Optimizing Microsoft Secure Score in GCC High: Practical Steps for Contractors
Optimizing Microsoft Secure Score in GCC High: Practical Steps for Contractors
Blog Article
Secure Score in Microsoft 365 provides a powerful benchmark for your organization’s security posture. In GCC High environments—where compliance with NIST 800-171 and CMMC is critical—optimizing your Secure Score helps ensure you’re meeting both technical and regulatory expectations.
This article outlines how to improve Secure Score in GCC High and how GCC High migration services support implementation across identity, data, devices, and applications.
1. Understand What Secure Score Measures
Secure Score evaluates your:
Identity protection (MFA, admin roles, conditional access)
Device security (BitLocker, Defender for Endpoint, Intune enrollment)
Data protection (sensitivity labels, DLP, email encryption)
App controls (OAuth, third-party access, Shadow IT)
✅ A higher score typically reflects stronger alignment with Zero Trust principles.
2. Prioritize Identity and Access Controls
For quick wins:
Enforce Multifactor Authentication for all users
Remove unnecessary global admin roles
Implement Conditional Access policies for role, device, and location
✅ These actions offer major boosts to Secure Score with minimal disruption.
3. Enable and Tune Data Protection Features
In GCC High, data handling is everything. Be sure to:
Apply Sensitivity Labels across Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive
Enable DLP policies to monitor and prevent data leaks
Require encryption for email and file sharing
✅ GCC High migration services help map these controls to your compliance scope.
4. Harden Endpoint and Device Management
Protect your endpoints by:
Requiring BitLocker encryption on all devices
Enforcing device compliance policies with Microsoft Intune
Deploying Defender for Endpoint with ASR and EDR rules enabled
✅ These not only improve score—they significantly reduce attack surface.
5. Monitor Progress and Automate Improvements
Stay proactive by:
Reviewing Secure Score regularly and tracking changes
Automating reporting for IT and compliance teams
Using Microsoft Secure Score APIs to integrate with Power BI dashboards
✅ This ensures security improvements become part of ongoing operations, not one-off projects.