In today's digital workplace, the risk from insider threats continues to grow. Whether it's an employee accidentally leaking sensitive information or a malicious actor deliberately stealing company data, organizations need robust monitoring systems to detect and respond to these threats quickly.
If your organization uses Microsoft 365, you already have access to powerful tools designed specifically for insider threat detection and prevention. In this guide, I'll walk you through the six most valuable Microsoft 365 tools for your insider threat program and show you exactly how to access them.
1. Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management
Microsoft has developed this tool specifically to address insider threats, making it the cornerstone of any M365-based insider threat program.
What it offers:
- Pre-configured policy templates for scenarios like data theft, security violations, and intellectual property theft
- Comprehensive user activity timelines
- Risk scoring to help prioritize investigations
- Integrated case management for documenting investigations
How to access it:
- Navigate to compliance.microsoft.com
- In the left navigation pane, find and select "Insider Risk Management"
- Use the dashboard to view alerts and create new policies
Pro tip: Start with Microsoft's pre-configured templates and then customize them to your organization's specific needs and risk profile.
2. Microsoft 365 Audit Log Search
The audit log is your treasure trove of user activity data across the entire Microsoft 365 environment.
What to monitor:
- Mass downloads or unusual file access patterns
- Activity occurring outside normal business hours
- Logins or operations from unusual geographic locations
- Mailbox access by delegates or administrators
- Administrative activity, especially privilege escalation
How to access it:
- Go to compliance.microsoft.com
- Navigate to "Audit" in the left menu
- Use the search capabilities to filter by user, date range, or activity type
Pro tip: Create and save common searches to quickly run them during your insider threat review meetings.
3. Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Formerly known as Cloud App Security, this tool provides visibility into cloud application usage across your organization.
Key features:
- Detailed logs of user activity across all connected cloud services
- Anomaly detection policies that spot unusual behavior patterns
- Shadow IT discovery to identify unauthorized cloud services
- User and entity behavior analytics (UEBA)
How to access it:
- Visit security.microsoft.com
- Navigate to "Cloud apps" and then "Cloud App Security Portal"
- Explore the Activity log and Alerts sections
Pro tip: The "Investigation" page allows you to create powerful queries that can uncover suspicious patterns not caught by default alerts..
4. Microsoft Entra ID Sign-in Logs
Identity is the new perimeter, and monitoring authentication activities is critical for insider threat detection.
What to look for:
- Multiple failed login attempts
- Successful logins from unusual locations
- Logins from geographically impossible locations (e.g., same user logging in from different countries within hours)
- Authentication activities during unusual hours
How to access it:
- Go to entra.microsoft.com
- Under Monitoring & Security, select "Sign-in logs"
- Use filters to narrow down to suspicious activities
Pro tip: Pay special attention to sign-ins from terminated employees or contractors whose access should have been revoked.
5. Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
DLP policies help you monitor and protect sensitive information from being shared inappropriately.
Key reports to review:
- DLP policy matches showing potential data leakage
- False positive reports and user override actions
- Reports on users who frequently trigger DLP policies
How to access it:
- Navigate to compliance.microsoft.com
- Select "Data loss prevention" from the left menu
- View the DLP reports section for insights
Pro tip: Configure DLP policies to alert on sensitive data being shared externally or downloaded in bulk, which are common indicators of data theft.
6. Microsoft Sentinel (if available)
For organizations with more advanced security needs, Microsoft Sentinel provides SIEM and SOAR capabilities.
Benefits for insider threat monitoring:
- Custom workbooks designed specifically for insider threat detection
- Advanced User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA)
- Correlation of signals across multiple data sources for higher-fidelity alerts
- Automated response playbooks for common scenarios
How to access it:
- Go to portal.azure.com
- Search for "Microsoft Sentinel"
- Explore the Workbooks, Analytics, and UEBA sections
Pro tip: Sentinel's hunting queries allow security teams to proactively search for signs of insider threats that might not trigger defined alerts.
Bringing It All Together
A successful insider threat program is about more than just tools—it requires people, processes, and technology working together. When setting up your program:
- Start small and scale up: Begin with the most critical assets and highest-risk scenarios
- Establish a regular review cadence: Schedule weekly or bi-weekly meetings to review alerts
- Document your investigation process: Create clear procedures for escalating and investigating insider threat alerts
- Balance security with privacy: Ensure your monitoring activities comply with relevant privacy laws and company policies
By leveraging these powerful Microsoft 365 tools and following a structured approach, you can significantly enhance your organization's ability to detect and respond to insider threats before they cause serious harm.
Note: The availability of some features may depend on your Microsoft 365 license. Check your subscription details to confirm which tools are available to your organization.
Need Help Setting Up Your Insider Threat Program?
Implementing these tools correctly requires expertise and experience. If you're unsure where to start or need assistance tailoring these solutions to your organization's specific needs, I'm here to help.
Book a free consultation today!
During this no-obligation session, we can discuss your current security posture, identify your biggest insider threat risks, and develop a roadmap for implementing an effective monitoring program.
👉 Schedule your free consultation now at hermathenalabs.com/booking
Don't wait until after an incident occurs to start thinking about insider threats. Proactive prevention is always more cost-effective than reactive response.