Microsoft Cybersecurity Reference Architecture
This architecture visualizes how all Microsoft security components integrate to provide comprehensive protection across identity, devices, applications, data, and infrastructure.
graph TD
subgraph A [Identity & Access Management]
A1[Azure Active Directory]
A2[Conditional Access]
A3[Privileged Identity Management]
A4[Identity Protection]
end
subgraph B [Threat Protection]
B1[Microsoft Defender XDR]
B2[Defender for Endpoint]
B3[Defender for Office 365]
B4[Defender for Identity]
B5[Defender for Cloud Apps]
end
subgraph C [Information Protection]
C1[Microsoft Purview]
C2[Data Loss Prevention]
C3[Information Barriers]
C4[Double Key Encryption]
end
subgraph D [Security Management]
D1[Microsoft 365 Defender]
D2[Azure Sentinel]
D3[Defender for Cloud]
D4[Security Score]
end
subgraph E [Compliance Management]
E1[Compliance Manager]
E2[Audit]
E3[eDiscovery]
E4[Communication Compliance]
end
A --> B
B --> C
C --> D
D --> E
A --> D
B --> D
C --> D
style A fill:#e3f2fd,stroke:#1976d2,stroke-width:2px
style B fill:#e8f5e8,stroke:#388e3c,stroke-width:2px
style C fill:#fce4ec,stroke:#c2185b,stroke-width:2px
style D fill:#fff3e0,stroke:#f57c00,stroke-width:2px
style E fill:#e8eaf6,stroke:#3f51b5,stroke-width:2px
🛡️
Zero Trust Foundation
Verify explicitly, use least privilege access, and assume breach across all security pillars.
🔗
Integrated Signals
All components share telemetry and correlate alerts for unified incident response.
⚡
Automated Response
Native automation and SOAR capabilities reduce response time from hours to seconds.
Practical Implementation Roadmap
This 12-week implementation plan follows Microsoft's security adoption framework with practical, actionable steps.
Objective: Establish identity and device management foundation
- 1Configure Azure AD Connect for hybrid identity
- 2Enable security defaults or Conditional Access policies
- 3Set up Intune for mobile device management
- 4Deploy Azure AD Privileged Identity Management
- 5Configure basic security baselines in Intune
Objective: Deploy critical threat protection capabilities
- 1Deploy Defender for Endpoint to all workstations
- 2Enable Defender for Office 365 protections
- 3Install Defender for Identity sensors on domain controllers
- 4Configure Microsoft 365 Defender portal
- 5Set up basic Automated Investigation & Response
Objective: Establish security operations and monitoring
- 1Deploy Azure Sentinel workspace
- 2Connect all Microsoft 365 Defender data
- 3Create critical analytics rules in Sentinel
- 4Build SOC operational dashboards
- 5Develop incident response playbooks
Objective: Implement advanced security and compliance controls
- 1Deploy Microsoft Purview information protection
- 2Configure Data Loss Prevention policies
- 3Enable Defender for Cloud Apps
- 4Implement compliance management baselines
- 5Conduct security posture assessment
Microsoft Security Product Ecosystem
Detailed overview of each component in the Microsoft security stack and their integration points.
🔐
Microsoft Defender XDR
Unified cross-domain security operations platform that correlates signals from endpoints, identity, email, and cloud apps.
Key Capabilities: Automated investigation, advanced hunting, cross-domain correlation
Integration: Native connection to all Defender products, Sentinel, and Intune
🖥️
Microsoft Intune
Cloud-based endpoint management for deployment, configuration, and compliance enforcement.
Key Capabilities: Device compliance, application management, conditional access enforcement
Integration: Azure AD, Defender for Endpoint, Configuration Manager
📊
Azure Sentinel
Cloud-native SIEM with built-in SOAR capabilities for security analytics and automation.
Key Capabilities: Security analytics, threat intelligence, automated response
Integration: All Microsoft security products, 100+ third-party connectors
📧
Microsoft Purview
Unified data governance and compliance platform for data protection and risk management.
Key Capabilities: Data classification, loss prevention, information protection
Integration: Defender XDR, Office 365, Azure services
Security Automation & KQL Examples
Practical Kusto Query Language examples for threat detection and automated response playbooks.
Critical Detection Rules
// 1. Ransomware Behavior Detection
SecurityAlert
| where TimeGenerated >= ago(1h)
| where AlertName has "Ransomware"
| extend EntityComputer = CompromisedEntity
| project TimeGenerated, AlertName, EntityComputer, Severity
// 2. Credential Phishing Campaign
EmailEvents
| where TimeGenerated >= ago(24h)
| where ThreatTypes has "Phish"
| where DeliveryAction == "Delivered"
| summarize PhishCount = count() by SenderFromDomain, Subject
| where PhishCount > 5
// 3. Lateral Movement Detection
SecurityEvent
| where EventID == 4624
| where LogonType in (3, 10)
| summarize UniqueComputers = dcount(Computer) by Account, bin(TimeGenerated, 1h)
| where UniqueComputers > 3
Automated Response Playbooks
Phishing Response Automation
- Quarantine malicious emails
- Block sender domains and URLs
- Force password reset for clicked users
- Create Service Now ticket
Ransomware Containment
- Isolate compromised devices
- Disable affected user accounts
- Block malicious process hashes
- Alert security team via Teams
Top 10 Security Risks & Mitigation
Critical security risks and how the Microsoft stack provides permanent solutions.
Credential Theft
Azure AD Identity Protection + Conditional Access + MFA
Ransomware
Defender for Endpoint + Attack Surface Reduction + Controlled Folder Access
Phishing Attacks
Defender for Office 365 + Safe Links + Safe Attachments
Insider Threats
Purview Information Protection + Communication Compliance + Insider Risk Management
Data Exfiltration
Data Loss Prevention + Microsoft Cloud App Security + Information Barriers
Misconfigured Cloud Resources
Defender for Cloud + Security Benchmark assessments
Compliance Violations
Compliance Manager + Audit + eDiscovery
Supply Chain Attacks
App Governance + Tenant Restrictions + Cloud App Security
Risk Reduction Metrics