The Microsoft 365 Procrastination Problem
Running a busy company has a never ending list of tasks. That goes double for M365 optimization, it can be difficult to actually optimize your M365 processes when you have urgent fires to put out constantly. Intero’s professionals can help with this, optimizing your business for M365.
Why "Next Week" Never Comes for M365 Security
"I'll get to the Microsoft 365 security optimization next week." Sound familiar? If you're an IT manager or business owner, you've probably said this exact phrase more times than you care to admit. The problem is, next week never comes, and your M365 environment continues running on hope and default settings.
The Urgent vs. Important Trap
Microsoft 365 security optimization falls squarely into the "important but not urgent" category—until it becomes both urgent and expensive. Here's why it keeps getting pushed to the back burner:
What Feels Urgent:
User can't access their email
Printer is offline
Software needs updating
New employee needs computer setup
Server is running slowly
What Is Actually Critical:
M365 security configuration
User access reviews
Data loss prevention policies
Compliance monitoring
Security alert analysis
The urgent tasks scream for attention, while the important ones whisper. Unfortunately, ignoring the whispers often leads to much louder problems later.
The Default Settings Danger
While you're busy fighting fires, your Microsoft 365 environment is running on configurations that prioritize convenience over security:
Default External Sharing Settings:
Anyone links enabled for SharePoint and OneDrive
Guest access allowed without restrictions
No expiration dates on sharing links
Minimal oversight of what's being shared
Basic Authentication Still Enabled:
Legacy protocols remain accessible
Weak authentication methods accepted
No conditional access policies enforced
Passwords never expire
Minimal Monitoring:
No alerts for suspicious activities
Data exfiltration going unnoticed
Privileged account activities unmonitored
No baseline for normal user behaviour
The Productivity Paradox
Here's the cruel irony: the urgent tasks that prevent you from optimizing M365 security often create more urgent tasks. Poor security leads to:
More malware infections to clean up
More account compromises to investigate
More data breach incidents to manage
More compliance violations to address
More user productivity issues from security incidents
The Time Investment Reality
Let's be honest about what proper M365 security management requires:
Initial Setup and Optimization:
40-60 hours for comprehensive security configuration
20-30 hours for policy development and testing
10-15 hours for user training and communication
Ongoing monthly maintenance: 8-12 hours
Monthly Ongoing Tasks:
Security posture reviews
User access audits
Policy adjustments based on usage patterns
Threat intelligence analysis
Compliance reporting
That's 10-15 hours per month that your already overwhelmed IT team doesn't have.
The Cost of Procrastination
Every month you delay M365 security optimization, you're accumulating risk:
Increased vulnerability to cyber attacks
Greater potential for data breaches
Higher likelihood of compliance violations
More expensive remediation when issues occur
Reduced user productivity due to security incidents
Breaking the Procrastination Cycle
The solution isn't finding more time—it's finding the right resources. Successful businesses break the cycle by:
Recognizing the Expertise Gap: Admitting that M365 security requires specialized knowledge and dedicated time.
Outsourcing the Specialized Work: Partnering with M365 specialists who can handle security optimization while internal IT handles day-to-day operations.
Implementing Proactive Management: Moving from reactive "fix it when it breaks" to proactive "prevent it from breaking."
Creating Accountability: Establishing regular checkpoints and reviews to ensure security tasks don't get pushed aside.
The "Next Week" Solution
Stop waiting for next week. Your Microsoft 365 environment needs consistent, focused attention from someone who isn't juggling help desk tickets and server maintenance.
Ready to break the procrastination cycle? Let our M365 specialists handle your security optimization while you focus on keeping the business running.
