What is Microsoft Secure Score?

Microsoft Secure Score is a built-in security analytics tool within Microsoft 365 that measures your organisation’s current security posture. It provides a clear, dynamic score (0–100%) based on your use of Microsoft products, features, and configurations, and offers a prioritised action plan to improve it.

Secure Score evaluates your security settings, user behaviours, and adoption of recommended features across identities, endpoints, apps, and data. The more improvements you implement, the higher your score—and the stronger your protection.

Why Does Secure Score Matter?

• Security Baseline: Secure Score gives you a clear, objective baseline for your current security posture, making it easier to identify gaps and set improvement goals.
• Prioritised Actions: Not all security recommendations are equal. Secure Score helps you focus on high-impact changes that reduce risk the most.
• Continuous Improvement: Secure Score provides a dynamic approach to cybersecurity, evolving with the latest threats and updates from Microsoft.
• Compliance & Risk Management: For organisations following regulatory standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001, Secure Score aids in compliance by ensuring security best practices are met.
• Benchmarking: Compare your score with industry peers and track progress over time.
• Cyber Insurance: Increasingly, insurers are requesting Secure Score as part of their risk assessment. A higher score can help demonstrate your commitment to security and may influence premiums.

How to Access and Interpret Your Secure Score

Access Secure Score in your Microsoft 365 Defender portal. You’ll see your overall score, recommended improvement actions, historical trends, and benchmarks compared to organisations like yours.

There’s no one-size-fits-all number, but typically:

• 0–30%: High risk. Significant security gaps.
• 31–60%: Moderate. Some protections in place, but room for improvement.
• 61–85%: Strong. Many best practices in place.
• 86%+: Excellent. Continual refinement and advanced protections.

The average Secure Score across all Microsoft 365 users typically falls between 30–45%. The goal is to improve what matters most, based on your risk profile and compliance needs.

Practical Steps to Improve Your Secure Score

• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all users
• Implement self-service password reset
• Turn on Safe Attachments and Safe Links in Microsoft Defender for Office 365
• Use the least privilege model for user permissions
• Disable legacy authentication protocols
• Regularly review and update your Secure Score as Microsoft updates security settings and controls
• Assign improvement actions to team members and track progress

Each recommended action comes with a score value based on its potential security impact. The more you implement, the higher your score.

Reflective IT Tip

Aim for a Secure Score above 80% for strong protection, but focus on actions that make sense for your business. Regular reviews and incremental improvements are key to staying ahead of threats.

Need Help Improving Your Secure Score?

Reflective IT offers proactive security maintenance, quarterly Secure Score reviews, and expert guidance to help you implement best practices and track improvements. Contact us today to strengthen your security posture and meet requirements.

📞 0207 317 4535 | 📧 support@reflectiveit.com