.” By examining ROI and a products’ impact on improving security, reducing complexity, and streamlining operations “...businesses can start recognizing cybersecurity as a driver of competitive advantage, innovation and operational efficiency,” instead of as simply a cost center 6 [Emphasis added]. As an example of the potential for ROI, a 2022 Forrester TEI study found that a composite company achieved an ROI of 242% over three years and a net present value (NPV) of $17 million from switching to Microsoft Defender. It's easy to overestimate the value of individual or legacy security solutions but the clear security advantages and proven ROI of Microsoft Defender XDR demonstrate that replacing legacy systems can be well worth the effort. 2. Concerns about ensuring secure integration If not managed carefully, integrations involving newly opened communication, authentication, or data transfer channels can introduce vulnerabilities that become attack vectors. Microsoft’s 2024 State of Multicloud Security Risk Report notes that “...misconfigured APIs were one of the leading causes of cloud data breaches in 2023.” As a unified security platform, Microsoft Defender XDR mitigates such risks through a multilayered approach, through a multilayered approach, offering centralized management (including identity access), comprehensive visibility, and stronger security controls to help prevent human error. This approach “help[s] security teams proactively detect and monitor misconfigurations so they can remediate as needed." 7 Consistent, automated security with Microsoft Defender XDR Microsoft Defender XDR integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft security tools, Microsoft 365 products, and AI, delivering consistent, automated security across the entire stack. For example: Microsoft Defender XDR is embedded with Microsoft Sentinel, a cloud-native, AI-powered SIEM solution that aids Microsoft Defender XDR in addressing top cyberthreats like ransomware through: Improved visibility across domains: By ingesting data from an organization's infrastructure, devices, users, applications, and cloud environments, Microsoft Sentinel gives security teams a broad view of security threats. Enriched data with machine learning: Sentinel employs machine learning to enrich data with Microsoft threat intelligence, powering threat hunting, detection, investigation, and response across an ecosystem. Reduced alert fatigue: Filtering billions of signals, correlating them into alerts, and prioritizing incidents helps SOC teams handle alerts more efficiently, minimizing fatigue and enabling focused remediation. Microsoft Defender integrates with Azure’s Microsoft Defender for Cloud, a cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP) that secures workloads across Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Azure Cloud Services with constant cyberthreat monitoring at the code level. This capability allows: Broad attack investigation: Security teams can investigate threats across cloud resources, devices, and identities. Workload-specific protections: Dedicated protections extend to servers, containers, storage, databases, and more. Actionable security recommendations: Defender for Cloud provides insights to improve overall security posture and prevent breaches. 3. Resource, staff, and time constraints Resource constraints, staff shortages, and time limitations are intensifying today’s already challenging cybersecurity landscape and can, understandably, impede deployments of new security products. For example: Resource constraints: Many organizations face limited budgets for security tools, technology, and personnel, leading them to continue with patchwork solutions or delay implementing critical security measures, potentially leaving gaps in security. Staff shortages: As cyber threats become more sophisticated, global demand for skilled IT and security professionals continues to grow while supply hasn’t been able to keep up. 8 When insufficient staff results in missed security tasks, reduced monitoring, and slower incident responses, organizations can be left vulnerable to risk. Limited time: Time constraints are a problem as old as time itself, but for IT teams with already heavy workloads, one more thing to do is more than stressful, it can leave systems vulnerable and increase windows of opportunity for bad actors. FastTrack resources to help you get Microsoft Defender up and running For Microsoft 365 customers experiencing any of the issues mentioned above, FastTrack for Microsoft 365 is here to help with accessible resources, automated, prescriptive setup guides, and even one-on-one assistance. Here’s how to start: 1. Visit the Microsoft 365 Setup site Review openly accessible setup resources at the Microsoft 365 Setup site. Both business and IT leaders will find value in perusing detailed Microsoft Defender setup guides, on-demand videos, and helpful blogs to plan for safe, efficient Microsoft Defender deployment workloads. 2. Sign in to the Microsoft Admin Center (MAC) and start deploying Microsoft Defender using FastTrack’s automated setup guides When you deploy Microsoft Defender XDR from the MAC using advanced deployment guides, you’re taking the most accurate, efficient, and secure deployment path possible. These automated guides combine detailed documentation with step-by-step instructions tailored specifically for your environment to give you streamlined guidance from beginning to end. Start by setting up Microsoft Defender Zero Trust security model for your organization. 3. Request assistance from FastTrack for Microsoft 365 Customers with eligible licenses can request remote, one-on-one assistance from FastTrack before, during, or even post-deployment of Microsoft Defender. Take the next step to implement unified protection Security is too crucial—and the cost of breaches are too high—to let any impediments, real or potential, delay or dissuade you from fully implementing your security investments. When you deploy Microsoft Defender, you’re protecting your organization with a unified security platform that combines multiple security functions—including endpoint, identity, and cloud security—under a single tool. Start protecting your entire digital estate today: Keep your organization, data, and users safe by implementing the comprehensive power of Microsoft Defender, the industry-leading XDR solution that reduces costs and overhead while helping you keep your organization secure across all domains from costly cybercrime. To learn more about improving your security posture with Microsoft Defender, check out our recent webinar: Supercharging your SOC: Unlock the power of endpoint security in Microsoft Defender XDR. Footnotes 1 Microsoft’s 2024 State of Multicloud Security Risk Report 2 Microsoft’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook Insight Report, 2022 3 Microsoft Defender was named an XDR leader in The Forrester Wave: XDR platforms, Q2 2024 4 3 Ways Behavioral Economics Obstructs Cybersecurity 5 Closing the cybersecurity skills gap 6 Cybersecurity As a Strategic Investment (forbes.com) 7 2024-State-of-Multicloud-Security-Risk-Report.pdf (microsoft.com) 8 Closing the cybersecurity skills gap (microsoft.com)Bring your users the future of secure personal computing with Windows 365
In this age of hybrid and remote work, organizations face a couple of challenging realities. One is that end users need to access their Windows experience seamlessly and securely from anywhere in order to stay productive. Another is that Microsoft’s end-of-service date for Windows 10 is coming up October 14, 2025. The good news is that by migrating to Windows 365 now, you can help your organization smoothly and effectively address each of these challenges. Windows 365 allows users to stream Windows 10 or Windows 11 from the Microsoft Cloud to their personal or corporate devices with secure and reliable access to apps and data. Admins also have the ability to access and manage settings remotely and securely, empowering all to stay productive from anywhere. Windows 365: Productivity from anywhere Windows 365 is software-as-a-service (SaaS) that creates a Cloud PC for each user, empowering them with a familiar, personalized, and secure Windows experience, regardless of location or endpoint. Windows 365 is also a turnkey Cloud PC solution for admins, meaning it’s easy to deploy and manage with integrated tools that maximize technology investments, like Microsoft Intune and the Intune Suite. Windows 10 end of support Windows 10 end of support is coming on October 14, 2025. By embracing cloud-native management and operations with Windows 365 now, well ahead of the Windows 10 end-of-support date, you’ll be able to: Achieve high ROI by fully capitalizing on the benefits of cloud-native solutions, such as enhanced collaboration and seamless hybrid work capabilities. Safeguard your organization and its data by embracing cloud-native management and operations. Support a work-from-anywhere and manage-to-anywhere environment while providing exceptional user experiences. In addition, by utilizing Windows 365, you can receive Extended Security Updates (ESU) for any Windows 10 devices that connect to a Cloud PC and run Windows 11, at no additional cost. For more details, please refer to Plan for Windows 10 EOS with Windows 11, Windows 365, and ESU | Windows IT Pro Blog (microsoft.com) A note on security with Microsoft Zero Trust Windows 365 is aligned with Microsoft’s Zero Trust strategy that’s secure by design—from the network to the application layers—and helps organizations: Mitigate risks and leaks by centralizing data and access in the Microsoft cloud, not on devices. Protect data in transit and at rest with integrated identity management and encryption. Adopt new use cases that increase velocity, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Meet industry-specific requirements with centralized, cloud-based operations and security controls from Microsoft. Achieve all of the above with minimal IT admin effort. Get started deploying Windows 365 today Embrace the future of work with Windows 365, the robust solution for organizations that need secure, reliable IT infrastructure and cloud capabilities that support hybrid work. FastTrack for Microsoft 365 is here to help With comprehensive technical and remote deployment assistance, FastTrack for Microsoft 365 can help you experience a streamlined and efficient transition to Windows 365 or upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Windows 365 deployment resources Admins with credentials Credentialed admins can start deploying Windows 365 today with the Windows 365 deployment checklist located within the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. Uncredentialed or non-admins Visit the Setup site to access Windows 365 setup guidance. Need Windows 365 deployment assistance? Customers with eligible licenses can request deployment assistance from FastTrack. Learn more and submit a request for assistance here. Learn more Windows 365 Watch an interactive demo of Windows 365New Year, new Microsoft 365 Core advanced deployment guides for Exchange, SharePoint, and Teams!
New Years’ Resolutions: Work out 3-5 days a week. Spend more time with family. Deploy Microsoft 365 services to make my company more efficient and secure. We can’t help you with the first two, but we can help you deploy Microsoft 365 services to improve your company’s efficiency and security with the new Core onboarding advanced deployment guides. Did you know that thousands of customers use the Core onboarding advanced deployment guides each month? The Microsoft 365 admin center features Core advanced deployment guides that simplify moving from on-premises IT to the cloud. IT pros can use our core onboarding guides to speed deployment and configure Azure Active Directory, DNS, networking, identity management, and more with advanced deployment guides from Microsoft. Core onboarding involves service provisioning and tenant and identity integration. The Core onboarding advanced deployment guides for onboarding services include: Microsoft Exchange Microsoft SharePoint Microsoft Teams Here’s how IT pros can access the Core advanced deployment guides by clicking the purple hammer link in the below tile: & assistance section of the Microsoft 365 admin center. Once there, Core advanced deployment guides are found in the Identity and authentication section. Completing the deployment steps outlined in the Core advanced deployment guides creates a strong foundation upon which additional Microsoft 365 cloud services can be deployed successfully and with confidence. Helpful resources Learn about all deployment guides and setup wizards: Microsoft 365 Deployment Guides and Setup Wizards Microsoft 365 Teams deployment guide Microsoft 365 SharePoint deployment guide Microsoft 365 Exchange deployment guide Microsoft 365 Azure deployment guide Access advanced deployment guides without signing in: Go to https://setup.microsoft.com Getting started with advanced deployment guides within the Microsoft 365 admin center: Go to https://admin.microsoft.com/ and log in Once logged in, go to the Home page and look for the Training, guides, & assistance card Select Advanced deployment guides & assistance
