Businesses looking to make the switch from on-premise mail servers like Microsoft Exchange to Office 365’s online platform may be hesitant because they are concerned with security and privacy. On the one hand, on-premises mail servers make it possible for all security and encryption to occur in-house, which can give IT departments more control. However, this isn’t necessarily a good thing, especially since the in-house security is only as good as the skills of the IT department.
Here is an overview of why Office 365’s security features are sophisticated enough for even the toughest critics:
Protects the Physical Location of the Servers
Microsoft has measures in place to protect the physical location of their servers be regulating who has physical access to the data at this level. For instance, they haven’t disclosed where these servers actually are to the general public and only tell their employees where they are on a “need to know” basis. They regulate access to the servers by using smart cards, biometric scanners, motion sensors, and other measures to insure that only those who are allowed to access the servers are able to get to them. They also use video surveillance and monitor the premises on a constant basis.
Offers Network Level Protection
The company also protects the servers at a network level by blocking other ports, connections, and protocols. They also used Tired Access Control Lists and firewalls to keep the servers safe. If there are intrusion attempts and potential vulnerabilities at the network level, Microsoft can detect them and address them before they become an issue.
Uses Industry Standard Data Encryption
Data Encryption is another important security feature of Office 365. In fact, Microsoft uses industry-standard cryptographic methods such as SSL/TLS, which encrypts data both in-transit and at rest. BitLocker is also integrates with the operating system, which means that data will be protected even if the machine is lost or stolen.
Offers Constant Data Backups
Microsoft knows that no matter how great your security and encryption methods are, that still may not be enough to protect all the data that is stored on their servers. That is why they perform regular data backups, which offers another level of protection for the data that they are entrusted with. They provide their customers with several layers of backups and redundancies, which means that lost data can be restored if something happens to it.
Although security is a top concern for businesses, Microsoft has so may measures in place that protect the data that it certainly minimizes the risk that a security breach would happen at their level. By making sure the data is backed up regularly, encrypting the data on their servers, and offering a physical level of security such as controlled access and video surveillance, this can help insure that data stored on Office 365’s online platform will remain safe.
