To start with, let’s understand what Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is.
Microsoft Defender For Cloud Apps
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (formerly Cloud App Security) is a comprehensive solution that helps organizations take full advantage of the benefits of cloud applications and services while staying secure and compliant. It provides insights on cloud usage, identifying and combating cyber threats across multiple cloud services, and control over data traveling to and within the cloud.
Discovering and managing apps using this feature can be categorized into three main steps –
- Discovering cloud apps
- Investigating activities, files, and accounts
- Controlling apps
Discover Cloud Apps
To enable cloud app discovery, you need to perform following steps:
- Navigate to Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps portal.
- Go to ‘Discover’ > ‘Create snapshot report.’
- Set up Continuous reports.
This generates a detailed report of all cloud apps in use, along with risk scores, categories, and other pertinent information that assists in app management.
Investigating Activities, Files, and Accounts with Defender for Cloud Apps
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps allows you to investigate activities, files, and accounts for all cloud apps. It provides visibility, compliance, data security, and threat protection for cloud-based assets.
To perform investigation:
- Navigate to the ‘Investigate’ page in the Cloud Apps Security portal.
- Here, you can then perform investigation on Activities, Devices, Files, Users and Alerts.
For instance, if you want to investigate ‘Activities,’ click on ‘Activities’ under ‘Investigate’ and you can see all user activities. You can further filter activities by various categories like time range, IP address, User name etc.
Controlling Apps with Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
One of the key functionalities of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is its App control capabilities. You are able to create custom policies, control data sharing, and prevent downloads to unsanctioned devices.
To create a new policy in Defender:
- Go to ‘Control’ > ‘Policies’ from the Cloud App Security portal.
- Click on ‘Create policy’ and choose the type of policy you want to create.
- Fill in the required fields and click ‘Create’ to implement the policy.
For example, you might create a File Policy that alerts or applies certain protective actions when a file is shared with an unauthorized user.
Conclusion
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is a versatile solution that can give your organization detailed insights into cloud usage, facilitate effective threat detection and response strategies, and ensure you have control over data traveling to and within the cloud.
Remember, every configuration and policy setting must be done taking into consideration the specific use case and needs for your organization. Always plan before you act, to ensure optimal security posture for your organisation. Understanding the features and functionalities of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps will undoubtedly prove beneficial for the SC-300 Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator exam and your professional career.
Note: Microsoft is continually innovating its cloud services to meet industry standards; for the most up-to-date and detailed information, always refer to the official Microsoft Documentation.
Practice Test
True or False: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps can discover over 16,000 apps and has detailed visibility for over 300 of them.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps currently discovers more than 16,000 apps and, for many of these discovered apps, can provide detailed visibility and control.
Multiple select: Which of the following are considered risky behaviors when dealing with Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps?
- A. Downloading sensitive data
- B. Sharing outside of the organization
- C. Deleting large amounts of data
- D. Watch Movies Online
Answer: A, B, C
Explanation: Risky behaviors with Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps might include downloading sensitive data, sharing content outside the organization, deleting large amounts of data, etc. Watching movies online would not typically be considered a risky behavior in this context.
Single select: What is a “shadow IT” in the context of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps?
- A. A hidden feature
- B. Unauthorized use of apps and services
- C. A technical issue
- D. A type of malware
Answer: B
Explanation: In terms of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, “Shadow IT” refers to the unauthorized use of apps and services outside of the organization’s purview.
True or False: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps can help to enforce policies for data sharing.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps has capabilities to help in enforcing policies for data sharing and to prevent risky behaviors.
Single select: For which of the following Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is NOT used?
- A. To evaluate risk in the cloud environment
- B. To monitor and control data traffic
- C. To repair physical devices
- D. To enforce policies for data sharing
Answer: C
Explanation: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is not involved in repairing physical devices. Its primary functions include evaluation of risks in the cloud environment, monitoring and controlling data traffic, and enforcing data sharing policies.
Multiple select: What are the components of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps?
- A. App Discovery
- B. Data Protection
- C. Threat Protection
- D. Advanced Video Rendering
Answer: A, B, C
Explanation: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps consists of App Discovery, Data Protection, and Threat Protection components. Advanced Video Rendering is not a component of the service.
True or False: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is limited to Microsoft-based cloud services only.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is not limited to just Microsoft-based services; it can also discover non-Microsoft apps and provide visibility and control for those as well.
Single select: What does the Threat Protection component of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps do?
- A. It helps in sharing data
- B. It scans the devices for malware
- C. It protects against threats in the cloud environment
- D. It helps in repairing devices
Answer: C
Explanation: The Threat Protection component in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps helps in protecting against threats in the cloud environment.
Multiple select: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps enhances visibility into your cloud apps by providing insights into?
- A. App usage
- B. Data usage
- C. User activities
- D. Weather
Answer: A, B, C
Explanation: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps enhances visibility into your cloud apps by providing insights into app usage, data usage and user activities. Weather is irrelevant in this context.
True or False: All apps discovered by Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps come with the same level of visibility and control.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: While Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps discovers over 16,000 apps, detailed visibility and control are not available for all discovered apps, only for many of them.
Interview Questions
What is Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps?
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is a security tool that provides visibility into your cloud apps and services. It assesses their security and helps identify and combat cyber threats.
How does Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps discover cloud applications?
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps discovers cloud applications through a process called Shadow IT discovery. It uses traffic logs from network devices to generate a snapshot report of cloud app usage within the organization.
Can Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps be used to manage access to cloud applications?
Yes, Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps can control data access to cloud applications using Access policies. It can block or limit data access or activities to certain users, IP addresses, or locations.
Can Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps be integrated with other products of Microsoft?
Yes, Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps can be integrated with other Microsoft products like Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Microsoft 365 to provide wider visibility and control.
How does Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps help in data protection?
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps helps in data protection by providing capabilities like information protection, data loss prevention, and encryption of sensitive data across cloud apps.
What types of threats can Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps detect?
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps can detect a wide range of threats, including data leakage, compliance violations, ransomware, anomalous behavior, and insider threats.
What is the function of the Cloud Discovery dashboard in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps?
The Cloud Discovery dashboard provides a summary of cloud application use in your organization, including the risk level of apps, the number of users, data usage, and traffic.
Can Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps detect ransomware activity in the cloud environment?
Yes, Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps uses anomaly detection policies to identify potential ransomware activity in your cloud environment.
Can I create custom policies in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps?
Yes, you can create custom policies in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps to monitor specific activities or transactions based on your organization’s requirements.
What functionalities can be controlled by Access policies in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps?
Access policies can control functionalities such as activities related to download, share, and upload of data, access from non-corporate networks, and access from specific locations or IP ranges.
How can Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps help in compliance management?
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps provides insights about the compliance of your cloud apps with regulations and standards like GDPR. It can also help in data governance by providing data classification, labeling, and protection.
Can Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps provide a risk assessment of discovered cloud apps?
Yes, Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps can provide a risk score for each discovered cloud app based on various parameters like compliance, legal, privacy, and security considerations.
What role does machine learning play in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps?
Machine learning is key to the anomaly detection feature in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. It learns user behaviors and activities over time and applies statistical analysis to identify any abnormal activity.
What is the Cloud App Catalog in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps?
The Cloud App Catalog is a list of more than 16,000 cloud apps that are analyzed and scored based on over 90 risk factors, to help you understand the risks each app might introduce to your organization.
What does the term “Sanctioned apps” mean in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps?
Sanctioned apps are the approved cloud applications in your organization that you can manage using conditional access app control in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps.
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