Tutorial / Cram Notes
Exam MS-101: Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security is a certification exam that tests knowledge on topics such as security, compliance, and device management within an enterprise environment. One of the areas you’ll be expected to understand and manage as a Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert is the Microsoft Secure Score (or Exposure Score) as a part of your security and compliance measures.
Microsoft Secure Score is a measurement of an organization’s security posture, with a higher number indicating more improvement actions taken. It assesses and represents an organization’s security performance across different Microsoft domains. Reviewing and responding to the exposure score can significantly improve your organization’s security stance by identifying and implementing recommended security features in Microsoft 365.
Understanding the Secure Score
The Secure Score reflects how well an organization is leveraging security controls for Microsoft 365 services like Azure Active Directory, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and others. When you review your Secure Score, it’s broken down into several categories:
- Identity – Measures how secure user identities are, including multifactor authentication, and user risk policies.
- Data – Looks at data access and information governance, such as data loss prevention policies.
- Device – Analyses device management and security, including endpoint protection and device compliance policies.
- Apps – Reviews security on cloud apps and policies on conditional access.
- Infrastructure – Checks the infrastructure services for potential security improvements.
Reviewing Your Exposure Score
Initial Review
To review your exposure score, log into the Microsoft 365 security center. The dashboard will present your current Secure Score and its breakdown. You can see individual scores for each of the categories mentioned above and the corresponding recommendations.
An example Secure Score overview might look like this:
| Category | Current Score | Possible Score | Actions Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identity | 30 | 50 | 5 |
| Data | 20 | 30 | 3 |
| Device | 15 | 40 | 4 |
| Apps | 10 | 20 | 2 |
| Infrastructure | 5 | 10 | 1 |
| Total | 80 | 150 | 15 |
In the example table, we see that the total current score is 80 out of a possible 150. Fifteen recommended actions exist across all categories, providing a roadmap of changes that can improve the organization’s security posture.
Actionable Response
Upon reviewing the exposure score, the next step involves taking actionable responses to improve it. Each recommended action in the Microsoft Secure Score interface will include guidance on how to implement a change and the impact it will have on your score.
Identify which actions are feasible for your organization and plan their implementation. This might involve:
- Rolling out multi-factor authentication for your users to improve Identity scores.
- Setting up data loss prevention (DLP) policies to boost your Data score.
- Implementing mobile device management (MDM) through Intune to enhance Device scores.
- Assessing and configuring Cloud App Security policies to secure applications.
For each action, consider the impact it will have not only on your score but also on your organization’s operations. It’s essential to balance security improvements with usability.
Monitoring and Improving
Improving your Secure Score is a continuous process. Regularly monitoring the score and taking note of any changes or new recommendations is important, as Microsoft frequently updates their security baseline. It’s advisable to set a review schedule—be it weekly or monthly—to stay up-to-date.
After implementing recommended actions, revisit the Secure Score dashboard to see the impact of your changes. This real-time feedback can provide motivation and verification that your efforts are making a difference.
Remember, the Microsoft Secure Score is a helpful guide, but it should not be the only measure of your security posture. While it covers many best practices, always complement it with other security assessments and audits specific to your organization’s needs and compliance requirements.
Maximizing your Secure Score is about making informed decisions and putting security at the forefront of your organization’s digital transformation. By regularly reviewing and responding to your exposure score, you’ll keep your Microsoft 365 environment much more secure and resilient against threats, contributing to the overall health and safety of your IT ecosystem.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: The Exposure Score in Microsoft 365 is a metric that measures the organization’s exposure to data breaches and threats.
- Answer: True
The Exposure Score in Microsoft 365 provides insights into the organization’s exposure to potential data breaches and threats by evaluating various security configurations and practices.
True or False: The Exposure Score is only based on the security settings of Microsoft Teams.
- Answer: False
The Exposure Score takes into account a variety of services within Microsoft 365, not just Microsoft Teams, to provide a comprehensive security assessment.
Which of the following factors can influence your Exposure Score in Microsoft 365? (Select all that apply)
- a) Email security settings
- b) Number of licensed users
- c) Device compliance policies
- d) Data governance policies
Answer: a, c, d
Email security settings, device compliance policies, and data governance policies are among the factors that can influence your Exposure Score. The number of licensed users does not directly affect the score.
True or False: You need to have administrative privileges to view and respond to the Exposure Score.
- Answer: True
Viewing and responding to the Exposure Score typically requires administrative privileges to access the security and compliance features in Microsoft
To improve your Exposure Score, which of the following actions should you take? (Single select)
- a) Reduce the number of global administrators
- b) Increase the number of licensed users
- c) Disable multi-factor authentication
- d) None of the above
Answer: a
Reducing the number of global administrators can help tighten security controls and potentially improve your Exposure Score. Options b and c would likely have a negative impact on security.
True or False: Users’ password strength has no impact on the Exposure Score.
- Answer: False
User password policies, including strength requirements, can have an impact on the Exposure Score, as they are part of an organization’s security posture.
An effective way to respond to an increased Exposure Score is to:
- a) Ignore it, as it’s just a recommendation
- b) Review the detailed findings and implement suggested security controls
- c) Disconnect all external sharing
- d) Disable user accounts to prevent breaches
Answer: b
Reviewing the detailed findings and implementing suggested security controls is an effective way to respond to and improve an increased Exposure Score. Other options are not effective or practical responses.
True or False: The Exposure Score in Microsoft 365 updates in real-time as changes are made to the environment.
- Answer: False
The Exposure Score does not update in real-time. It is periodically recalculated to reflect changes in the security posture of the environment.
When responding to an elevated Exposure Score, which of the following additional resources should you consult? (Select all that apply)
- a) Microsoft’s security recommendations
- b) Third-party security consultant reports
- c) Company’s internal security policies
- d) Random forums for quick fixes
Answer: a, b, c
Microsoft’s security recommendations, third-party security consultant reports, and the company’s internal security policies are all valuable resources when responding to an elevated Exposure Score. Random forums may not provide reliable information.
True or False: A lower Exposure Score indicates a higher security risk.
- Answer: False
A lower Exposure Score indicates a lower security risk. It means the organization is less exposed to potential threats and data breaches.
The Exposure Score should be used as:
- a) The sole guide for an organization’s security strategy
- b) One of several metrics in an organization’s security strategy
- c) Ignored, as it does not accurately reflect an organization’s security posture
- d) Only for compliance requirements
Answer: b
The Exposure Score should be used as one of several metrics in an organization’s security strategy, offering a piece of the overall security assessment puzzle but not the sole guide.
True or False: Regularly reviewing and responding to the Exposure Score can help maintain compliance with industry regulations.
- Answer: True
Regularly reviewing and responding to the Exposure Score can help an organization adapt to new threats, implement necessary controls, and maintain compliance with various industry regulations.
Interview Questions
What is the exposure score in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
The exposure score is a metric that shows an organization’s overall security posture in terms of how well their devices are configured and secured.
What factors are included in the exposure score calculation?
The exposure score calculation includes factors such as vulnerability status, security recommendations, and other device-related issues.
How can you access the exposure score in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
To access the exposure score in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, go to the Devices page and click on the Exposure score column.
What is the maximum value of the exposure score?
The maximum value of the exposure score is 850.
What does a higher exposure score mean?
A higher exposure score means that an organization has more vulnerabilities and risks on their devices, which could put their data and systems at risk.
How can you improve your exposure score?
You can improve your exposure score by addressing the vulnerabilities and security recommendations identified in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
What is the security recommendation category in the exposure score?
The security recommendation category in the exposure score shows the number of security recommendations that have not been addressed on the devices.
How does the exposure score help organizations with risk management?
The exposure score helps organizations with risk management by providing a way to measure their security posture and identify areas where they need to improve.
Can the exposure score be customized to fit an organization’s specific needs?
Yes, the exposure score can be customized to fit an organization’s specific needs by adjusting the weight of the factors used in the calculation.
What other insights can be gained from the exposure score?
In addition to the overall exposure score, you can also view the exposure score trend over time and the top issues that are contributing to the score.
The exposure score feature in MS-101 really helps identify areas that need improvement.
Can anyone explain how the exposure score is calculated?
Thanks for this informative post!
Do you think the exposure score alone is enough to guarantee security?
I’ve noticed discrepancies in exposure scores between different tenants. Any ideas why?
The blog really breaks down the concept well.
Does anyone have experience integrating exposure score with third-party analytics?
This exposure score metric is somewhat subjective.