Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security, commonly known as MS-101, is an exam covering a broad range of technical subjects. One of the important topics related to this exam is understanding how to review and respond to exposure scores that help manage and enhance security posture. It’s part of the “Implementing Microsoft 365 Threat Protection” section that constitutes 20-25% of the MS-101 exam.
Understanding Exposure Score
An exposure score is a computation of potential security risks that your organization may face. Microsoft offers the Microsoft Cloud App Security portal which utilizes an exposure score to help users understand the impact of shadow IT (the use of information technology systems and services within an organization without explicit organizational approval). Understanding this score, its dynamism, and factors affecting it is crucial in managing security within the organization.
To review an exposure score, you can go to Microsoft Cloud App Security and navigate to the dashboard. Here, you will see the Cloud Discovery Dashboard that displays an executive summary of the cloud use in your organization, including your exposure level.
Responding to Exposure Score
It’s critical to not just understand your exposure score, but to also respond to it appropriately. In Microsoft Cloud App Security, you can create custom queries and set up alerts for specific activities or anomalies. You can react to these alerts in a variety of ways – either manually or automatically. Manual actions include sending an email to the affected user, marking it as resolved, or dismissing it. Automated responses can include blocking access from unsanctioned IPs, blocking the app, or triggering MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication).
Example:
# To create a custom policy to respond to anomalies
1. Visit Microsoft Cloud App Security
2. Navigate to ‘Control’ and select ‘Policies’
3. Click ‘+ Create policy’ and select ‘Anomaly detection policy’
4. Name the policy and set filters and alerts as per requirements
5. Click ‘Create’ to activate the policy. Alerts will trigger as per the policy definition.
This policy will allow you to take better control of your security concerns by setting filters and alerts based on your specific requirements, and thus respond to issues shown by your exposure score.
Advantages of Reviewing and Responding to Exposure Score
Understanding the exposure score can lead to several benefits in your approach to information security and threat management.
- Identifying Security Threats: The exposure score enables organizations to identify potential security threats and areas of risk.
- Prioritizing Actions: It helps prioritize security-related actions based on the quantification of risk exposure.
- Enhance Data Protection: The exposure score can guide organizations in ramping up their data protection measures and refining security policies.
- Better Compliance: By understanding the exposure score, companies can better adhere to auditing and compliance requirements.
Conclusion
The understanding of how to review and respond to exposure scores remains a vital aspect for those taking the MS-101 Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security exam, as well as for the IT professionals managing the security of Microsoft 365 environments. It’s not just knowing where to find the score, it’s also about understanding its implications and how to respond in risky situations, which ultimately leads to a more secure organization.
Practice Test
True or False: The Microsoft 365 exposure score provides visibility into the level of exposure to threats across all your organization’s Microsoft 365 identities.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Microsoft 365 exposure score provides visibility into the potential level of exposure to threats across all your Microsoft identities.
The exposure score is calculated using what data points?
- A. Number of attacks
- B. Types of threats
- C. Both A and B
Answer: C. Both A and B
Explanation: The score is calculated based on the number of threats to which your organization may be exposed and the type of threats.
True or False: The individual items contributing to the exposure score can be remediated individually.
Answer: True
Explanation: Yes, individual items contributing to the exposure score can be remediated individually within the Microsoft 365 Defender portal to reduce potential exposure.
In the context of MS-101, what does remediation mean?
- A. The process of correcting a detected vulnerability
- B. The process of detecting a vulnerability
- C. The process of testing a vulnerability
Answer: A. The process of correcting a detected vulnerability
Explanation: Remediation in this context refers to the process of addressing and fixing a detected vulnerability in an effort to reduce exposure to potential threats.
True or False: A higher exposure score indicates reduced threat exposure.
Answer: False
Explanation: A higher exposure score implies a higher level of potential threat exposure. The goal is to lower the exposure score as much as possible.
In Microsoft 365, an effective way to reduce the exposure score is to:
- A. Increase the number of users
- B. Address identified vulnerabilities
- C. None of the above
Answer: B. Address identified vulnerabilities
Explanation: The exposure score can be effectively reduced by remediating or addressing the identified threat vulnerabilities.
True or False: The Microsoft 365 exposure score does not require any review and response.
Answer: False
Explanation: This score requires regular review and response to ensure that the organization’s threat exposure is minimised.
What is greatly reduced by effectively addressing the Microsoft 365 exposure score?
- A. Threat exposure
- B. Online visibility
- C. System performance
Answer: A. Threat exposure
Explanation: By effectively addressing the exposure score, the organization greatly reduces its exposure to potential threats.
A high Microsoft 365 exposure score indicates:
- A. Low threat exposure
- B. High threat exposure
- C. Average threat exposure
Answer: B. High threat exposure
Explanation: A high exposure score reflects a high level of threat exposure that needs to be addressed to lower the potential threats.
True or False: Microsoft 365 exposure score supports only cloud-based identities.
Answer: False
Explanation: Microsoft 365 exposure score provides visibility into threat exposure across all the organization’s identities, including on-premises identities.
Interview Questions
What is the purpose of the exposure score in Microsoft Defender?
The exposure score in Microsoft Defender provides an organization with a score based on its exposed and vulnerable devices, apps, and users. Evaluating and understanding this score can assist in prioritizing actions to reduce threats.
How can organizations reduce their exposure score?
Organizations can reduce their exposure score by keeping all their software up-to-date, using modern devices, ensuring users have only the necessary privileged access, protecting identities with multi-factor authentication (MFA), and conducting regular security assessments.
How is the exposure score calculated in Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security?
The exposure score is calculated based on the analysis of discovered devices, installed apps, and network user behavior. It evaluates vulnerability due to software issues, outdated devices, and risky user behavior.
Why is it crucial to regularly review the exposure score?
Reviewing the exposure score regularly allows organizations to maintain tight control over their cybersecurity threats. It provides real-time trends and threat insights to monitor and quickly respond to vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
How can the review of the exposure score contribute to threat mitigation?
Reviewing the exposure score provides insights into the potential vulnerabilities within an organization’s network. This information can guide IT security teams in prioritizing action against these vulnerabilities, thus mitigating potential threats.
What factors should be considered while responding to an elevated exposure score?
Factors to consider while responding to an elevated exposure score include the nature of vulnerabilities, potential threats, impacted entities (like software, devices, users), the criticality of the exposed assets, and the organization’s risk tolerance level.
Can an organization have a zero exposure score?
In theory, an organization could have a zero exposure score by taking the utmost precautions and restrictions. However, in practice, this is not feasible due to the constantly evolving nature of threats and the need for user accessibility and functionality.
What role does Microsoft 365 play in managing your organization’s exposure score?
Microsoft 365 provides tools like Microsoft Defender and Microsoft 365 Security center that can analyze and calculate an organization’s exposure score. It continually collects security-related data, analyzes it, and provides actionable recommendations to lower your exposure score.
How does a higher exposure score affect an organization’s overall security posture?
A higher exposure score signifies more vulnerabilities and risks, thereby weakens the organization’s overall security posture. It means that the organization is at a higher risk of being breached by malicious entities.
What elements does the exposure score primarily focus on?
The exposure score primarily focuses on the organization’s devices, applications, and users to evaluate the presence and potential impact of known vulnerabilities.
How is exposure score related to Secure Score in Microsoft 365?
While Secure Score provides a representation of an organization’s security posture, the exposure score mainly focuses on known vulnerabilities in devices, applications, and user behavior. Both scores together provide a comprehensive view of the security posture of the organization.
Can the exposure score predict future vulnerabilities?
No, the exposure score cannot predict future vulnerabilities. It analyses historical data to identify known vulnerabilities. It helps the organizations to take necessary actions, but it can’t predict future cybersecurity risks.
In MS-101 Exam, would you expect questions on how to interpret the exposure score?
Yes, as a part of MS-101 exam’s focus on Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security, understanding exposure scores, interpreting them and knowing how to respond to them is key.
Does the exposure score take into account the human factor in cybersecurity?
Yes, the exposure score takes into account the human factor in cybersecurity by monitoring user behavior. It can flag risky behaviors or actions that might increase the organization’s risk and contribute to a higher exposure score.
Is a lower exposure score always better?
Ideally, a lower exposure score is better as it indicates fewer vulnerabilities. However, the score should be taken in context. In some cases, a lower score might mean an organization is overly restrictive, which could compromise functionality and user experience.
extutorials.com