What's included

• Understand the client’s current environment, needs, and expectations

  1. Conduct a Kickoff Meeting with the Client → Establish goals, timelines, and communication plans. 2. Identify Email Security Challenges Specific issues the client is facing here are some of the more common ones: → Spam issues → Phishing attacks → Malware concerns 3. Discuss Compliance Requirements Regulatory obligations and current email protection state: → HIPAA → GDPR → PCI DSS 4. Gather Information Details about the client’s existing environment: → Microsoft 365 Licenses → Microsoft 365 Defender policies → Email filtering policies

• Provide a detailed Security Assessment Report

  1. Perform a Security Audit of the Existing Microsoft 365 Exchange Online Setup Focusing on the following areas: → Malware filtering policies. → Anti-phishing and spoof intelligence configurations. → Safe Links and Safe Attachments configurations. → Quarantine and spam filtering policies. 2. Review Email Traffic Logs → Analyze spam volumes. → Review delivery rates. → Investigate false positives. 3. Audit SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Settings → Check for domain authentication issues. 4. Identify Areas for Improvement in End-User Security Awareness → Highlight potential gaps in training or practices.

• Deliver a Security & Filtering Configuration Plan

  1. Develop a Customized Security Blueprint → Anti-malware and anti-phishing policies tailored to the client’s email environment. → A framework for implementing Safe Links, Safe Attachments, and spoof intelligence. 2. Create an Attack Simulation Training Strategy → Design a training plan to educate employees on identifying and responding to phishing attacks. 3. Optimize Spam Filtering Rules → Design and implement spam filtering optimization rules, including: → Connection filtering. → Sender blocklists. 4. Plan for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Alignment → Ensure proper alignment of these protocols to improve email deliverability and prevent spoofing. 5. Implement Custom Transport Rules → Block malicious domains. → Enforce auto-forwarding restrictions to reduce risks from compromised accounts.

• Provide a detailed Implementation Roadmap with milestones and dependencies

  1. Define the Implementation Timeline → Set specific milestones for solutions and services like: → Enabling anti-malware and anti-phishing policies. → Configuring Safe Links and Safe Attachments. → Rolling out SPF, DKIM, and DMARC adjustments. → Optimizing quarantine settings and transport rules. 2. Prepare Employee Communication Materials → Create training materials for phishing simulation exercises. → Develop Safe Links awareness guides to educate end-users on secure link behavior. 3. Develop a Rollout Checklist → Ensure smooth deployment of email security enhancements by creating a comprehensive checklist to: → Prevent email disruption during implementation. → Validate all security configurations post-deployment.

• Implementation of Email Security Enhancements

  → Configure and activate malware filtering policies in Microsoft Defender for Office 365, including real-time admin/user notifications for detected threats. → Set up anti-phishing policies, including spoof intelligence and Mailbox Intelligence, to protect against phishing attacks. → Enable Safe Links and Safe Attachments to scan incoming emails and attachments for malicious content. → Deploy phishing simulations and generate user-specific training reports for awareness improvement. → Optimize spam filter rules, bulk thresholds, and quarantine settings to reduce false positives. → Implement custom transport rules and enforce auto-forwarding restrictions to secure mail flow. → Configure and validate SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for domain authentication to improve email deliverability and reduce spoofing risks. Key Deliverables Include: → Fully configured anti-malware and anti-phishing policies in Microsoft 365. → SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication mechanisms implemented. → Updated spam filter rules and custom mail flow rules. → Detailed phishing simulation reports for user security awareness.

• Transition and Handover for Email Security Management

  → Conduct a handover session to train IT administrators on managing: → Anti-malware and anti-phishing policies. → Quarantine management and spam filtering adjustments. → SPF/DKIM/DMARC monitoring and updates. → Provide comprehensive documentation for all implemented configurations, including: → Step-by-step guides for adjusting policies. → Best practices for ongoing email security management. → Assist in final testing to ensure all configurations are functioning as expected. → (Optional) Conduct Q&A sessions or provide ongoing support to address any additional concerns. Key Deliverables Include: → Comprehensive Email Security Management Guide with step-by-step instructions and best practices. → Post-Implementation Report, summarizing completed work, test results, and recommendations for continued success. → Training session for IT administrators to ensure they are equipped to maintain the new configurations.