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CISA has issued Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 25-01, requiring federal civilian agencies to improve the security of their Microsoft 365 cloud environments.
This directive is part of CISA’s effort to reduce risks from cloud misconfigurations and weak security controls that have been targeted in recent cyberattacks.
CISA released best practices to secure Microsoft 365 Cloud environments
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BOD 25-01 introduces Secure Cloud Business Applications (SCuBA) Secure Configuration Baselines (SCBs), offering standardized security configurations for Microsoft 365.
The baselines include key services like Azure Active Directory, Microsoft Teams, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, and Microsoft Defender. Agencies must use CISA’s ScubaGear tool to ensure compliance with these standards.
The directive outlines specific deadlines for federal agencies:
February 21, 2025: Agencies must identify and report all cloud tenants. By April 25, 2025, SCuBA assessment tools will be deployed, and continuous compliance reporting will begin..
June 20, 2025: Complete rollout of required SCBs and integration with CISA’s monitoring system.
CISA Director Jen Easterly stressed the need for urgent cloud security.. “Malicious threat actors are increasingly targeting cloud systems, exploiting misconfigurations and weak controls to gain unauthorized access or disrupt services,” she stated. The directive seeks to minimize vulnerabilities in federal networks and enhance their defense against cyber threats.
The SCuBA tool is essential for automating the assessment of Microsoft 365 configurations. It generates detailed compliance reports, enabling agencies to quickly identify vulnerabilities and take corrective measures.
Key Features and Functionality:
Automated Assessment: The SCuBA tool automates the checking of M365 tenant configurations against CISA’s Secure Configuration Baselines.
Multi-Product Coverage: The tool can evaluate different M365 services, such as Azure Active Directory, Exchange Online, OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, and Teams.
BOD 25-01 is required for federal civilian agencies, but CISA encourages all organizations to adopt these practices.
As cyber threats to cloud platforms grow, it’s important for private entities using Microsoft 365 to follow SCB guidelines. Organizations can boost their cybersecurity by using these standards and tools like ScubaGear.
CISA plans to broaden the scope of SCBs to include more cloud platforms, like Google Workspace. This shows the agency’s dedication to protecting critical infrastructure and information systems from growing cyber threats.
CISA’s directive marks a major advancement in securing cloud environments for federal agencies. The agency emphasizes the need for collective action; organizations must adopt these best practices to safeguard their assets and enhance overall digital security.
