Top 7 Security Features of SharePoint Online That Make It Highly-Demanded

Microsoft is known to make constant upgrades in its products to address specific needs of its users. It has introduced major security features to the SharePoint Online. SharePoint Online is a cloud-based product with security as one of the major concerns. The security compliance features introduced by Microsoft help in maintaining the confidentiality of the files and documents in the cloud effectively.

You can acquire hands-on experience of these security features with comprehensive SharePoint training and certification courses.

• Data Encryption in Transit: In a multi-layered data security strategy, the data encryption serves to be the best line of defense. Microsoft incorporates multiple encryption methods, techniques, protocols and algorithms across its products to ensure the secured data travel and help maintaining the data integrity. There are two scenarios wherein the data needs to travel:

1.       When the client communicates with the server. In this case, SharePoint Online uses SSL/TLS connections.

2.       Between the data centers to facilitate disaster recovery.

• Data Encryption at Rest: Microsoft includes two types of data encryption techniques to secure files and data in the SharePoint Online:

1.       Disk encryption: This level uses BitLocker.

2.       File encryption: At this level, every file in the SharePoint Online is secured with its own key that uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with 256-bit keys.

• Virus Detection: Microsoft provides an effective anti-malware engine to ensure automatic protection to the uploaded files. This anti-malware service works on Content Front Ends(CFEs) in SharePoint Online. Files get scanned to detect the viruses. if any file is found to be infected, a file property is set that refrains the user to download the file from browser or even sync it in One Drive Sync client. If virus protection is enabled in the SharePoint, a warning is issued, in case an infected file id attempted to download through a browser and encounters a virus. You can also use any external anti-virus software to delete the detected viruses.
• Conditional Access Based on Network Location: Microsoft SharePoint Online is now equipped with this capability, wherein the access can be restricted based on the network location. This feature helps to prevent data leakages by meeting the standard regulatory requirements. This powerful feature blocks and denies the access, if you attempt to access SharePoint externally from a point that is beyond the defined network boundary.
• Custom Script Restriction: This feature helps you to restrict the SharePoint Site collection customizations. Inserting scripts is one way to empower SharePoint users to customize sites and pages, that adds on the flexibility to address the organizational needs. The limitation of this flexibility was “no governance”. Therefore, Microsoft introduced custom script restriction that helps to block custom codes fully or partially.
• Manage External Sharing: Microsoft products exhibit the implicit capability of external sharing. Though it enhances the user experience, but also imposes the threat of the data loss. To manage this in SharePoint Online, anonymous guest link sharing can be disabled. Authorized users who log in with Office 365 can have the benefits of external file sharing capability.
• Permission Levels: Microsoft adds the feature to set permission levels for its users of SharePoint Online. The administrators define policies and manage the service. Power users can access the key features of the services and end users contribute to the file system. SharePoint Online supports the flexible access hierarchy for quick, easy, and authorized access. 

Conclusion
In-depth understanding of the latest SharePoint updates and hands-on exposure can be acquired with comprehensive Microsoft SharePoint training and certification courses available with the authorized Microsoft training partners. Attaining the globally recognized Microsoft SharePoint certifications, you can acquire a thorough understanding of core fundamentals of the SharePoint design, development, and administration.