Defender for Cloud Apps

The need to secure applications and sensitive data across various platforms has never been more pressing. Enter Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (formerly known as Microsoft Cloud App Security), a robust solution that helps organisations discover, monitor, and control access to cloud applications.

This post explores the key features and benefits of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, helping you understand how it can enhance security in your organisation.

Table of Contents

What is Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps?
How a CASB Works
Key Features of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
The Benefits of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Best Practices for Maximising Defender for Cloud Apps
Get Started with Defender for Cloud Apps Today!

What is Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps?

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) that provides rich visibility, control over data travel, and sophisticated analytics to identify and combat cyber threats across Microsoft 365 and third-party cloud apps. Whether you’re using SharePoint, OneDrive, Salesforce, or any other cloud-based platform, Defender for Cloud Apps acts as a powerful security layer to mitigate risks.

How a CASB Works

A CASB acts as an intermediary between users and cloud service providers, allowing organisations to enforce security policies for cloud usage. CASBs provide a centralised point of control, monitoring user activity, enforcing compliance, and protecting sensitive data across multiple cloud applications.
The primary functions of a CASB are:

Visibility

CASBs provide deep insight into the use of cloud applications across an organisation, including shadow IT activities, app risk assessments, and real-time monitoring.

Compliance

By ensuring that cloud applications and data usage comply with internal security policies and external regulations, CASBs help maintain regulatory adherence, such as GDPR or HIPAA requirements.

Data Security

CASBs protect sensitive information through data loss prevention (DLP) policies, encryption, and other security controls that prevent unauthorised data access or sharing.

Threat Protection

CASBs detect and mitigate threats by monitoring unusual user behaviour, alerting to potential risks, and enforcing security policies to prevent attacks or unauthorised access.
By serving as the gatekeeper for cloud application access, a CASB ensures that cloud services are used securely, whether by employees working in-house or remotely, helping protect the organisation from data breaches, compliance violations, and insider threats.

Key Features of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

Cloud App Discovery

One of the first steps to securing your cloud environment is knowing what’s being used. Defender for Cloud Apps offers Cloud Discovery, which analyses traffic logs to map out the cloud services in use. This allows you to understand shadow IT usage, assess risk, and ensure compliance with your organisation’s security policies. With over 16,000 apps analysed based on more than 90 risk factors, you can quickly determine which apps are safe and which pose potential threats to your environment.

Real-time Monitoring and Control

Defender for Cloud Apps provides real-time monitoring of cloud services, allowing security teams to enforce policies that govern access and data movement. Through this, you can set up conditional access policies and control how users interact with cloud services based on identity, location, and device compliance.

Advanced Threat Protection

With cloud applications becoming an attractive target for cybercriminals, having advanced protection is crucial. Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps uses behavioural analytics to detect unusual activity in your cloud environment. By identifying anomalies such as unusual login patterns or suspicious file downloads, it provides early warnings of potential breaches or insider threats.

Data Protection and Compliance

Defender for Cloud Apps integrates with Microsoft Information Protection, enabling you to classify and protect sensitive information stored in the cloud. Whether it’s financial data, personal health information (PHI), or intellectual property, you can define and enforce rules to prevent data leaks, either through accidental sharing or malicious intent.
Furthermore, compliance officers can leverage the platform to meet regulatory requirements such as GDPR or HIPAA by ensuring that the appropriate security controls are in place across cloud services.

Risk-Based Access Control

By integrating with Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory), Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps helps implement conditional access policies. These policies can restrict access to sensitive data unless certain risk factors, such as device compliance, network location, or user behaviour, meet pre-established security requirements.

The Benefits of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

Increased Visibility and Control

One of the biggest challenges in cloud security is understanding which apps are in use and what data they are handling. Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps provides deep visibility, enabling organisations to detect risky applications and ensure the use of safe and compliant services.

Proactive Threat Detection

Leveraging machine learning and AI, Defender for Cloud Apps continuously analyses cloud environments for irregularities. It helps identify insider threats, compromised accounts, and malware attacks early, so you can respond before serious damage occurs.

Enhanced Data Governance

By classifying and tracking sensitive data within your cloud apps, you can enforce data governance policies. This is especially useful for organisations with strict compliance requirements, ensuring data is protected and properly managed at all times.
Seamless Integration with Microsoft 365
For organisations already using Microsoft 365, Defender for Cloud Apps integrates smoothly, providing unified security and management across all Microsoft cloud services, including Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive.

Extensibility Across Third-Party Apps

While deeply integrated with Microsoft services, Defender for Cloud Apps extends protection to non-Microsoft cloud services as well. It works with popular apps like Google Workspace, AWS, Dropbox, and more, allowing businesses to secure their broader cloud environment.

Best Practices for Maximising Defender for Cloud Apps

To make the most out of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, consider adopting the following best practices:

• Enable Cloud Discovery: Regularly analyse and review cloud app usage in your organisation to eliminate risky or unapproved applications.
• Set Conditional Access Policies: Define access control rules that ensure only authorised users can interact with sensitive data.
• Utilise Threat Detection Alerts: Configure alerts for suspicious behaviours or high-risk activities, enabling swift investigation and response.
• Integrate with Microsoft Information Protection: Leverage automatic data classification to prevent accidental data exposure and ensure compliance with industry regulations.
• Review Reports and Analytics: Regularly review security reports to identify trends and potential vulnerabilities in your cloud environment.

Get Started with Defender for Cloud Apps Today!

As cloud adoption continues to grow, securing your cloud applications is vital. Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps provides the visibility, control, and protection organisations need to maintain secure cloud environments. By enabling advanced threat protection, real-time monitoring, and robust data governance, it allows businesses to confidently embrace the cloud while staying ahead of security risks.
Whether you’re protecting intellectual property, sensitive customer data, or ensuring regulatory compliance,
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is a powerful tool to have in your cloud security arsenal.
To ensure you maximise the benefits of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, B2six offers expert guidance and support tailored to your specific needs.

Contact us today and get started with Defender for Cloud Apps.