Security Considerations When Using SharePoint Online
SharePoint Online offers a flexible, cloud-based platform for building internal portals, document repositories, and even limited public-facing content. But like any powerful system, it requires careful configuration to ensure it's secure—especially when content is meant to be shared or discovered across a broader audience. Authentication and Access Control The first layer of defense in SharePoint Online is identity. SharePoint is tightly integrated with Azure Active Directory, making it easy to manage access using Microsoft 365 groups, conditional access policies, and multifactor authentication. For internal sites, restrict access to only the necessary users or groups. Avoid using “Everyone” or “Everyone except external users” unless the site is truly intended for broad organizational access. If external sharing is required, limit it as much as possible: Use guest access sparingly and monitor usage Require sign-in for external users, rather than anonymous links Expire s...
