Making Microsoft 365 More Secure

Cybersecurity within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem has become a pivotal area of focus for organizations striving to safeguard their data while promoting robust collaboration and operational efficiency. As more businesses adopt remote and flexible work models, the necessity for stringent security measures tailored to Microsoft technologies becomes evident. Key practices such as implementing multi-factor authentication, regular security audits, and robust data encryption are vital in fortifying defenses against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Moreover, integrating information management principles into cybersecurity strategies not only enhances resilience but also ensures compliance and streamlined access controls, thereby safeguarding sensitive information from unauthorized access.

Simultaneously, the balance between security and functionality in collaborative environments poses a significant challenge. Organizations must navigate the delicate interplay of enabling seamless information sharing and maintaining rigorous security protocols within Microsoft’s collaboration and automation platforms. The role of AI in this ecosystem presents both opportunities and challenges; leveraging AI to bolster security measures can provide proactive threat detection and response without compromising system usability. As we look towards the future, understanding emerging technologies and user behavior trends will be crucial in shaping a proactive cybersecurity posture that adapts to new threats and aligns with evolving business practices within the Microsoft ecosystem.

In the next #CollabTalk TweetJam taking place on Tuesday, November 26th at 9am Pacific, the community will once again join forces and have a focused discussion on the topic of “Creating Cybersecurity Resilience in the Microsoft Ecosystem” ways in which organizations can better prepare their Microsoft 365 environments for modern threats, and leverage the latest technologies and best practices to identify and mitigate those risks.

In this 1-hour X, Bsky, and LinkedIn-based panel discussion, we’ll bring together MVPs and Regional Directors, community experts, partners, consultants, and practitioners to share their perspectives on this important topic.

Anyone can join this community discussion using X and the #CollabTalk hashtag or your favorite Twitter platform. You don’t even need to be an “expert” to participate in the online conversation. Anyone can ask questions, comment on the questions posed, or just “lurk” in the background. These online discussions are open to anyone — you do not have to be on the panel to participate.

If you have never participated in one of these tweetjams, it’s pretty simple: anyone can jump in and share their thoughts, or just lurk in the wings and absorb the wisdom of the crowd. Either way, it’ll be a TON of content to consume in a single hour. You can follow the live session using the X UI of your choice (X.com, Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, whatever). How it works is that I’ll post a series of questions every few minutes, and people will respond to Q1, Q2, Q3 and so forth with A1, A2, A3, always including the #CollabTalk hashtag with their answers. Feel free to reply as often (or as little) as you’d like, ask your own follow-up questions, share relevant links, re-tweet others, and engage with the audience.

The questions we will discuss over the course of the 1-hour online event:

1. As more organizations use Microsoft technologies for remote work, what are key security practices they should adopt?
2. How can information management principles enhance cybersecurity resilience in the Microsoft ecosystem?
3. How should organizations balance the need for collaboration and information sharing with security in the Microsoft ecosystem?
4. What is the role and responsibility of the user on managing risks and maintaining security within Microsoft collaboration and automation platforms?
5. How should businesses leverage Microsoft’s AI capabilities to enhance security without compromising usability?
6. What emerging technologies and trends do you foresee shaping the future of cybersecurity in the Microsoft ecosystem over the next five years?
7. What are some best practices for integrating security awareness into daily operations to help improve overall safety in Microsoft 365?

Of course, there will be many side questions, conversations, and wise-cracking shenanigans. This is open to the public, so please join in the discussion! The dialog is always thought-provoking and fun.

Participating on this panel (so far):

• Mike Maadarani (@mikemaadarani), M365 Apps & Services MVP, cloud solution architect at MCM Consulting
• Alistair Pugin (@alistairpugin), (dual) Azure and Office Apps & Services MVP and CEO at YMD
• Eric Overfield (@ericoverfield), Microsoft RD & SharePoint MVP, chief product officer of Creospark
• Sharon Weaver (@sharoneweaver), Microsoft RD + M365 Apps & Services MVP, consultant, trainer and ceo of Smarter Consulting
• Ben Stegink (@benstegink), M365 Apps & Services MVP, SharePoint, Office 365 and Azure consultant, owner of Intelligink, LLC
• Stacy Deere (@sldeere), M365 Apps & Services MVP and owner of Focal Point Solutions
• Adam Ball (@AdamCBall), co-founder of COUCUG, Teams and Skype for Business MVP
• Paul Keijzers (@KbWorks), a Microsoft Teams and Office 365 specialist, and the founder of  KbWorks
• David Patrick (@DavidEPatrick),  M365 Apps & Services MVP, user group organizer, subject-matter expert with DSA, Inc.
• Hal Hostetler (@TVWizard), M365 Apps & Services MVP and senior field engineer and social media coordinator for Roland, Schorr & Tower
• Eli Robillard (@erobillard), SharePoint MVP, musician, fly-fisher, collaboration technology guy
• Kirsty McGrath (@kirstymcgrath13), Office Apps & Services MVP and managing director at OnPoint Solutions
• Galen Keene (@sdkeene), owner and chief business transformation leader at Lion Tech
• Shari Oswald (@shortcutshari), M365 MVP, co-founder and productivity evangelist at PowerUP! Learning
• Sascha Fredrich (@saschaF80), IT consultant of Microsoft solutions at bei Bechtle AG
• Jeff Willinger (@jwillie), Office 365 MVP and digital experience director at Withum
• Wes Preston (@idubbs), SharePoint MVP, evangelist,  and owner at TrecStone
• James Restivo (@CrowCanyonSW), vp of product development at Crow Canyon Software
• Simon Denton (@buildbod), M365 Apps & Services MVP, visiting professor at Birmingham City University, and business architect at Mott MacDonald
• and your host, Christian Buckley (@buckleyplanet), M365 MVP & RD, 6-time author, independent consultant, international speaker, co-host of #ProjectFailureFiles #GoM365gov #MVPbuzzChat and #M365AMA, and founder of the #CollabTalk Podcast & TweetJam

If you would like to be included on one of these panels, please drop me a line via email, LinkedIn, or X. If you are interested in being a sponsor of a future tweetjam, please contact me.

We’ll be back on December 31st at 9am PT for the end-of-year CollabTalk TweetJam where we talk about the biggest tech news of the year behind us and make our predictions for 2025, so be sure to follow me (@buckleyplanet) for news and updates. Don’t miss it!