Microsofts New Security Initiatives and Updates A Guide for Partners

November 20, 2023 Microsoft Partner News

As a leading partner in the Microsoft ecosystem, we at Qloud Blog are committed to keeping you updated on the latest developments and initiatives. In line with this, we are excited to share some important updates and actions that Microsoft has recently announced to secure the partner ecosystem.

Firstly, Microsoft has launched the Secure Future Initiative, a new initiative aimed at advancing cybersecurity protection. This move is in response to the increasing speed, scale, and sophistication of cyberattacks. We recommend that our partners familiarize themselves with this initiative by reading Brad Smith's blog post and Charlie Bell's internal email.

In a bid to help customers be secure by default, Microsoft announced on November 6, 2023, the auto-rollout of Microsoft Entra Conditional Access policies. This rollout will require multifactor authentication to access admin portals such as Azure, Partner Center, and Microsoft 365 Admin. We urge our customers to understand these new policies and how they will affect their organizations.

Microsoft has also made significant updates to Granular Delegated Admin Privileges (GDAP). The transition from Delegated Admin Privileges (DAP) to GDAP has been completed, and DAP removal has begun. Partners are advised to validate the newly created GDAP relationship and create a new GDAP relationship with the necessary Microsoft Entra roles if more roles are required to manage customers.

Additionally, Microsoft has introduced a Compliance Admin role in Partner Center to help partners manage their compliance obligations. This role is designed to authorize a point of contact that Microsoft can engage with for compliance-related matters. We recommend that this role is assigned to someone in your company and that the point of contact is kept current as changes occur within your company.

Another exciting update is the availability of the Partner Center Security Score in Partner Center. This feature provides a summary of security requirements and recommendations to help partners improve their security and health and mitigate risk areas. By taking necessary actions, partners can improve their security score and demonstrate their commitment to security.

Microsoft has also enabled partners with customer Azure subscriptions to have more control in the event of compromise or abuse. Partners can now cancel the Azure subscriptions and the Azure plan directly from the Partner Center, shutting down suspicious activity discovered in their Azure plan subscriptions. Once the issue is mitigated and the threat actor is evicted from the compromised tenant, partners can reactivate the Azure subscription.

Looking ahead, Microsoft plans to expand into Microsoft Entra error codes along with Conditional Access Policy (CAP) enforcement for all Partner Center APIs. This change is expected to roll out on January 22, 2024.

In conclusion, these updates underscore Microsoft's commitment to strengthening the security posture for partners and customers. We encourage our partners to review the updated journey map, sign up for dedicated CSP Security Q&A sessions, and utilize Microsoft's cybersecurity tools and resources to navigate the evolving threat landscape. Let's continue to work together to secure our partner and customer ecosystems.

Understanding Microsoft 365 Downtime Issues

December 10, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Explore the recent Microsoft 365 downtime and its impact on users. Stay informed! #Microsoft365 #Downtime #Cybersecurity

Celebrating Nine Years of WindowsLatest

December 5, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Join us in celebrating 9 years of WindowsLatest! Thank you for being part of our journey. #WindowsLatest #TechNews #Microsoft

Microsoft Announces Price Adjustments for Cloud Services and On-Premises Software in Brazil and UK

December 3, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

New Pricing Review Feature Enhances Partner Center Checkout Experience

December 3, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Exploring Innovations at Microsoft Ignite 2024

December 3, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Discover the latest tech innovations unveiled at Microsoft Ignite 2024! #MicrosoftIgnite #TechInnovation #Cybersecurity

Microsoft to Launch Joint Planning Initiative for Enhanced Customer Portfolio Planning in 2025

November 26, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Updated CSP Program Guide and Retirement of Get Licensing Ready Platform Important Information for Partners

November 21, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Enhanced Customer Flexibility Removal of Fundraising and Engagement SKU Dependency for Volunteer Management and Engagement

November 20, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Upgrade of Fundraising and Engagement Azure Services to NET 8 Enhances Performance and Security

November 20, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Microsofts Get Licensing Ready Platform to Retire in 2025 Partners Urged to Secure Certifications

November 20, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Exploring Microsoft's Innovations at Ignite 2023

November 20, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Discover the latest innovations from Microsoft Ignite 2023! Stay ahead in tech. #MicrosoftIgnite #TechInnovation #Cybersecurity

SPARK Propensity Data for FY25 Solution Plays Now Available in Partner Center Insights

November 20, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Microsoft Launches AI-Powered Workplace Solution Microsoft Places to Enhance Flexible Work

November 19, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Microsoft Introduces New Monthly Billing Plan and Updates Pricing for Select Products Enforces MFA and Announces New Benefits for AI Cloud Partners

November 12, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Request for Article Topic Details

November 11, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Enhancing Security: Turning Off Per-User MFA

November 9, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Discover how to enhance your security by managing MFA settings effectively! #MFA #Cybersecurity #Microsoft

Enhancing Security with Microsoft Entra MFA

November 9, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Boost your security with Microsoft Entra MFA! Discover the benefits of migrating today. #MicrosoftEntra #MFA #Cybersecurity

Microsoft Announces Technical Enforcement of End-of-Sale for Microsoft 365 and Office 365 Enterprise Suites with Teams in CSP Program

November 8, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

Microsoft Announces Major Updates and Enhancements to AI Cloud Partner Program

November 8, 2024 Microsoft Partner News

November Updates for the Cloud Solution Provider Program New Resources and Features for Partners

November 5, 2024 Microsoft Partner News