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Enterprise Security Architecture

Microsoft Security Reference Architecture

Make risk visible across identity, endpoint, data and AI

Modern enterprise security requires an integrated platform approach. Identity, device, endpoint, email, data, AI and security operations controls should work as one architecture with measurable evidence, exception handling and response ownership.

IdentityEndpointDataSOC
Conditional AccessDefender XDRPurview
Security Control PlaneZero Trust to operations
01IdentityEntra ID, MFA, Conditional Access and risk-based policies.02DeviceIntune compliance, configuration, application and platform controls.03DefenderEndpoint, email, XDR, vulnerability and incident response.04PurviewLabels, DLP, audit, insider risk and Copilot data protection.
Architecture ruleSecurity architecture should prove which risks are reduced, which controls enforce them and who operates the response when controls trigger.

Executive Summary​

Modern enterprise security requires an integrated platform approach rather than isolated security products.

Microsoft Security provides a unified architecture across Identity, Endpoint, Application, Data, AI, and Security Operations.

This document presents an enterprise security reference architecture used for Microsoft 365, Azure, Security, Copilot and AI transformation projects.

Security Vision​

Business Objectives​

Organizations must achieve:

  • Secure Hybrid Work
  • Zero Trust Security
  • Data Protection
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • AI Governance
  • Operational Resilience

Security Reference Architecture​

Reference ArchitectureUser access to detection and response
01UserWorkforce, admin, guest, partner and service identities.
02Entra IDAuthentication, Conditional Access, identity governance and risk signals.
03IntuneDevice compliance, configuration, app protection and platform baselines.
04Defender & PurviewEndpoint, email, data protection, DLP, audit and insider risk controls.
05Copilot SecurityPermission boundary, data protection, prompt behavior and AI governance.
06SOCDefender XDR, Sentinel, triage, incident response and evidence.

Security Domains​

DomainPlatform
IdentityMicrosoft Entra ID
EndpointIntune
Threat ProtectionMicrosoft Defender
Data ProtectionMicrosoft Purview
AI SecurityMicrosoft Copilot
MonitoringDefender XDR
SIEMMicrosoft Sentinel
Access ControlConditional Access
Network AccessGlobal Secure Access

Identity Security​

Identity is the primary security perimeter.

Core Services​

Microsoft Entra ID​

Provides:

  • Authentication
  • Authorization
  • SSO
  • Identity Governance

Key Controls​

MFA​

Required

Passwordless Authentication​

Recommended

Conditional Access​

Required

Risk-Based Policies​

Required

Device Security​

Microsoft Intune​

Provides:

  • Device Enrollment
  • Configuration Management
  • Compliance Validation
  • Application Management

Managed Device Requirements​

Windows

  • BitLocker
  • Defender Active
  • Current Patch Level

macOS

  • Defender Active
  • Encryption Enabled

Mobile

  • Passcode
  • Encryption
  • Compliance Policy

Endpoint Protection​

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint​

Provides:

  • EDR
  • Vulnerability Management
  • Threat Hunting
  • Device Risk Assessment

Security Objectives​

Detect:

  • Malware
  • Ransomware
  • Lateral Movement
  • Credential Theft

Respond:

  • Isolation
  • Investigation
  • Remediation

Email Security​

Microsoft Defender for Office 365​

Protects:

  • Exchange Online
  • Teams Links
  • OneDrive Links
  • SharePoint Links

Security Features​

  • Safe Links
  • Safe Attachments
  • Anti-Phishing
  • Impersonation Protection

Data Protection​

Microsoft Purview​

Protects enterprise information.

Core Components​

Sensitivity Labels​

Classification

Encryption​

Protection

DLP​

Prevention

Insider Risk​

Monitoring

Audit​

Investigation

Information Classification Model​

ClassificationExample
PublicMarketing Content
InternalInternal Documents
ConfidentialCustomer Data
Highly ConfidentialFinancial Data

Copilot Security Architecture​

Security Principle​

Copilot does not create permissions.

Copilot uses existing permissions.

Data Sources​

  • SharePoint Online
  • OneDrive
  • Teams
  • Exchange Online
  • Loop
  • Microsoft Graph

Security Controls​

Identity​

  • MFA
  • Conditional Access

Data​

  • Sensitivity Labels
  • DLP

Monitoring​

  • Audit
  • Defender XDR

Governance​

  • Copilot Readiness Assessment

Copilot Risk Areas​

Oversharing​

Cause:

Excessive Permissions

Legacy SharePoint Access​

Cause:

Historical Permission Design

Sensitive Information Exposure​

Cause:

Missing Classification

Conditional Access Architecture​

Core Policies​

MFA​

All Users

Compliant Device​

Microsoft 365 Access

Risk Protection​

High Risk Users

Administrative Protection​

Privileged Accounts

Business Outcome​

Verify every access request before granting access.

Global Secure Access​

Purpose​

Extend Zero Trust beyond traditional network boundaries.

Use Cases​

  • Tenant Restriction
  • Internet Access Control
  • SaaS Access Control
  • Microsoft Traffic Protection

Integration​

Secure access integrationUser access through identity and network controls
01User and device contextUser, location, device compliance, session risk and app sensitivity are evaluated together.
02Global Secure AccessInternet, private and Microsoft traffic can be routed through controlled access policy.
03Microsoft Entra IDConditional Access, MFA, risk signals and session controls decide access posture.
04Microsoft 365 workloadExchange, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive and Copilot receive governed access.

Security Operations​

Microsoft Defender XDR​

Correlates signals from:

  • Identity
  • Endpoint
  • Email
  • Data
  • Cloud Apps

Microsoft Sentinel​

Provides:

  • SIEM
  • SOAR
  • Threat Hunting
  • Incident Management

Incident Response Framework​

Incident response frameworkDetect, contain, recover, improve
01Detect and investigateCorrelate Defender XDR and Sentinel signals, validate scope and identify affected users or devices.
02ContainDisable risky sessions, isolate devices, block malicious artifacts and protect privileged accounts.
03Remediate and recoverRemove persistence, restore configuration, validate business service recovery and document evidence.
04Review and improveUpdate policies, playbooks, detections, training and executive risk reporting.

Identity​

  • MFA
  • Conditional Access
  • PIM

Endpoint​

  • Defender for Endpoint
  • Intune Compliance

Data​

  • Sensitivity Labels
  • DLP

AI​

  • Copilot Readiness
  • Permission Review

Monitoring​

  • Defender XDR
  • Sentinel

Security Maturity Model​

LevelDescription
Level 1Basic Security
Level 2Managed Security
Level 3Zero Trust
Level 4Automated Response
Level 5AI-Driven Security

Key Metrics​

KPITarget
MFA Adoption100%
Compliant Devices>95%
DLP Coverage100%
Critical AlertsMonitored
Copilot ReadinessCompleted

Deliverables​

  • Security Assessment
  • Security Architecture Design
  • Conditional Access Matrix
  • Intune Design
  • Defender Design
  • Purview Design
  • Copilot Security Assessment
  • Global Secure Access Design
  • Security Operations Framework
  • Zero Trust Framework
  • Conditional Access
  • Defender for Endpoint
  • Defender XDR
  • Purview
  • DLP
  • Insider Risk
  • Copilot Readiness

검색 키워드​

  • Microsoft security architecture
  • Zero Trust
  • Microsoft Defender
  • Microsoft Purview
  • Conditional Access
  • Microsoft 365 보안
  • 보안 아키텍처

Contact / Asset Request​

For security baseline workbooks, control matrices, exception registers, executive security reports or operations handover templates, use Contact and Asset Request.