Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark (MCSB): the Microsoft 365 crosswalk

The Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark is Microsoft's own baseline of security controls, organized into control domains and mapped to industry frameworks like CIS, NIST 800-53, and PCI DSS. Because it is Microsoft's baseline, it is the natural backbone for measuring a Microsoft 365 estate. Senserva provides the technical evidence for the MCSB controls that apply to Microsoft 365, Intune, Defender, Entra ID, and Purview.

For the exact, current per-check mapping, open the checks catalog and filter the Compliance evidence column by MCSB.

MCSB control domains and where Senserva provides evidence

MCSB groups controls into domains. The table below maps each domain to the Senserva coverage that produces evidence for it. This is a domain-level view; the checks catalog has the control-level detail.

MCSB domain Senserva evidence
Identity ManagementMFA coverage, authentication methods and strengths, FIDO2 and Windows Hello, legacy authentication, risky users and sign-ins.
Privileged AccessDirectory and Azure role assignments, eligible vs active PIM, role-management policies, break-glass accounts.
Data ProtectionPurview sensitivity labels, retention, and DLP posture, SharePoint and OneDrive sharing and access.
Asset ManagementOrganization, storage, licensing, and access inventory, app registrations and service principals.
Logging and Threat DetectionUnified audit log health, sign-in, directory and provisioning logs, security alerts.
Posture and Vulnerability ManagementPatch and CVE coverage enriched with MSRC, CISA KEV, and EPSS, Secure Score control breakdown.
Endpoint SecurityIntune compliance and configuration, Defender Antivirus, firewall, attack surface reduction, disk encryption.
Email and CollaborationAnti-phishing, anti-malware, anti-spam, and Safe Links protections, Teams and SharePoint posture.

MCSB also covers Network Security, Incident Response, Backup and Recovery, DevOps Security, and Governance and Strategy. Senserva contributes to these where they touch Microsoft 365 configuration; the rest stay operational and organizational responsibilities.

Why MCSB is a good backbone

Microsoft maps MCSB to CIS, NIST 800-53, and PCI DSS, so evidence gathered against MCSB carries over to those frameworks. Senserva builds on Microsoft's own baseline and Secure Score, then adds ranking by real-world risk and validated remediation, so you are not just measuring against Microsoft's bar, you are closing the gaps. It complements Defender and Secure Score rather than replacing them.

See the MCSB checks All frameworks Scan your tenant free

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