Microsoft’s extensive range of products, like Office 365 and Azure, is the backbone of productivity for millions of businesses worldwide. Their widespread adoption, however, also makes them a prime target for cyber criminals. These attackers employ various tactics to exploit vulnerabilities and trick users into releasing sensitive data or making financial transactions.
Understanding the specific cyber threats aimed at Microsoft’s ecosystem is the first step toward protecting your organization.
Read: Get the Most Out of Microsoft 365 for Your Workplace
One of the most common and effective cyber crimes is phishing. Hackers craft fake login pages or malicious emails that mimic Microsoft services like Outlook, OneDrive or Teams. Once employees enter their credentials, attackers gain unauthorized access to sensitive company data.
An example of this is when an attacker poses as Microsoft support and sends a “password reset” email. This spoofed email will use a similar name, subject and domain resembling a real message from Microsoft, but the button links to a malicious website that captures the user’s login credentials instead. The website often looks incredibly convincing, often using Microsoft’s color scheme and logo.
Microsoft 365 email accounts are prime targets for business email compromise (BEC) schemes. Hackers hijack an account and impersonate executives or vendors to trick employees into sending payments or revealing sensitive information. An example of BEC is when a compromised Office 365 inbox sends convincing invoices that reroute payments to fraudulent accounts.
Macros is a tool that makes a set of actions or rules you can utilize within the Office Suite to automate tasks and save time. Cyber criminals can hide malicious code in files for Word, Excel and PowerPoint. When opened, these files download malware or delete files from the victim’s device.
Windows systems are the most common target for ransomware attacks. Cyber criminals exploit unpatched vulnerabilities to encrypt files and hold them hostage, demanding payment for the decryption key. These attacks often exploit vulnerabilities in software, including zero-day flaws,which are when undisclosed weaknesses in a program are actively exploited.
Although Microsoft has implemented security measures to help protect users, it’s ultimately a shared responsibility. Taking proactive measures can help your business stay ahead of Microsoft-specific cyber crimes.
A final proactive measure is to consider partnering with a managed service provider (MSP) like Thriveon. Our Fractional CIO can proactively monitor, patch and secure your IT environment, ensuring you don’t fall victim to these Microsoft-specific crimes. We also provide robust cybersecurity measures to keep your company safe and secure.
Schedule a meeting today to see how we can keep your business safe.