How Microsoft 365 Defender Protects From Solorigate or Other Cyber Attacks?

  author
Written By Mohit Kumar Jha  
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh 
Published On September 17th, 2024
Reading Time 7 Minutes Reading

Let’s discuss how Microsoft 365 Defender helps in cybersecurity. Here is one of those topics that, in this age, has become irreplaceably important in the digital world.

Remember the Solorigate attack? Well, it was a major wake-up call, showing us how vulnerable even the most advanced systems can be.

That’s where Microsoft 365 Defender comes in a role. Specifically, it is a very strong security solution designed to protect your organization against all cyberattacks. Think of this solution almost like having your digital bodyguard, always on the lookout to make sure your data is safe and secure.

In this article, we will find out how Microsoft 365 Defender can protect you against such cyber-attacks or detect threats such as Solorigate and how it works. Let’s get started!

Overview of Solorigate

The SolarWinds Orion Platform DLL, a crucial part of the popular IT management software, was infiltrated in the Solorigate attack. Cybercriminals secretly placed harmful software, called a backdoor, into the DLL. This enabled them to eavesdrop on the data exchanges within companies employing the software.

Several US government agencies, including the US Treasury and the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), along with various enterprises, were hit by a sophisticated cyber-attack exploiting a flaw in SolarWinds’ supply chain.

This extensive cyber espionage operation, now known as Solorigate, confused both governments and major corporations due to the scale and complexity of the breach. The attackers exploited the trust in a well-known company, embedding themselves within its code to remain undetected for an extended period.

Microsoft 365 Defender: A Comprehensive Security Solution

Imagine a single security tool that protects the whole view of endpoints, identities, data, and applications. In fact, that’s precisely what the product Microsoft 365 Defender does. It is a powerful security platform technology that makes use of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify and prevent threats.

Microsoft 365 Defender

 

Here’s a quick breakdown of what it does:

  • Endpoint Protection- Keeps your devices free from malware, ransomware, and other stuff.
  • Identity protection- Protect the identities of your users from phishing as well as credential theft.
  • Data protection- It guards the sensitive information you have against unauthorized access and theft.
  • Application protection- It keeps your apps safe from vulnerabilities and exploits.
  • Threat analytics- These insights empower you to be always ahead of threats.

In short, This M365 Defender is more like a digital guardian for your organization. It is always on the lookout for threats and ready to defend.

How Microsoft 365 Defender Protects Against Solorigate and Other Attacks

Think of Microsoft 365 Defender as a multi-layered shield. It uses a combination of prevention, detection, response, and recovery to protect your organization from attacks like Solorigate.

Category Feature Description
Prevention Endpoint protection Microsoft Defender Antivirus continuously monitors for malicious files (e.g., Sunburst backdoor) and blocks them before they cause harm.
Identity protection Microsoft Defender for Identity monitors user behavior, flagging suspicious activity that might indicate a security breach.
Data protection Microsoft Information Protection helps classify and secure sensitive data, making it harder for attackers to steal.
Detection Threat analytics Microsoft 365 Defender uses advanced analytics to identify suspicious activity and correlate signals across different stages of an attack.
Hunting Security teams can proactively use Microsoft 365 Defender Hunting to search for threats and uncover hidden attacks.
Response and Recovery Automation It can automatically respond to threats (e.g., quarantining infected devices or blocking malicious users).
Investigation Security teams can investigate incidents using Microsoft 365 Defender to find the root cause, similar to a forensic expert uncovering evidence.
Recovery Microsoft 365 Defender helps recover from attacks by restoring data and systems, acting as a superhero rebuilding after a disaster.
Continuous Improvement Updates Microsoft 365 Defender receives regular updates from Microsoft, evolving to address new threats and improve its efficiency.
Integration Microsoft 365 Defender integrates with other Microsoft security solutions to provide comprehensive protection, like a team of superheroes working together.

How to Protect Against Solorigate or Other Types of  Cyber Attacks?

Here are some steps that you can take to improve your cybersecurity posture against such attacks.

  • In any case, anomalies can be detected. The organizations as well as the individuals must maintain continuous vigilance while monitoring the environment.
  • Although Solorigate probably targeted US government agencies, several private companies were compromised as well, further showing the massive collateral damage that such an attack can cause. Thus, the onus of proactive responsibility for data security has to be borne by the individuals.
  • Security has to be enforced at all levels from source code repositories, tools, and environments right through to third-party software integrations, covering the entire infrastructure.
  • Guard against alert fatigue, enabling mutual sharing of threat intelligence to share warnings with the users collectively.

Prevent From Solorigate Type Cyber Attacks with Advanced Services

Today’s digital landscape requires more than basic security to safeguard the data as well as the users of such platforms from more advanced cyberattacks.

After the Solorigate incident, it’s clear that strengthening networks and reducing weak spots are crucial parts of a complete defense strategy. Additionally, using strong preventive measures and actively detecting threats are also essential for comprehensive protection

Now, at SysTools, we have a comprehensive range of security solutions that could handle such a critical problem efficiently. Our portfolio ranges beyond traditional protection and now is well-equipped with advanced tools for total Network Operating Center services. Moreover, it contains real-time threat intelligence as well as very effective early detection systems. We ensure your organization is always shielded from constantly changing threats through advanced.

Moreover, in transition, SysTools offers that are smooth and secure Office 365 migration services that will integrate so well with your existing infrastructure. We take away the technical burden of data migration while ensuring there are maximum levels of security and compliance in play.

For unmatched security and migration solutions, contact our team of experts. Moreover, we dedicate ourselves to providing the best security and support 24/7 via phone, chat, and email. Secure your organization with SysTools today.