Configure policies for Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
5 minutes
5 Questions
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps policies are essential components for monitoring and protecting your cloud environment. These policies enable security analysts to detect risky behaviors, violations, and suspicious activities across cloud applications.
To configure policies, navigate to the Micro…Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps policies are essential components for monitoring and protecting your cloud environment. These policies enable security analysts to detect risky behaviors, violations, and suspicious activities across cloud applications.
To configure policies, navigate to the Microsoft Defender portal and access the Cloud Apps section. There are several policy types available:
**Activity Policies** monitor user activities and trigger alerts based on specific actions. You can create rules that detect unusual login patterns, mass file downloads, or administrative activities from unexpected locations.
**File Policies** scan content across connected cloud apps for sensitive data, malware, or compliance violations. These policies can identify files containing personal information, financial data, or confidential documents shared externally.
**App Discovery Policies** help identify new cloud applications being used within your organization. This shadow IT discovery enables you to track unsanctioned app usage and assess associated risks.
**Session Policies** provide real-time monitoring and control during user sessions. These policies can block downloads, require step-up authentication, or apply protection labels to files during active sessions.
**OAuth App Policies** monitor third-party applications with OAuth permissions to your environment, helping identify potentially malicious or overprivileged apps.
When creating policies, you define filters such as user groups, IP addresses, device types, and specific applications. You also configure governance actions that automatically respond to policy matches, including sending alerts, suspending users, or requiring password resets.
Best practices include starting with built-in policy templates that address common scenarios, then customizing thresholds to reduce false positives. Regular policy review ensures alignment with organizational security requirements. Integration with Microsoft Sentinel enhances investigation capabilities by correlating Cloud Apps alerts with other security data sources.
Proper policy configuration establishes a robust framework for detecting threats and enforcing security controls across your cloud application landscape.
Configure Policies for Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Why It Is Important
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps policies are essential for maintaining security governance across your organization's cloud environment. They enable security operations analysts to detect threats, enforce compliance, monitor user behavior, and protect sensitive data across SaaS applications. Properly configured policies help organizations identify risky activities, prevent data exfiltration, and maintain regulatory compliance.
What It Is
Policies in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps are rule-based mechanisms that define what activities or conditions should trigger alerts, governance actions, or automated responses. There are several policy types:
Activity Policies - Monitor specific user or admin activities across connected apps Anomaly Detection Policies - Use built-in machine learning to detect unusual behavior App Discovery Policies - Alert when new cloud apps are discovered in your environment File Policies - Scan and protect files containing sensitive information Session Policies - Real-time monitoring and control of user sessions Access Policies - Control access to cloud apps based on conditions OAuth App Policies - Monitor third-party OAuth applications connected to your environment
How It Works
1. Navigate to the Policies Section - Access the Microsoft Defender Portal and go to Cloud Apps > Policies > Policy management
2. Create a New Policy - Select the appropriate policy type based on your security objective
3. Define Filters - Set conditions such as user groups, IP addresses, locations, applications, or specific activities
4. Configure Alerts - Specify severity levels and notification settings for when policies are triggered
5. Set Governance Actions - Define automated responses such as suspending users, requiring step-up authentication, or applying labels
6. Test and Monitor - Review policy matches and fine-tune as needed to reduce false positives
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Configure Policies for Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
1. Know the Policy Types - Understand when to use each policy type. Activity policies are for specific actions, while anomaly detection policies leverage machine learning for behavioral analysis.
2. Understand Governance Actions - Know which governance actions are available for different policy types and connected apps. Not all actions apply to all scenarios.
3. Remember Policy Precedence - When multiple policies match, understand how they interact and which alerts or actions take effect.
4. Focus on File Policies - Questions often cover DLP scenarios where file policies scan for sensitive content using content inspection or metadata.
5. Session and Access Policies Require Conditional Access App Control - These policies only work when apps are deployed with Conditional Access App Control through Azure AD.
6. Anomaly Detection Is Built-In - Remember that anomaly detection policies come pre-configured and can be customized but not created from scratch.
7. Read Scenarios Carefully - Exam questions often present scenarios requiring you to select the most appropriate policy type for a specific security requirement.
8. Practice Portal Navigation - Familiarity with where settings are located helps with scenario-based questions about configuration steps.