This is part of a series on MSP priorities for 2026.

Continuous Monitoring & Improvement Program for MSPs (Microsoft 365 Business Premium)

For MSPs serving SMB clients, achieving continuous security monitoring, ongoing improvement, and user education (Priority #5 from the CIAOPS outlook) requires leveraging Microsoft 365 Business Premium’s built-in tools in a structured, repeatable way. Below is a step-by-step program focusing on technical implementation and monitoring, using only Business Premium features (Secure Score, Compliance Manager, Defender for Business, Intune, audit logging, etc.), with alerting and reporting to drive continuous improvement and informed end-users.

Overview of Key Steps (Core Actions First):

1. Establish Security & Compliance Baselines: Use Microsoft Secure Score and Compliance Manager to assess current security posture and compliance state. Identify gaps (e.g. missing MFA, outdated policies) and define target scores. [learn.microsoft.com], [blog.apps4.pro]
2. Deploy Continuous Threat & Device Monitoring: Enable Microsoft Defender for Business across all devices and apply Intune compliance policies. This ensures endpoints are protected (AV, EDR) and device configurations meet your security baseline (no drift).
3. Implement Audit Logging & Alerting: Turn on Unified Audit Log and configure alert policies for suspicious activities. Monitor user/admin activity (logins, file access, mailbox changes) and get immediate alerts for anomalies (e.g. mass failed logins, external forwarding rules).
4. Perform Regular Reviews & Improvements: Review Secure Score, Compliance Score, and Defender reports on a schedule (e.g. weekly/monthly). Track progress, address new recommendations, and adjust configurations/policies to continuously improve the security posture. Use built-in dashboards and reports for insight. [learn.microsoft.com]
5. Ongoing User Education: Conduct continuous user security training and awareness. Leverage Microsoft 365 tools and insights (phishing simulation for those with Defender P2, or regular security tip campaigns) to reduce human risk. Incorporate user feedback and real incident learnings into training. [syncromsp.com]

Each step is detailed below, followed by a summary table of Step, Feature, Actions, and Outcomes for quick reference.

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Step 1: Establish Baselines with Secure Score & Compliance Manager

Objective: Create a clear starting point and roadmap by assessing the customer’s current security and compliance posture.

• Gather Baseline Metrics: Begin with Microsoft Secure Score in the Microsoft 365 Defender portal to measure the tenant’s security posture (score 0-100%). Secure Score scans configurations and user behaviors across identity, device, app, and data protections. A higher score means alignment with more best practices. Similarly, check Compliance Manager’s Compliance Score in the Purview compliance portal to gauge adherence to data protection and regulatory controls. [syncromsp.com] [blog.apps4.pro]
• Identify Improvement Actions: Both Secure Score and Compliance Manager provide prioritized recommendations (“improvement actions”). For security: e.g. enable MFA for all users, disable legacy authentication, configure anti-phishing policies, etc., each worth points. For compliance: e.g. implement data retention labels, enable DLP for sensitive data, or train users on compliance policies. Document these recommended actions. [syncromsp.com], [syncromsp.com]
• Set Target Goals: Use these baselines to set improvement targets (e.g. raise Secure Score from 50% to 80% within 6 months). Prioritize high-impact items first (Secure Score highlights actions by risk reduction). Similarly, aim to close top compliance gaps indicated by Compliance Manager’s score (e.g. resolve all “high risk” improvement actions). [learn.microsoft.com]
• Obtain Stakeholder Buy-In: Ensure clients understand the baseline results and the plan. Secure Score provides an objective metric to justify security investments and measure progress over time. Compliance Score helps illustrate regulatory risk if not addressed. This sets the stage for continuous improvement as a collaborative effort with the client. [syncromsp.com]

Step 2: Deploy Continuous Threat & Device Monitoring (Defender for Business + Intune)

Objective: Implement 24/7 threat detection and enforce secure configurations on all user devices and services, using Microsoft 365 Business Premium’s security tools.

• Microsoft Defender for Business (Endpoint Protection): Deploy Defender for Business (part of M365 Business Premium) to all client endpoints (Windows, macOS, mobile) via onboarding scripts or Intune integration. This provides next-gen antivirus, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and vulnerability management across the SMB’s devices. Ensure real-time protection, firewall, and automatic sample submission are enabled on all devices via security policies. Once deployed, the Defender portal will continuously monitor for malware, suspicious behaviors, and vulnerabilities (unpatched software) on endpoints.
• Configure Security Policies in Defender: In the Defender for Business portal, review default threat protection policies (for email, files, and devices) and adjust as needed. For example, enable Safe Attachments & Safe Links for Office 365 email (Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 is included) and tune anti-phishing policies for the client’s domain. These settings ensure threats are proactively filtered. In Defender’s Vulnerability Management dashboard, monitor the “exposure score” and apply recommended patches or configurations to reduce it.[learn.microsoft.com], [learn.microsoft.com]
• Microsoft Intune (Endpoint Manager) for Devices: Use Intune to enforce compliance and prevent configuration drift on devices. Define Compliance policies that require healthy settings – for example: require devices to have encryption enabled, require a minimum OS version/patch level, block jailbroken devices, and require Microsoft Defender anti-malware to be active. Non-compliant devices (which drift from this baseline) should be flagged and, via Conditional Access (Azure AD P1), denied access to corporate data until remediated. Also deploy Security Baselines (pre-configured baseline profiles for Windows 10/11 and Office apps) through Intune; these baseline profiles apply recommended security settings in bulk and will highlight any setting conflicts (drift) for review.
• Integrate Device Signals: Microsoft 365 Business Premium ties these together – Intune device risk/compliance feeds into Defender and Azure AD. Ensure that Conditional Access policies leverage these signals (e.g. only allow sign-in from compliant devices and require MFA for an added layer of security). This guarantees that if a device falls out of compliance (e.g. antivirus is disabled or OS is outdated), the user’s access is limited, prompting immediate correction – effectively detecting and mitigating configuration drift in real time.
• Outcome: With Defender for Business and Intune configured, the MSP now has continuous visibility into threats (malware, suspicious activities) on endpoints, and assurance that devices remain within the secure configuration guardrails. Any breach attempts or risky deviations trigger alerts or automatic responses (like quarantining a file or isolating a device) thanks to Defender’s EDR capabilities.

Step 3: Implement Audit Logging and Alerting Mechanisms

Objective: Gain awareness of security events and configuration changes as they happen, by enabling comprehensive logging and defining alert triggers for early warning.

• Enable Unified Audit Log: In the Purview Compliance Center (or Defender portal’s Audit section), ensure the Unified Audit Log is turned on for the tenant. (It’s enabled by default for new tenants, but an older tenant might need manual activation.) Audit Logging records user and admin activities across Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, Azure AD, etc., into a central log. This is critical for investigating incidents and spotting unwanted changes. Verify mailbox auditing is also enabled (it is by default) so actions like mailbox access or rule creation are logged. With audit logs, you can later trace who did what (e.g. which admin changed a setting or which user deleted a file).
• Set Up Security Alert Policies: Leverage built-in alerting in Microsoft 365 Defender/Compliance centers to detect suspicious or important events automatically. For example, configure alerts for:
  • Unusual mailbox activities – e.g. an inbox rule created to forward email externally or mass deletions. Possible compromised account – e.g. many failed login attempts, sign-ins from atypical locations (note: “impossible travel” detection requires Azure AD P2; without it, focus on obvious anomalies like multiple country logins in short time). Malware or Phish detection – e.g. when Defender flags an email with malware or multiple users report a phishing email. Admin role changes – e.g. any addition of a Global Admin role or privileges escalation in Azure AD.
  These alerts can be set in the Microsoft 365 Defender portal under Alert Policies. Tailor the policies’ sensitivity to minimize noise (e.g. require a threshold of events where applicable). Configure each alert to send email notifications to the MSP’s operations team (and/or notify via Teams channel or mobile app). This ensures no critical event goes unnoticed.
• Implement Configuration Drift Detection: Beyond reactive alerts, proactively schedule checks for drift from baseline configurations. For instance, run a Secure Score delta review weekly – if the score drops unexpectedly, investigate which action regressed (perhaps a setting was undone). Also, periodically export or review key tenant settings (using a script or Microsoft 365 Lighthouse) to catch unauthorized changes (like security group membership changes or policy toggles). Many such changes would appear in audit logs; consider using PowerShell or Graph API to query the Unified Audit Log for specific events (e.g. Set-OrganizationConfig changes or Intune policy edits) on a regular basis. While this is not an out-of-the-box “button,” an MSP can automate these checks as part of the service.
• Leverage Microsoft 365 Lighthouse (for MSPs managing multiple clients): Although not a direct Business Premium feature for end-customers, MSPs can use the free Microsoft 365 Lighthouse tool to unify monitoring. Lighthouse provides a single pane for alerts, user activity, and device compliance across all your SMB tenants – e.g., it can highlight which customer tenants have new alerts or which need attention (like MFA not enabled on some accounts). This complements per-tenant alerting by helping MSP teams manage scalability.
• Outcome: With audit logs capturing all activities and well-tuned alerts, the MSP gets instant visibility into potential incidents or misconfigurations. For example, if an employee creates a forwarding rule to an external address or an admin turns off a policy, the team will know in near real-time. This step shifts the security stance from passive to proactive, allowing quick response before small issues become major breaches.

Step 4: Regularly Review Reports, Secure Score & Compliance Manager for Improvement

Objective: Continuously improve the security posture by periodic reviews, using Microsoft 365’s built-in scoring and reporting tools to guide prioritization and verify progress.

• Weekly Secure Score Reviews: At least weekly, review the Microsoft Secure Score dashboard. Note the current score and any new improvement actions introduced (Microsoft may add recommendations as new threats emerge or as you enable new features). Track which pending actions have been completed and which remain. Use Secure Score’s feature to compare your score with industry benchmarks or similar-sized organizations, if available, to give context. For any action that was recently completed, confirm the Secure Score reflects it (points should be earned once the system detects the change). This serves as a “scorecard” for ongoing security hygiene. [learn.microsoft.com]
• Monthly Compliance Manager Check-ins: Similarly, review the Compliance Manager each month. Check the Compliance Score progress: have more improvement actions been implemented since last review? Ensure documentation or evidence is uploaded for any completed actions (for audit readiness). If the SMB has to meet specific standards (e.g. GDPR, ISO 27001), ensure the corresponding assessment is active in Compliance Manager and track its score. Address new or pending improvement actions – for example, if Compliance Manager suggests enabling retention on a SharePoint site or conducting staff training on a policy, schedule those tasks.
• Analyze Defender and Intune Reports: Microsoft 365 provides various security reports – e.g. threat protection reports, device health and compliance reports, user sign-in trends:
  • In the Defender portal’s Reports section, generate the Security Report which shows threat detections, top targeted users, etc., and the Defender for Office 365 reports for email threats. This helps verify that defenses are working (e.g. “X malware blocked this month”) and identify any patterns (like repeated attacks on a particular user). [learn.microsoft.com]
  • In Intune (Endpoint Manager), review the Device Compliance report – see what percentage of devices are compliant vs. not, and drill into reasons for non-compliance (maybe a new device was enrolled but missing an update). Use Intune’s Configuration Analyzer to compare device settings to recommended baselines. [learn.microsoft.com]
  • Check Azure AD sign-in logs for anomalies or trends (available for 30 days with P1) – e.g. look at successful vs failed login attempts, any legacy authentication use that should be addressed, etc.
• Quarterly Security Posture Meetings: Every quarter (or as appropriate), compile a summary for the client: improvements made (Secure Score up X points, Y number of attacks blocked, Z compliance actions done) and list planned next steps. Use the data from reports to illustrate ROI – e.g. “Multi-factor Authentication was enabled for all users, which Secure Score shows improved our identity security. As a result, 350 suspicious login attempts were thwarted this quarter”. Also discuss any incidents that occurred and lessons learned to feed into new improvements. This not only keeps the SMB informed but also reinforces the continuous improvement cycle.
• Adjust and Evolve: Use findings from these reviews to update the program’s policies and priorities. For instance, if Secure Score and incident trends show phishing is a major issue, perhaps prioritize rolling out Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 (add-on) for enhanced phishing protection and attack simulation training (if the client agrees). If Compliance Manager shows new regulations or if the client expands into a new industry, add those compliance requirements into the plan. The key is to treat security and compliance as an ongoing process, not a one-time project. [syncromsp.com]

Step 5: Continuous User Education and Awareness

Objective: Create a security-aware culture among end-users so that technology improvements are complemented by responsible user behavior. Users should be regularly educated to recognize and avoid threats, and to follow best practices.

• Security Awareness Training Program: Establish a recurring training program for employees. Leverage Microsoft 365’s resources where possible:
  • If available, use Attack Simulation Training (part of Defender for O365 Plan 2; if the client doesn’t have this, consider it as an add-on or use third-party tools). This feature lets you run phishing simulation campaigns to test and teach users. For example, send a benign phishing email to see who clicks it, then auto-enroll those users in a training module. While Plan 2 is not included in Business Premium by default, MSPs can simulate similar exercises manually or via third-party if needed, focusing on the same goal – reducing phishing susceptibility. [syncromsp.com]
  • Use Microsoft Learn and productivity training content: Business Premium tenants have access to free training resources (e.g. Microsoft 365 learning pathways on SharePoint, end-user security best-practice guides). Curate short monthly tips or an internal newsletter about recent scams or new security features (“Did you know? OneDrive now has ransomware restore – here’s how to use it if needed.”).
• Policy and Compliance Training: When you roll out new policies (e.g. a requirement to use Outlook’s “Report Phish” button, or a policy for data classification), conduct a mini training or communication so users understand why and how to comply. For instance, if external email tagging is enabled or USB usage is restricted by Intune policy, inform users in advance with guidance on alternatives. Compliance Manager can also have improvement actions that involve user training (e.g. “Provide annual GDPR training to staff”); track these and ensure they’re delivered.
• Encourage a Security Feedback Loop: Foster an environment where users can easily report suspicious emails or incidents (Microsoft 365’s built-in Report Message add-in helps with this). When users report phishing emails, ensure IT follows up and also closes the loop by thanking or informing the organization if it was a wider campaign. This positive reinforcement encourages vigilance. Additionally, share sanitized stories of security wins/losses: e.g. “Last month, an employee spotted and reported a phishing email impersonating our CEO – great job, this prevented a potential breach!” or “We recently had an incident where a weak password led to an account compromise; as a reminder, our policies now require MFA and strong passwords.”
• Measure and Improve User Awareness: Just as we track Secure Score, track metrics for user awareness. This could be phishing simulation success rates (if using a tool), attendance/completion of trainings, or even simple quiz scores from training sessions. Over time, aim to see improvement (e.g. phishing click rates dropping). Use these metrics to identify departments or individuals who might need extra focus.
• Keep Training Material Fresh: Update content to cover new threats or Microsoft 365 features. For example, if a new type of phishing attack is trending or if Teams introduces a new security feature for file sharing, incorporate those. Microsoft Secure Score itself sometimes recommends “user training” activities as part of improvement – integrate those suggestions to fulfill technical and human aspects together. [syncromsp.com]

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The combination of these five steps creates a continuous loop of monitoring, improvement, and education. MSPs should integrate this program into their service delivery, using automation where possible (PowerShell scripts for reporting, Lighthouse for multi-tenant views, etc.) to stay efficient. The result for SMB clients is a steadily improving security posture, high compliance standards, and a workforce that is increasingly resilient against cyber threats.

Step-by-Step Program Summary

The table below summarizes each step of the program, the Microsoft 365 Business Premium feature(s) utilized, key implementation actions, and the expected outcomes for the MSP and client:

Step	Business Premium Feature(s)	Implementation Actions	Expected Outcomes
1. Establish Baseline Assess current state	– Secure Score (Microsoft 365 Defender) – Compliance Manager (Purview)	• Assess Secure Score: Record baseline and list recommended improvement actions (e.g. enable MFA) [syncromsp.com]. • Assess Compliance Score: Initiate relevant compliance assessments (e.g. Data Protection Baseline) and identify gaps in controls [blog.apps4.pro]. • Document & Prioritize: Compile all identified security and compliance gaps, prioritize by risk.	• Clear view of current security posture (score) and compliance status. • List of prioritized tasks mapped to M365 features (serves as roadmap). • Management buy-in on improvement plan (data-driven justification).
2. Deploy Monitoring Always-on threat protection	– Microsoft Defender for Business (Endpoints) – Defender for Office 365 P1 (Email/Collab security) – Intune (Endpoint Manager)	• Onboard Devices to Defender: Deploy Defender for Business to all endpoints; verify AV, EDR, and vulnerability management are active	• Apply Intune Baselines & Compliance: Enforce security baseline configurations and compliance policies (encryption, OS updates, device health)	• Configure Policies: Enable anti-phishing, Safe Links/Attachments, and other threat protection policies in Defender for O365	• Conditional Access: Require compliant devices and MFA for user access (using Azure AD P1).	• Comprehensive coverage against malware, phishing, and other threats across devices and email	• Devices stay in line with security standards; non-compliant ones are flagged/blocked (prevents config drift). • Automated threat response available (isolate infected device, etc.), reducing manual workload.
3. Enable Logging & Alerts Detect issues early	– Unified Audit Log (Purview Audit) – Alert Policies (Defender/Compliance Center) – (Azure AD P1 logs)	• Turn on Audit Logging: Ensure unified audit log is enabled to record all user/admin activities	extend log retention via Azure AD P1 (30 days by default)	• Create Alert Rules: Define alerts for suspicious events (e.g. new inbox forwarding rule, multiple failed logins, malware upload to SharePoint) with notifications to IT	• Tune and Test: Adjust alert thresholds to minimize false positives	; periodically test alerts (e.g. create a dummy policy change) to ensure they’re working. • Centralize Monitoring: Use Microsoft 365 Lighthouse for multi-tenant alert visibility (for MSP-scale efficiency)	.	• Immediate awareness of potential security incidents or policy changes – allows quick response before damage occurs	• Audit trail available for investigations and compliance audits (who did what, when). • MSP can monitor many clients efficiently (via Lighthouse), ensuring no tenant is overlooked.
4. Regular Reviews & Improvement Continuous enhancement	– Secure Score Dashboard (weekly) – Compliance Manager (monthly/quarterly) – Defender Reports (Threat & Vulnerability reports) – Intune Reports (Device compliance)	• Weekly Secure Score Review: Log improvements made, plan next actions for pending Secure Score recommendations [learn.microsoft.com]; ensure no regression (score drop) went unaddressed. • Monthly Compliance Audit: Update and review compliance score; close out completed actions and identify new gaps (if regulations changed or new MS features available). • Monthly Reports: Analyze Defender threat reports (email and endpoint) [learn.microsoft.com] and Intune device reports; address any recurring issues (e.g. frequent malware on unpatched devices -> enforce stricter update policy). • Quarterly Exec Summary: Report to client on achievements (Score improvements, incidents prevented) and next-quarter focus areas.	• Measured improvement over time – higher Secure Score and Compliance Scores demonstrate progress (or reveal areas needing attention). • Up-to-date security posture: policies and configurations are continually refined based on latest data and threats. • Client sees value through regular reports (transparency), supporting retention and trust in the MSP partnership.
5. Continuous User Education Empower the humans	– User Training Content (Microsoft 365 Learning, SharePoint/Viva Engage) – (Optional) Attack Simulation (Defender for O365 P2 add-on) – Secure Score User Insights	• Phishing Drills & Training: Conduct periodic phishing simulations and follow-up training for susceptible users (using MS Attack Simulation Training if available) [syncromsp.com]; otherwise use custom email campaigns and track responses. • Monthly Security Tips: Share short lessons or tips via email or Teams (e.g. “how to spot a phishing email”, “data classification do’s and don’ts”). Leverage Microsoft’s ready materials when possible. • Policy Acknowledgements: When rolling out new policies, require users to read and acknowledge guidelines (can use SharePoint or Intune’s compliance terms). Reinforce with a brief quiz or Q\&A session. • Measure Engagement: Track metrics like training completion rates or reduction in simulated phish click-rate. Recognize improvements and address gaps with targeted coaching.	• Users are more vigilant and informed, reducing risky behavior (the “human firewall” is strengthened). • Fewer incidents caused by user mistakes (e.g. falling for scams), as shown by improved simulation results and real incident metrics. • A culture of security: Users actively participate in protection (reporting suspicious emails, following policies) rather than seeing security as a hindrance.

References: The program above is grounded in Microsoft’s best practices for Business Premium. Tools like Secure Score provide visibility and guidance to improve security posture, while Compliance Manager offers a structured approach to meeting regulatory requirements. Microsoft Defender for Business and Intune deliver enterprise-grade endpoint protection and management for SMBs, enabling MSPs to implement zero-trust principles (secure identity, devices, and data) in a manageable way. Logging and alerting ensure that no change goes unnoticed, forming the backbone of a proactive security stance. Finally, ongoing user education addresses the fact that technology is only part of the equation – educated users significantly lower the overall risk. By following this program, MSPs can confidently fulfill the “continuous monitoring, improvement, and user education” mandate using the capabilities already available in Microsoft 365 Business Premium, creating a safer and more compliant environment for their SMB clients. [learn.microsoft.com] [blog.apps4.pro][syncromsp.com]