Microsoft 365 Audit: 7 Common Configuration Mistakes in SMEs

Microsoft 365 is now a core business platform for many SMEs. However, many environments are deployed quickly without a proper governance or security review.

1. Missing or incomplete MFA

The lack of multi-factor authentication remains one of the leading causes of account compromise.

2. Too many administrator accounts

Excessive privileges significantly increase the attack surface.

3. Weak external sharing controls

SharePoint and OneDrive can expose sensitive information when sharing policies are poorly configured.

4. Incomplete SPF, DKIM and DMARC

Poor email configuration impacts deliverability and increases spoofing risks.

5. Incorrect license allocation

Many SMEs pay for unused licenses or fail to activate included protections.

6. No Microsoft 365 backup strategy

Microsoft 365 still requires proper business backup processes.

7. Uncontrolled shadow IT

Third-party applications and unmanaged integrations often create invisible risks.