As of 2023, Microsoft Office 365 is utilized by over a million companies globally, according to a recent Statista report. It has become an indispensable tool for organizations as they adapt to hybrid workforces and a global economy, leveraging its collaborative power and the need for a robust data protection strategy. At the core of Microsoft 365’s security framework lies the Shared Responsibility Model, delineating the responsibilities of Microsoft and organizations using their services.

As we kick off the new year, we're excited to look back on all that we learned in 2023. This past year saw some momentous advancements, including the large-scale adoption of generative AI (GenAI). However, it also saw some devastating data breaches. According to IBM’s latest “Cost of a Data Breach” report, 95% of studied companies experienced a breach in 2023.

Over the past two decades, as organizations have increasingly strived to integrate security into their development processes, the role of Security Champions has evolved from an informal position to one of strategic importance. They are now responsible for prioritizing security in their projects, leveraging powerful tools like Static Application Security Testing (SAST) to achieve this goal.