Office 365 security checks: where IAM controls still fall short

TL;DR: Office 365 security checklists still centre on passwords, MFA, RBAC, data sharing controls, patching, and training, while also pointing to access governance and automated reviews as the practical control layer, according to Zluri. The gap is that these controls work best when identity state is stable, but Microsoft 365 estates now mix users, service access, and delegated apps.

NHIMG editorial — based on content published by Zluri: Security & Compliance Top 5 Components of Microsoft Office 365 Security Checklist

By the numbers:

• Over 70% of individuals reuse passwords, risking your data.
• Zluri’s IGA solution says automated access reviews can be 10X faster.
• 70%., i says automated access reviews can cut effort by 70%.

Questions worth separating out

Q: How should security teams reduce account takeover risk in Microsoft 365?

A: Focus on layered identity controls rather than passwords alone.

Q: Why do Microsoft 365 environments need access reviews as well as technical controls?

A: Microsoft 365 permissions drift quickly because roles, guest access, shared links, and delegated app permissions change faster than manual governance can track.

Q: What do security teams get wrong about data sharing in Office 365?

A: They often treat sharing as a one-time policy setting instead of an ongoing governance problem.

Practitioner guidance

• Harden password and MFA policy together Require unique passwords, enforce MFA, and block legacy authentication paths so account compromise does not begin with easily reused credentials.
• Tie RBAC to sharing and guest access review Review document sharing, external links, and guest permissions alongside role assignments so collaboration access does not outrun approval.
• Automate joiner-mover-leaver workflows for Office 365 Connect HR and identity events to provisioning and deprovisioning so access is removed when roles change or users leave.

What's in the full article

Zluri's full article covers the operational detail this post intentionally leaves for the source:

• Step-by-step Microsoft 365 security checklist items for passwords, sharing, and access governance.
• Examples of how Zluri positions its IGA workflows for Office 365 provisioning and deprovisioning.
• Detailed walkthrough of automated access review and auto-remediation capabilities for Microsoft 365 entitlements.
• Operational detail on discovery methods, user access visibility, and workflow automation in the platform.

👉 Read Zluri's Office 365 security checklist and IGA guidance →

Office 365 security checks: where IAM controls still fall short?

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