Microsoft 365 is the favorite target of cybercriminals in 2026
More than 85% of Spanish companies use Microsoft 365 as their corporate productivity suite. Email, documents, video calls, cloud storage… all business operations run through this platform. And precisely for that reason, it is also the favorite target of attackers.
The problem is that Microsoft 365 includes basic protection, but it is not designed to stop advanced threats such as next-generation ransomware, targeted phishing attacks (spear phishing), or malware disguised in seemingly legitimate Office documents.
In this article, we explain how ESET Cloud Office Security adds a specialized layer of protection over Microsoft 365, covering attack vectors that Microsoft’s native protection does not address.
Why is the native protection of Microsoft 365 not enough?
Microsoft includes tools in its Microsoft 365 plans such as Microsoft Defender for Office 365, which offers anti-spam filtering and basic malware protection. However, there are important limitations:
- Latency in signature updates: Zero-day malware can go undetected for hours or days while Microsoft updates its databases.
- No advanced behavioral analysis: It does not run files in a sandbox environment to analyze their actual behavior.
- Incomplete coverage in basic plans: Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Standard plans have very limited protections.
- No centralized visibility with the endpoint: Email protection and endpoint protection operate in separate silos, without threat correlation.
ESET Cloud Office Security was specifically designed to cover these gaps.
What is ESET Cloud Office Security?
ESET Cloud Office Security is a cloud security solution that protects all Microsoft 365 applications used by your employees: email, file storage, and collaboration tools. It integrates directly with Microsoft’s cloud services, without the need to install agents on servers.
Unlike endpoint security solutions (which protect the employee’s PC), ESET Cloud Office Security protects data in transit and at rest within Microsoft 365, regardless of the device used to access it.
Which Microsoft 365 applications does it protect?
ESET Cloud Office Security covers the four main services of Microsoft 365 that are attack vectors:
📧 Exchange Online — Corporate Email
Analyzes all incoming and outgoing emails for:
- Malware and ransomware in attachments (Word, Excel, PDF, ZIP, etc.)
- Phishing and spear phishing (identity spoofing)
- Malicious URLs embedded in the email body
- Spam and unwanted mail with advanced filters
📁 SharePoint Online — Document Collaboration
Analyzes files uploaded to SharePoint before they become available to users, detecting malware that could spread through documents shared among teams.
☁️ OneDrive — Cloud Storage
Protects files synchronized in OneDrive, preventing ransomware that encrypts local files from also spreading to cloud copies and then to the rest of the organization.
💬 Microsoft Teams — Messaging and Files
Analyzes files shared in Teams chats and channels, an increasingly used attack vector as it is less monitored than email.
Technology behind ESET Cloud Office Security
ESET Cloud Office Security is not simply a cloud antivirus. It combines multiple detection technologies:
- ESET malware engine: Based on decades of research, detecting both known and unknown malware.
- Anti-phishing analysis: Detects fraudulent web pages and emails that impersonate banks, suppliers, or colleagues.
- Antispam with machine learning: Filters unwanted mail with a minimal false-positive rate.
- Integration with ESET LiveGuard Advanced: In plans that include cloud sandboxing, suspicious files are analyzed in an isolated environment before being delivered to the recipient.
Centralized management from the ESET PROTECT console
One of the major advantages of ESET Cloud Office Security is that it is managed from the same ESET PROTECT console that controls the security of your company’s endpoints, servers, and mobile devices.
This means the IT manager has a unified view of all security:
- Threat alerts detected in email, SharePoint, and OneDrive
- Analysis history and quarantine of malicious files
- Security policies configurable by user or group
- Activity reports for audits and regulatory compliance (GDPR, ENS)
There is no need to learn a new tool or switch interfaces: everything is in one place.
In which ESET PROTECT plan is it included?
ESET Cloud Office Security is included in the ESET PROTECT Complete plan, the most comprehensive solution for companies that want to protect all their digital assets from a single license:
| Plan | ESET Cloud Office Security |
|---|---|
| ESET PROTECT Entry | ❌ Not included |
| ESET PROTECT Advanced | ❌ Not included |
| ESET PROTECT Complete | ✅ Included (from 5 users) |
It is also available as an independent product if you already have endpoint licenses and only need to add protection for Microsoft 365.
Do you currently have ESET PROTECT Entry or ESET PROTECT Advanced and want to add protection for Microsoft 365? Contact us and we will prepare a personalized quote for you.
Real scenario: how ESET Cloud Office Security stops a ransomware attack
To understand the practical value, let’s look at a typical attack scenario:
- An employee receives an email from a “supplier” with an attached invoice in Excel format.
- The Excel file contains a malicious macro that downloads ransomware when executed.
- Without ESET Cloud Office Security: The email arrives in the inbox, the employee opens it, the macro executes, and the ransomware begins encrypting files on the PC and in OneDrive.
- With ESET Cloud Office Security: The attached file is analyzed in the cloud before reaching the inbox. ESET’s engine detects the malicious behavior of the macro, the email is automatically quarantined, and the IT manager receives an alert. The employee never sees the email.
The result: the attack is stopped before any user has the opportunity to make the human error that would have triggered it.
Frequently Asked Questions about ESET Cloud Office Security
Does ESET Cloud Office Security require installation on users’ computers?
No. As a cloud solution, it connects directly with Microsoft 365 via Microsoft APIs. It does not require any agents or software installed on employees’ computers.
Does it work with all Microsoft 365 plans?
Yes. ESET Cloud Office Security is compatible with all Microsoft 365 plans that include Exchange Online, SharePoint, and OneDrive (from Business Basic to Enterprise E5).
Does it also protect email boxes for remote or telecommuting employees?
Yes. By operating at the Microsoft cloud level, it protects all mailboxes regardless of where the employee is located: office, home, or business trip.
How long does activation take?
Initial configuration takes between 30 and 60 minutes. As an authorized ESET distributor, we handle the entire implementation at no additional cost to our clients.
Does ESET Cloud Office Security also protect Google Workspace?
ESET offers specific solutions for Google Workspace. If your company uses Gmail and Google Drive, consult us to evaluate the best option.
Conclusion: Secure Microsoft 365 requires an additional layer of protection
Microsoft 365 is an essential tool for business productivity, but its native protection is not enough against current threats. ESET Cloud Office Security adds the specialized security layer your company needs: advanced attachment analysis, anti-phishing protection, coverage for SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams, and centralized management from the same console that controls all your endpoints.
Available in ESET PROTECT Complete, it is the most comprehensive solution for companies that want to keep all their security under control from a single panel.
Want to protect Microsoft 365 in your company? Request a no-obligation quote and we will help you set it up.
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