12 Microsoft 365 Security Features and Best Practice Guidance - 11: Threat Intelligence and Incident Response

HybrIT Marketing
May 30
3 min read

What is it?

This is our penultimate article in the Microsoft 365 Security Series, and we are now turning the focus to threat intelligence and incident response. While earlier posts have looked at how to prevent attacks, this one explores what happens when something does slip through and how to detect, investigate and respond effectively.

In Microsoft 365, this means using tools like Microsoft 365 Defender, Microsoft Sentinel, Threat Explorer, Advanced Hunting, and Entra ID Protection to get real time visibility across your environment and act fast when suspicious activity is detected.

Understanding and using these tools effectively is key, but so is having the time and expertise to respond. That is why many organisations rely on HybrIT’s Managed Microsoft Security Service to handle alerts, investigate incidents and improve their security posture every day.

Why does it matter?

Even with strong defences in place, cyber attacks still happen and often go unnoticed until damage is done. Delayed detection, misconfigured tools, or overwhelmed IT teams can allow attackers to move across systems, escalate access, or extract data.

Without proper threat detection and response capabilities, your organisation could face:

Longer exposure to threats before they are identified
Lack of clarity on what was affected or how it happened
Slower containment and increased business disruption
Loss of data, legal risk, or reputational damage
Costly investigation, recovery and clean up time

Reacting quickly, with a clear understanding of where and how threats have emerged, is essential. But not every organisation has the internal capacity to keep up with it all. That is exactly where HybrIT adds value.

What M365 plans give me these features?

Microsoft 365 has a strong suite of tools, but access to them depends on the licences you have in place:

Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 and core alerting
Microsoft 365 E5 adds full Microsoft 365 Defender capabilities including coverage for devices, identities and cloud apps
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 gives more advanced detection and response features
Microsoft Sentinel is available separately and offers full visibility and automation across platforms
Entra ID P2 enables detection of risky sign-ins and identity protection policies

While these tools are powerful, they need proper configuration, monitoring and ongoing care. HybrIT makes sure you are getting the most from what you already own.

Key Recommendations

Treat Microsoft 365 Defender as your central tool for monitoring and response
Deploy Microsoft Sentinel to link and correlate data from users, devices and services
Enable automated investigation and response features to speed up containment
Use Entra ID to detect and block suspicious user activity in real time
Run threat simulations to test your response processes
Use Advanced Hunting to find deeper insights that alerts might miss

Best Practice Tips

Set alert levels to reduce noise and focus on real issues
Keep your incident response plans up to date and well documented
Test your response readiness with regular simulation exercises
Connect alerts to your service desk or notification tools for quick handover
Use Microsoft Secure Score to track progress and highlight risk areas
Keep detailed records of actions taken to support compliance needs

How can HybrIT Help?

The HybrIT Managed Microsoft Security Service gives you full control and visibility of your Microsoft security environment. We do not just monitor alerts. We investigate, resolve and continuously improve your setup.

Our security team manages the full Microsoft Defender and Purview stack, handling incidents and closing gaps based on best practice. With HybrIT, you get more than just tools. You get outcomes and peace of mind.

Included in the service:

A full onboarding audit of your Microsoft Defender and Purview setup
Day to day management of alerts and incidents, whatever their severity
Monthly posture reports that include recommendations and Secure Score updates
Quarterly service reviews with clear documentation and audit support
Gap analysis with clear actions to reduce risk and improve alignment
A dedicated Service Account Manager to oversee progress and link with your wider strategy

If your internal team is at capacity, or if you need to improve your visibility and responsiveness, HybrIT offers the support and expertise to lift the pressure.

Key benefits of HybrIT’s Managed Microsoft Security Service:

End to end incident detection and response managed by professionals
Complete use of Microsoft Defender and Sentinel to get full value from your licences
Faster investigation, reduced risk, and clear evidence for audits or compliance
Alignment with standards such as Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 27001
Regular reviews and proactive improvement work
Confidence that your environment is under constant monitoring and expert care