As a part of the Microsoft 365 package, the Microsoft Teams platform follows the highest security standards designed to keep you and your teammates secure while communicating online. The problem is, even the safest security networks fail sometimes (think of Facebook or other tech giants who have suffered great losses from cybersecurity attacks).
This is where your actions and security habits come into play, as your decisions can lead to more or less security in an online environment. With security risks such as the denial of service attacks, accidental file sharing, and eavesdropping becoming more common, all team members must take part in practicing healthy security habits. Here are four quick security tips that will help you boost security on Microsoft Teams.
#1 Track Attendance
As a meeting host, one thing you should be doing is tracking the attendance of team members. Microsoft has recently added this feature to their Teams platform where you can download a detailed attendance report in a CSV file. This will help you track the contribution and productivity of your employees on a daily basis. However, this feature has a security purpose as well. In case data shared on the call gets leaked, you will have a list of employees who attended the call as a good place to start the investigation.
#2 Hold Security Meetings
It will be nearly impossible to maintain online security if all members on the team are not on the same page. That is why it is recommended to hold at least one security meeting where you will point the teammates in the right direction in terms of maintaining good security on their personal devices. With each team member securing their personal work device, the risk of security threats will be significantly lower.
#3 Encrypt Data Before Sharing
Sharing data online always comes with a certain level of risk. Luckily, Microsoft Teams allows you to label sensitive data and set up full encryption or watermarks before sharing it. If you don’t want your files to depend on the security features of the platform, you can encrypt them even before you share them with the cloud by using file encryption software on your computer. There are many encryption programs out there, including both free and paid versions that will add an extra layer of protection to sensitive files.
#4 Prevent Accidental Data Loss
Lastly, Microsoft Teams has a special DLP or Data Loss Prevention system that uses an algorithm to scan the content of email messages and recognize sensitive data and information. This feature allows you to block email and file sharing and thus prevent accidental data loss. You can use the DLP system to display warnings to users who try to share sensitive information.
Act Fast to Prevent Security Incidents
While Microsoft is actively working on improving their security protocols and preventing incidents, there is always room for improvement. The best way to ensure peace of mind when sharing data online or using platforms for online communication is to practice security measures yourself. While doing so, encourage your teammates to secure their devices as well.
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