How to Raise Your Microsoft Secure Score

What Secure Score is

Microsoft Secure Score is a measure of your organization's security posture within Microsoft 365. It evaluates configurations and behaviors across identity, devices, apps and data, assigning points for each recommended improvement action. The higher the score, the more protective controls you have active.

The value of Secure Score lies not in the absolute number but in offering a prioritized roadmap of improvements and a way to track progress over time.

How the score is calculated

Each recommendation is worth a number of points proportional to its security impact and implementation effort. Actions are distributed across categories:

• Identity: protection of accounts and Entra ID.
• Devices: endpoint configurations via Defender and Intune.
• Apps: security of email, collaboration and cloud apps.
• Data: information protection with Purview.

The dashboard shows points achieved, points possible and a comparison with similar organizations, helping to contextualize the result.

Prioritize impact over volume

The most common mistake is chasing easily available points without considering real risk. The correct approach is to prioritize high-impact actions that close frequent attack vectors.

A 90-day plan

Raising Secure Score sustainably works best as a phased program rather than a one-off sprint.

1. Weeks 1 to 2: baseline. Record the current score, export the recommendations and rank them by impact and effort.
2. Weeks 3 to 6: identity quick wins. Implement MFA, block legacy authentication and enable essential Conditional Access policies.
3. Weeks 7 to 10: endpoints. Apply security baselines, tamper protection and ASR rules via Intune.
4. Weeks 11 to 13: data and email. Configure advanced anti-phishing protection and initial information protection policies.

At the end of the cycle, reassess and define the next set of actions.

Beware of user impact

Not every recommendation should be applied blindly. Some actions affect the user experience and should be communicated and tested. For example, requiring MFA without a prior registration campaign creates friction. Evaluate each recommendation considering:

• The risk it mitigates.
• The impact on productivity.
• The need for communication and training.
• The possibility of phased rollout.

Continuous tracking

Secure Score is not a target to hit and forget. New capabilities emerge, the environment changes and threats evolve. Establish a monthly review cadence, track the trend and treat unexpected drops as a signal to investigate. The goal is a consistent upward trajectory aligned with the business's risk objectives.

Improvement checklist

• Current score recorded as a baseline.
• Recommendations ranked by impact and effort.
• MFA and legacy authentication blocking implemented.
• Essential Conditional Access policies active.
• Endpoint baselines applied via Intune.
• Monthly review cadence established.

RHC, a Microsoft CSP provider, helps interpret Secure Score and execute a prioritized plan that raises security posture without compromising productivity.