Microsoft 365 Audit: What the Experts Look For

Microsoft 365 is so deeply ingrained in the way countless businesses work day-to-day, with an estimated 958,000 users per day worldwide. But how many stop to wonder if they’re actually getting the most out of it? From licences that quietly drain budgets to overlooked security settings that put sensitive data at risk, the platform can hold hidden issues that impact performance and compliance without anyone realising.

That’s what makes a Microsoft 365 audit so valuable. It goes beyond being just a technical check-up, serving as a structured review that gives you clarity on how your business is really using Microsoft 365. It highlights where you’re secure and efficient, as well as where gaps, risks, or missed opportunities are holding you back.

In this blog, we’ll explore what experts look for during a Microsoft 365 audit, breaking down the key areas of focus: security, performance, compliance, and adoption.

Why a Microsoft 365 Audit Matters

Even before considering if you’re optimising Microsoft 365 for the way you work, there’s a good chance that you’re only using it for one or two key features. Data shows that almost half of organisations don’t use the full set of features and apps available, with the platform’s cybersecurity features neglected in particular.

It’s tempting to think that if Microsoft 365 is up and running, everything must be working as it should. But in reality, that assumption often masks inefficiencies and risks. Unused licences can quietly drain your IT budget, misconfigured settings can open the door to cyber threats, and underused tools mean your team misses out on productivity gains they’re already paying for.

A Microsoft 365 audit cuts through that uncertainty. By taking a closer look at how your systems are configured and how your people are using them, experts uncover the gaps that day-to-day use won’t reveal. The result is a clear picture of what’s working, what isn’t, and where small changes could lead to significant improvements in cost savings, security, compliance, and user adoption.

Security: Closing the Gaps Before Hackers Find Them

Security is the first thing experts look at during a Microsoft 365 audit, and for good reason: misconfigured settings or overlooked features can create vulnerabilities that leave your data exposed. In fact, according to SentinelOne, 23% of cloud security incidents are caused by misconfiguration. It highlights how breaches often occur not because of sophisticated attacks, but because basic controls weren’t properly applied.

During an audit, experts typically review:

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Checking that MFA is enabled for all users, not just administrators.
• Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Ensuring policies are in place to stop sensitive information from being shared outside the organisation.
• Permissions and Access Controls: Verifying that users only have the access they need for their role.
• Guest Access and Sharing Settings: Reviewing how files and folders are shared to prevent accidental oversharing.
• Shadow IT Risks: Identifying any unauthorised apps or services connected to your environment.

The result? Greater confidence that your Microsoft 365 environment is properly locked down and that your team is working in a secure, compliant way.

Performance: Ensuring a Smooth and Reliable Experience

Even if your Microsoft 365 setup appears to be running without issue, small misconfigurations behind the scenes can quietly erode performance. The result? Slow load times, cluttered Teams channels, and confusing SharePoint structures that frustrate staff and drive up support tickets. Over time, these issues chip away at productivity and make systems feel unreliable.

During a Microsoft 365 audit, experts look at the overall health of your environment to spot where inefficiencies are holding you back. Common problem areas include:

• Duplicate or unused Teams channels that make communication messy and harder to follow.
• Inconsistent SharePoint structures that leave staff wasting time trying to find the right documents.
• Overloaded mailboxes that slow down email delivery or cause important messages to slip through the cracks.

By tackling these hidden bottlenecks, a Microsoft 365 audit delivers smoother workflows, fewer disruptions, and a more reliable experience for your team.

Compliance: Meeting Standards Without the Stress

Regulatory requirements can feel like a moving target. From GDPR to industry-specific rules, businesses are under constant pressure to prove they’re handling data responsibly. The challenge is that compliance doesn’t always fall apart in obvious ways; it’s often small oversights, like unclear retention settings or gaps in monitoring, that create the biggest risks.

A Microsoft 365 audit brings those details into focus. Rather than treating compliance as an afterthought, the audit assesses how your systems manage and protect data day to day. That might mean checking that audit logs are being reviewed regularly, that encryption is active where it should be, or that data residency settings align with regulatory requirements.

With compliance controls built into the way Microsoft 365 operates, you can demonstrate accountability with confidence and avoid the unnecessary stress of last-minute fixes when regulators come calling.

Adoption & Training: Unlocking Productivity Gains

If your team sticks to the features they’re familiar with – typically Outlook, Word, Teams, and maybe Excel – there are other apps and features that are left completely underused. Powerful tools like Power Automate, Planner, and even some of the more advanced Teams functions end up overlooked when they could be making your work easier. It also means businesses are paying for capabilities they aren’t taking advantage of.

A Microsoft 365 audit highlights exactly where adoption is falling short. Usage data reveals which tools are barely touched, while feedback from staff uncovers where confidence or training is lacking. Armed with these insights, training can be tailored to your team’s needs, whether that’s learning how to collaborate on documents in real time, automate routine tasks, or streamline communication in Teams.

By focusing training on the areas that matter most, an audit turns Microsoft 365 from a basic toolkit into a genuine driver of productivity and efficiency.

Turn Insight into Action

Microsoft 365 audits uncover opportunities to strengthen security, boost performance, stay compliant, and unlock greater value from the tools you already have. By taking a structured, expert-led approach, you gain a clear roadmap for improvement and the confidence that your business is making the most of its Microsoft 365 investment.

At Confidence IT, we specialise in helping organisations get more from Microsoft 365 with audits that are practical and tailored to your goals. See how our structured process can benefit your business.

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This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.