First published: 24/10/2022, updated 20/10/25
Continuing my theme on security for Cyber Awareness Month, in this article I explain what Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) is and why it is another essential addition to your cyber-security strategy.
What is Advanced Threat Protection?
In my previous article I explained Endpoint Security and how it protects and secures your endpoints – PCs, laptops, mobile devices etc. Advanced Threat Protection works directly in Microsoft 365 (and other cloud services) and detects and neutralises cyber-threats before they even reach your endpoints and users.
ATP is a cloud-based email filtering service that helps protect your business against unknown malware and viruses by providing zero-day protection and safeguarding against phishing and other unsafe links, in real time. It also provides protection for documents within SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams.
Although ATP works primarily on incoming email it also monitors and protects outgoing email, for example if one of your user accounts is compromised and being used to send out spam.
Why use Advanced Threat Protection?
Unfortunately, your users are often your biggest security weakness. Security breaches, malware infections and ransomware are usually a result of a user opening a phishing email that has persuaded the user to download a file or submit their credentials to a fake login website.
Although Microsoft 365 Standard service has basic built-in spam filtering, this is not always adequate to filter out those advanced security threats that are constantly evolving.
Using an ATP solution as another layer of cyber-defence helps block those fake emails and unsafe attachments before your users even see them, therefore reducing their exposure to phishing scams and malware.
Engage IT recommend Microsoft Defender for Office 365 ATP solution, which is included in the Microsoft Business Premium license.
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is a cloud-based email filtering service designed to protect organisations from threats such as phishing, malware, and business email compromise. It integrates tightly with Microsoft 365 and provides advanced protection for Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Microsoft Teams.
Contact Us for any help or advice on Advanced Threat Protection.
