Microsoft Secure Score Review Checklist
Want to improve Microsoft 365 security without blindly chasing a percentage? Use this checklist to understand the score, prioritise meaningful changes and prevent controls drifting afterwards.
Want to improve Microsoft 365 security without blindly chasing a percentage? Use this checklist to understand the score, prioritise meaningful changes and prevent controls drifting afterwards.
A higher Secure Score can show stronger Microsoft control adoption. It does not guarantee that the organisation is secure.
Understand
- □ Record the current score
- □ Record the maximum available score
- □ Review current licence score
- □ Review achievable score
- □ Identify the largest recommended actions
Prioritise
- □ Review administrator security
- □ Review MFA for all users
- □ Review legacy authentication
- □ Review guest users
- □ Review application consent
- □ Review mailbox forwarding
Test
- □ Identify affected users
- □ Identify affected applications
- □ Select a pilot group
- □ Monitor sign-in failures
- □ Confirm emergency access works
Implement
- □ Apply approved controls
- □ Record the change
- □ Verify technical enforcement
- □ Confirm score update
Exceptions
- □ Record business reason for exception
- □ Assign a named risk owner
- □ Record compensating control
- □ Set a review date
Maintain
- □ Monitor configuration drift
- □ Review changes regularly
- □ Review guests and administrators
- □ Review unresolved actions
- □ Test backup and incident response
Want the full explanation?
Read our Technology Intelligence article for a plain-English explanation of what Microsoft Secure Score measures, what it does not confirm and how to turn recommendations into lasting security improvements.
Microsoft Secure Score: Is Your Microsoft 365 Environment Actually Secure? →
Plain-English Takeaway
Microsoft Secure Score measures Microsoft-recommended control adoption across supported services. A higher score can indicate stronger use of those controls but does not guarantee protection. Prioritise recommendations by real risk, test changes, document exceptions and monitor for configuration drift.
Downloadable guide
Microsoft Secure Score Review Checklist
A4 PDF checklist covering score understanding, identity priorities, testing, implementation, exceptions and ongoing monitoring — with a 7-stage flow strip and key score-concept definitions.
Download Checklist (PDF)A4 PDF. Selectable text. Print or use on screen.
Want the full business explanation?
The Technology Intelligence article covers why this matters, where it helps and what to watch out for.
Read the full Technology Intelligence articleRelated Knowledge Centre resources
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