In today’s rapidly evolving connected workplace, where hybrid and remote work are increasingly the norm, workplace productivity and communications tools like email and chat applications are more important than ever. However, cyberthreats continue to evolve with increasing capabilities and sophistication, so protecting sensitive information has never been more important. Therefore, the need for security solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into an organization’s productivity stack and provide effective protection, while minimizing resource overhead and cost, has never been more important.

Microsoft announced that Microsoft Defender for Office 365 has been recognized as a leader in The Forrester Wave ™: Enterprise Email Security, Q2 2023 report, which demonstrates its strong track record for being a comprehensive and robust email and collaboration security solution.¹ Forrester noted that “Microsoft’s continued investment in security is paying off as it protects end users from attacks that target communication and collaboration environments in addition to email,” and that “email and collaboration security are key elements of Microsoft’s extended detection and response (XDR) strategy, adding prevention capabilities to its unified approach to detection, investigation, response, and remediation.”

The Forrester Wave report evaluates email security solutions based on criteria that include email filtering capabilities, threat intelligence, data leak prevention control enforcement, endpoint detection and response (EDR) and XDR integrations, performance, and product strategy. In the latest evaluation for Q2 2023, Defender for Office 365 has demonstrated its excellence in these areas, offering a range of industry-leading capabilities that set it apart from its competitors. Defender for Office 365 received the highest possible score in the incident response, threat intelligence, EDR and XDR solutions integration criteria, as well as in the product vision and roadmap.

Microsoft capabilities

With unparalleled database of 65 trillion security signals gathered across Microsoft Security products (including Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, Microsoft Sentinel, and Microsoft Azure Active Directory), combined with state-of-the-art AI and machine learning research, Defender for Office 365 is capable of detecting and mitigating advanced threats from phishing, malware, and zero-day exploits with an industry-leading level of accuracy. This real-time threat intelligence and proactive monitoring enable organizations to stay at the forefront of rapidly changing threats.

Defender for Office 365 empowers security operations (SecOps) teams to investigate and remediate incidents swiftly. With automated and manual incident response capabilities, SecOps teams can respond to email attacks and risks across all email channels. Whether it’s investigating potentially malicious clicks, suspected user compromise, or suspicious messages, Defender for Office 365 provides tools and processes to identify, analyze, and respond to incidents efficiently. Automated investigation and remediation features expedite the analysis and response for events like this, enabling SecOps teams to take swift action and minimize the impact of attacks. 

Defender for Office 365 seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft products and security solutions, minimizing machine resource overhead cost, while maximizing the comprehensiveness of protection coverage. This integration also enables a centralized single point for management, providing unparalleled visibility, streamlining security operations, and enhancing overall threat response capabilities. With this holistic approach, organizations benefit from reduced complexity without sacrificing security performance.

Users form an important proactive defensive layer within any organization, especially against phishing-based attacks. Based on this understanding, Defender for Office 365 emphasizes the significance of user readiness. With tools that provide relevant training and customized simulations based on the unique situation of each organization, users can be equipped with the knowledge and skills to spot threats effectively. Defender for Office 365 enables employees to play an active role in keeping their organizations secure. This approach to user readiness adds a layer of defense against email-based threats. 

As cyberthreats continue to evolve, Defender for Office 365 remains committed to staying one step ahead. We are proud of the strides we’ve made in the enterprise and email security space, and even more grateful to see our efforts recognized by an institution like Forrester. However, we can’t rest on our laurels, and maintaining this leadership means remaining dynamic, adaptable, and focused on innovation. Our team continues to focus on research and development to understand emerging threats and develop cutting-edge defenses against them.

Furthermore, customer feedback has been and will continue to be an instrumental part of determining our product direction and development. Keeping our customers satisfied, feeling valued, heard, and confident about their security will always be our highest priority.

For more information on this recognition, check out the full Forrester Wave: Enterprise Email Security, Q2 2023 Report here.

¹The Forrester Wave™: Enterprise Email Security, Q2 2023, Jess Burn. June 12, 2023.

Source: Microsoft