09Dec2022
12Feb2022
Unboxing Defender for Business, Part 3: Attack Surface Reduction rules
If you haven't been following this series, let me catch you up. First, understand that Microsoft recently made a huge announcement: their enterprise-class endpoint security solution, known as Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, has been re-packaged and released for the SMB (and included in the popular Microsoft 365 Business Premium SKU)...
02Nov2021
Introducing Microsoft Defender for Business: you heard that right… it’s *included* with Business Premium
Remember a couple of months ago when Microsoft announced Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P1? Many critical eyes in the community quickly pointed out that Business Premium customers were apparently left out to dry, even though the SMB is where we need the most help when it comes to endpoint security....
01Nov2021
Announcing the Microsoft 365 SMB Data Protection Toolkit
Update March 2023: This product has been updated significantly, and renamed too. It is now called The SMB Guide to Data Protection and Microsoft Purview in Microsoft 365 Business Premium Plans. It still contains the written guide as well as supporting materials such as scripts and templates to help you...
09Jul2021
Fast and Free Incident Response Tools in Microsoft 365
As part of the SquareOne Summer Security Series, our group recently explored the topic of Incident Response in Microsoft 365. This was a very well-received course, and I felt a blog post was in order to cover off on some of the important content from that segment, which I think...
09Mar2021
There is no panacea, there is no silver bullet
I had a really interesting question come up during one of my recent online courses. One of the participants asked whether device management, and even MAM (application-based management) were necessary anymore, now that we have stuff like MIP and Sensitivity Labels. I was taken aback by this question and I...
09Feb2021
The realities and limitations of managing personal (BYOD) devices in Microsoft 365 and Endpoint Manager
These days, I am willing to bet that I get asked about BYOD endpoints over corporate endpoints 10 to 1. Personal devices (even personal Windows devices) are creeping into the workplace more and more, especially with so many working from home. And this does present a few challenges for those...
01Dec2020
Why aren’t you charging your customers to take care of Microsoft 365?
This is a simple question. The way I see it, there are many opportunities to provide Managed Services for SMB customers with regard to their Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Yet to this day, hardly anyone is doing it. Why? I suspect some folks have difficulty connecting all the dots and putting...
16Nov2020
How much security is ‘enough’ security? Looking at Microsoft 365 Defender vs. Azure Sentinel
How much security is 'enough' security? This is in fact a trick question, I just threw it in there to get your attention. When it comes to security, one can never be 'safe,' but only 'safer' (even with the most expensive of cybersecurity tools and talented, dedicated humans to back...
23Sep2020