I recently attended the ESPC Conference, and one of the most impactful sessions for me was:
“Automating M365 Governance – Best Practices to Ensure Compliance.”
As Head of Cloud Services, M365 governance is a topic close to my heart. The session reinforced that governance in Microsoft 365 isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s about creating a structured, automated, and auditable approach that scales with your organisation.
Key Takeaways from the Session
Why Governance Matters
Governance in Microsoft 365 is about creating a robust framework of policies, processes, roles, and responsibilities to ensure the secure, efficient, and compliant use of M365 services. It involves defining a company-specific governance model aligned with organisational guidelines, establishing technical standards for configuration and administration, and implementing tools that support transparency, security, and auditability. Successful governance is not a one-time effort but a continuous cycle of monitoring, reporting, discussing, and adjusting to maintain alignment with evolving business and compliance needs.
Start with a Framework
Effective governance begins with established frameworks. These provide the baseline for configuration and compliance. Two key references highlighted were:
- CIS Benchmarks – Industry-recognised standards for securing systems and services.
How Frontline can help with our M365 Align Service
The session’s best practices align perfectly with what we deliver through Frontline’s M365 Align service:
- Annual Policy Review & Reporting
We perform a comprehensive review of your Microsoft 365 environment against industry best practices, including CIS Foundations for M365. You receive pre- and post-assessment reports for full visibility. - Implementation of Security Controls
Our team applies security controls across Microsoft Entra, Intune, Defender, Teams, Exchange Online, SharePoint, and the M365 Admin Centre—ensuring your tenant remains aligned with the latest standards. - Configuration Drift Management
We monitor and troubleshoot configuration drift caused by human interaction, helping maintain compliance over time.
In short, M365 Align operationalises the principles discussed at ESPC, giving you a structured, automated, and auditable governance model without the complexity.
Talk to us today – Book a call – Frontline Consultancy and Business Services Ltd
Article Written by Anthony Roberts – Head of Cloud Services
