Managing alerts in Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through managing alerts in Microsoft Defender for Office 365 using the Microsoft 365 Defender portal. Understanding how to navigate and configure alerts is essential for ensuring the security of your Office 365 environment.

Step 1: Access Microsoft 365 Defender

• Open your web browser and navigate to the Microsoft 365 Defender portal.
• Sign in with your administrative account credentials.
• Once logged in, you will be directed to the dashboard, where you can view alerts and security status.

Step 2: Navigate to the Alerts Section

• In the left-hand navigation pane, select Alerts.
• This section displays all current alerts, including their status (active, resolved, etc.).
• You can filter alerts by severity, status, and type to focus on specific issues.

Step 3: Review Alert Details

• Click on any alert to view its details.
• Review information such as:
  • Alert type and severity
  • Affected users or devices
  • Time of the alert
  • Suggested actions for remediation
• Take note of any recommendations provided by Defender for appropriate response actions.

Step 4: Manage Alerts

• To manage alerts effectively, consider the following actions:
  • Investigate: Gather more details about the alert. Look into the activity logs and user behavior associated with the alert.
  • Resolve: If the alert is a false positive or has been addressed, mark it as resolved.
  • Dismiss: If the alert is not relevant, you can dismiss it. This helps to reduce clutter in your alerts list.
• Use the Action menu to perform these tasks.

Step 5: Configure Alert Notifications

• Set up alert notifications to stay informed:
  • Go to the Settings section in the left navigation.
  • Select Email notifications.
  • Configure the recipients for alerts, ensuring that key personnel receive timely updates.
• Choose the frequency and types of alerts you want to be notified about.

Step 6: Set Up Alert Policies

• Customize your alert policies to align with your organization’s security needs:
  • Navigate to Policies in the left navigation pane.
  • Select Alert policies and then Add policy.
  • Define the criteria for the alerts you want to create, such as specific actions or user behaviors.
  • Save the policy and monitor how it affects alert generation.

Conclusion

Managing alerts in Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is crucial for maintaining the security of your organization. By following these steps, you can effectively access, review, and manage alerts, configure notifications, and set up custom alert policies. Regularly revisit these settings to ensure they align with your evolving security needs. For further learning, consider exploring additional resources from Microsoft Security or joining their Tech Community for ongoing support and updates.