Cybersecurity is a major challenge for businesses, particularly in Africa, where threats are evolving rapidly and regulations are becoming increasingly strict. Microsoft Purview stands out as an essential solution for ensuring effective data governance, detecting cyberattacks, and guaranteeing compliance with standards such as GDPR and the NIS 2 directive.
In this article, we will explore how Microsoft Purview enables you to protect your sensitive data and anticipate cyber risks in real time, with a focus on concrete applications tailored to African enterprises.
Map your sensitive data in real time
The first step to securing your data is to know exactly where it is located and how it is used. Through Microsoft Purview's advanced classification capabilities, it is possible to automatically map and identify sensitive data stored on your servers, in the cloud or even on remote endpoints.
How does it work?
- • Microsoft Purview analyse vos documents et courriels pour identifier les informations personnelles (PII), les données financières et les secrets commerciaux.
- • Il applique des étiquettes de classification automatique, garantissant que seules les personnes autorisées y ont accès.
- • L’outil surveille en continu l’utilisation de ces données et détecte tout comportement anormal ou accès suspect.
An African bank used Microsoft Purview to discover that a large portion of customer data was stored without adequate protection. Through automatic classification, this data was secured instantly.
Detect a phishing attack in 5 minutes flat using Microsoft AI
Phishing remains one of cybercriminals' preferred methods for infiltrating corporate systems. With Microsoft Purview, you can detect an attack attempt in just 5 minutes, thanks to artificial intelligence and advanced alerting mechanisms.
Alert signals analysed by AI:
- • Tentatives de connexion suspectes provenant d’un pays inhabituel.
- • Envoi massif d’e-mails contenant des liens malveillants.
- • Téléchargement rapide et suspect d’un grand volume de données.
A Togolese company received a fraudulent email purporting to come from senior management. Microsoft Purview immediately detected that the sender's IP address originated from a compromised server in Eastern Europe. The result? The email was blocked before reaching its recipients, preventing a potential data breach.
Avoid GDPR/NIS 2 fines with automated reports
Data protection regulations are becoming increasingly stringent, and penalties for non-compliance can reach billions of CFA Francs.
Microsoft Purview helps businesses avoid these fines by generating automated reports and facilitating compliance audits.
Key compliance features:
- Compliance dashboards: enable real-time monitoring of the company's compliance level.
- GDPR request management: simplifies the handling of requests for access to or deletion of personal data.
- • Audit et traçabilité : chaque accès aux données est journalisé, garantissant une transparence totale en cas d’enquête.
An African telecom operator avoided a fine thanks to the automatic generation of reports detailing access to customer data, thereby proving its compliance to regulators.
Neutralising a data breach
One of the greatest challenges for African companies is the management of data leaks. A simple misdirected email or a malicious employee can compromise sensitive information. Microsoft Purview enables these risks to be anticipated and action to be taken in real time to prevent disasters.
A financial services company in West Africa was the victim of a data theft orchestrated by a departing employee. Through sensitive data protection rules, Microsoft Purview detected that this employee was attempting to send a file containing confidential information to an external address. The action was immediately blocked and an alert was sent to the security team.
To explore these critical issues further, we recently organised an exclusive webinar on the theme: "Microsoft Purview: Protect your sensitive data and manage cyber risks in real time". During this session, our expert unveiled concrete strategies to quickly detect cyber threats, automate GDPR/NIS 2 compliance and secure sensitive information end to end.
Find the full replay below to discover how Microsoft Purview can transform your approach to cybersecurity.
How ST DIGITAL supports African companies with Microsoft Purview
ST DIGITAL helps African businesses protect their data and comply with regulations by taking into account the realities of the continent. To this end, we offer tailored support for deploying Microsoft Purview and strengthening their digital security.
Our approach:
- Personalised audit: We analyse your systems to identify vulnerabilities and critical data.
- Deployment and configuration: We integrate Microsoft Purview according to your specific needs for optimal protection.
- Training and support: We train your teams on the use of the tool and provide ongoing guidance for proactive cybersecurity.
Whether it involves preventing a data breach, detecting a cyberattack in real time, or meeting compliance requirements, ST DIGITAL is the trusted partner to secure your digital transformation in Africa.
By combining artificial intelligence, automation, and compliance, Microsoft Purview offers African businesses an effective means of protecting their data, anticipating cyberattacks, and remaining compliant with regulations.
Summary of key benefits:
- Real-time mapping and classification of sensitive data.
- Proactive detection of phishing attacks using AI.
- Automation of audits and compliance reports.
- Rapid prevention and neutralisation of data breaches.
In the digital age, where cyber threats are omnipresent, it is essential to stay ahead.
Ready to take the next step in protecting your data?
Contact us for a personalised demo or a security audit!