Securing your Dynamics 365 infrastructure keeps your business safe from real dangers. Last year, seventy-four percent of companies had at least one time when private business data was leaked.
You face risks like:
Many companies have trouble with role-based access that does not fit what the industry needs. As you read, look at what you do now and find places where you can get better right away.
Key Takeaways
Set up multi-factor authentication for every user. This makes security stronger and stops people who should not get in.
Give users only the access they need for their jobs. This lowers possible risks and keeps things safer.
Check and change user roles and permissions often. Make sure they match what the business needs now and follow security rules.
Use Azure Bastion to keep DEV VMs safe. This stops public access and helps prevent cyberattacks.
Make Data Loss Prevention rules to control how data is shared. This stops leaks and keeps important information safe.
Access Control for Dynamics 365 Infrastructure
Multi-Factor Authentication
You make your Dynamics 365 infrastructure safer by using multi-factor authentication for everyone. MFA adds another step to logging in. This makes it harder for bad people to get in. Use Entra ID to set up Conditional Access rules. These rules ask users in special roles to prove who they are with more than a password. You can turn on MFA for all users or just those with more power.
Tip: Turn on MFA for everyone, not only for admins. This helps stop accounts from getting stolen in your company.
Role-Based Access
You decide who can do certain jobs in your Dynamics 365 infrastructure by making clear roles. Give out roles like author, QA, and operator to help with work steps. Figure out what each role should be able to do.
Name roles for what they really do, like 'Marketing Campaign Editor' or 'Outbound Sales Development'.
Give people more small roles instead of big ones.
Change what people can do with tables and entities. For example, a Support Agent can make and change cases but only look at company records.
Principle of Least Privilege
You keep important data safe by only giving people the access they need.
How to review and update user roles and permissions:
Look at security roles you have before making new ones.
Name roles so people know what they mean.
Give out small, controlled roles.
Mix access levels to change what people see.
Check roles often to make sure they follow the rules.
Secure Azure Resources
Protect DEV VMs
You must keep your DEV VMs safe. Attackers like to go after these machines. DEV VMs can have important data and code. Use Azure Bastion to connect to DEV VMs. This tool lets you use RDP and SSH safely. Your VMs do not need to be on the public internet. This lowers your chance of cyberattacks.
Tip: Scan your DEV VMs with Microsoft Defender. It helps you find and fix problems before attackers do.
Manage SaaS Connections
You need to control how SaaS services connect. Unchecked connections can leak data or let in people who should not have access. Always use special service accounts for integrations. Set up single sign-on and multi-factor authentication for every connection. Look at permissions for each SaaS integration. Remove any permissions you do not need.
Weak MFA or shared accounts can make your system unsafe.
Wrong settings can let attackers in, like in real breaches.
Note: Check third-party tools and integrations often. Make sure they follow your security rules.
Client Secret Expiry
You keep your environment safe by watching client secrets. Microsoft says to change secrets every six months. Never let a secret last more than two years. Set reminders to update secrets before they expire. This stops attackers from using old secrets to get in.
Change secrets every six months.
Do not let secrets last more than two years.
Watch export options to stop data leaks.
Callout: Update secrets often and check export settings. This helps you stay safe from threats.
Data Protection
Encryption with Azure Key Vault
You keep your data safe by using Azure Key Vault. This tool stores encryption keys and secrets in a secure spot. You can use Power Platform Administration Center to handle database encryption keys for Dynamics 365. It works with PFX and BYOK key files. You can put these keys in a Hardware Security Module (HSM). Azure Key Vault makes it easier to manage keys. It helps keep secrets safe from danger.
Tip: Change your encryption keys often. This helps protect your data if someone finds old keys.
Data Loss Prevention
You must stop data from leaking out. Microsoft uses encryption to keep your data safe in SQL Server and Azure Storage. D365 for Finance & Supply Chain Management uses special keys for server-side encryption. You can use the Global X++ class to add more encryption for important data.
You decide who can see or change data by setting user rights. Only trusted people should see important things like transactions, sales, and payments.
Export Controls
You must control how data leaves Dynamics 365. Set up Data Loss Prevention (DLP) rules to manage sharing and moving data. Block or separate connectors that are not for business in default places. Stop risky actions like HTTP requests to important sites. Use endpoint filtering and IP firewalls to allow only approved endpoints.
Use DLP rules to control data sharing.
Block connectors not for business.
Stop risky actions.
Use endpoint filtering and IP firewalls.
Pick allowed IP addresses for HTTP triggers.
Set up tenant isolation to block unwanted data movement.
You can watch export options to stop leaks. Use column-level security to hide important fields. Make masking rules so only approved users see full data. Control which apps can run to block exports you do not want.
Threat Monitoring
Audit Logging in Dynamics 365 Infrastructure
You should keep track of everything people do in your Dynamics 365 infrastructure. Turn on audit logs for all important things and user actions. Audit logs show who looked at data, changed settings, or tried to export something. Use a data connector to collect log and security information from your system. This helps you know what is happening in your environment.
Tip: Check audit logs every week. Watch for strange things, like big exports or changes to admin roles.
Real-Time Alerts
Set up real-time alerts to find threats right away. Analytic rules can spot risky things, like changes to encryption or new admin accounts. You can use workbooks to see these alerts and find patterns fast. Hunting queries run in the background and look for odd actions, like failed logins before someone gets data.
Make alerts for:
Big data exports
New admin roles
Changes to encryption keys
When you get an alert, act quickly. Look into what happened and stop any threat.
Security Audits
You need to do regular security audits to keep your system safe. Audits help you find weak spots and fix them before bad people do. Use workbooks to check data sources and see how users use your system. Check analytic rules and hunting queries to make sure they find new risks.
Note: Do audits every three months. Update your tools to watch for new threats.
System Maintenance
Patch Management
You keep your Dynamics 365 infrastructure safe by updating patches. Install operating system security updates right away. Add Microsoft quality updates as soon as you can. Put in security hotfixes when they come out. Do not wait for a set time to update. Always install patches when vendors release them. If there is a big problem, fix it fast.
🛡️ Tip: Make a monthly update plan. Watch for urgent patches that need quick action.
Key patch management tasks include:
Install operating system security updates.
Add Microsoft quality updates.
Put in security hotfixes quickly.
You lower risk by keeping systems updated. Attackers go after systems with missing patches.
Remove Unused Accounts
Unused accounts are called "stale" accounts. These accounts can be risky. Attackers look for stale accounts. They may use default passwords and are not watched. You should check all user accounts often in your Dynamics 365 environment.
You make your security stronger by checking system settings often. Look at your data rules to stop sharing sensitive info by mistake. Make sure all settings fit your company’s security rules.
How to perform configuration reviews:
Check who can access and change things.
Review how data is shared and exported.
Make sure security roles are current.
Regular reviews help you find weak spots before attackers do. Stay alert and keep your Dynamics 365 infrastructure safe.
You keep your Dynamics 365 infrastructure safe by staying alert. Review your security steps often. If you make security part of your daily routine, you get good results for a long time:
Look at your security steps and make them better often.
Pay attention to things like strong access control, following rules, and making security important for everyone. Start now to keep your business safe and strong.
FAQ
How often should you review user roles in Dynamics 365?
Check user roles every three months. This helps you find extra permissions. Remove access people do not need anymore. Regular checks keep your system safe.
What is the best way to secure DEV VMs in Azure?
Use Azure Bastion for safe RDP and SSH. Do not give public IP addresses to DEV VMs. Scan your VMs with Microsoft Defender to find risks and fix them.
How do you handle expired client secrets?
Set reminders to update secrets before they expire. Put new secrets in Azure Key Vault. Remove secrets you do not use to lower risk.
What steps help prevent data leaks from Dynamics 365?
Set up Data Loss Prevention rules. Block connectors that are risky. Control export options. Use column-level security to hide sensitive fields from users who do not need them.
Why should you remove unused accounts quickly?
Unused accounts make it easy for attackers to get in. Delete or turn off these accounts fast. This lowers your risk and keeps your environment safe.
