Why Microsoft Secure Score Should Guide Your 2026 IT Roadmap

Microsoft Secure Score has become one of the most reliable indicators of cybersecurity readiness for Irish businesses. It gives organisations a clear, measurable way to understand their current risk level and the steps needed to improve.

Secure Score does not look at one area of security. It examines many. These include identity protection, device compliance, multifactor authentication, email security, encryption, access control and more. When your score is low, your risk is high. When your score improves, your protection improves.

For 2026, Irish businesses should consider Secure Score the foundation of their cybersecurity roadmap. It highlights gaps that many organisations did not realise existed. It shows misconfigurations, outdated policies, offboarded users who still have access and devices that are not protected properly.

Many businesses believe they are secure simply because they have Microsoft 365. However, without proper configuration and ongoing monitoring, the environment can still be vulnerable. Secure Score provides clarity and direction.

A score of sixty five percent or higher is considered a strong benchmark. It shows that your organisation takes identity protection, data security and device management seriously. It also helps demonstrate compliance efforts to regulators, auditors and cyber insurance providers.

Using Secure Score as a guide makes cybersecurity manageable. You can improve one area at a time while maintaining momentum. Each improvement reduces risk.

VBT works with Irish organisations to assess their current score, create an improvement roadmap and implement recommended actions. With the right guidance, businesses can transform their Microsoft 365 environment into a truly secure ecosystem.