Protecting Your Business After a Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace Account Breach: Critical Steps to Take

Cyberattacks are more sophisticated than ever, and even small lapses in security can lead to devastating consequences for businesses. Recently, one of our clients experienced a breach of their Microsoft 365 account. While we swiftly took action to contain the situation, the incident underscores how critical it is to be prepared for such events and to act fast when they occur.

What Happened?

The compromised account was detected after suspicious activity was flagged. The breach allowed attackers to access the account for about two weeks before it was discovered. During this time, the attackers attempted to move laterally within the organization and target other accounts. Fortunately, these attempts were unsuccessful, but the incident serves as a stark reminder that cyber threats can escalate quickly if not addressed.

The Threats You Face

When an attacker has access to an account for an extended period, they can gather information that allows them to launch spear-phishing campaigns, commit fraud, or exploit other vulnerabilities. Your internal communications, financial data, and even customer details may be at risk. If you find yourself in a similar situation, here’s what you need to do:

Recommended Actions to Take:

1. Notify All Users and External Contacts: Inform your team and any external contacts that could be exposed in the breach. They should be on high alert for phishing emails or other suspicious communications that may seem legitimate due to the attackers having access to your internal information.
2. Enhance Monitoring: Implement advanced monitoring to detect unusual activity such as unauthorized login attempts, new forwarding rules, or access to sensitive files. Set up alerts for suspicious sign-ins, which can be crucial in preventing further damage.
3. Strengthen Security Practices: Ensure all users are using strong, unique passwords and that Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is enforced across all accounts. It’s critical to avoid reusing passwords across different accounts or services. This is also an ideal time to review and update MFA settings and strengthen your passwords.
4. Provide Phishing Awareness Training: Conduct regular training sessions on identifying phishing attempts. Since attackers may have gathered information to craft convincing phishing emails, it’s more important than ever that your employees know what to look for.
5. Verify Financial Transactions: Review your procedures for authorizing financial transactions, ensuring multiple levels of approval are in place. If your organization has cyber insurance, now is a good time to check with your agent about any required actions following a breach.
6. Review and Remove Suspicious Email Rules: Attackers often set up auto-forwarding rules or create filters to hide their tracks. Carefully review all accounts for unauthorized rules and remove any suspicious configurations immediately.
7. Create or Update Your Incident Response Plan: If you don’t have a formal incident response plan, it’s time to create one. This plan should include steps for internal and external communications, containment strategies, and post-incident follow-up actions.
8. Check Data Integrity: Review any sensitive data that may have been exposed during the breach, including customer information, financial records, and proprietary documents.
9. Consult Legal Counsel for Compliance: Depending on the type of data compromised, there may be legal or regulatory requirements for notifying affected parties. Consult with your legal team to ensure all compliance obligations are met.
10. Ongoing Communication and Monitoring: Cybersecurity is not a one-time fix. Regular updates, ongoing monitoring, and a proactive security strategy are key to staying protected.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

No one likes to think about worst-case scenarios, but preparing for them is essential in today’s digital world. At CDML Computer Services, we specialize in helping businesses like yours create comprehensive disaster recovery (DR) and incident response (IR) plans, evaluate the security status of your systems, and deliver effective employee security training. Don’t leave your organization exposed—partner with us to build resilience against cyber threats and safeguard your business.

If you’d like more information on how we can help, or if you’re ready to start securing your systems, contact us today.