Real-time response automation in Microsoft 365 with Automated Threat Response

Many companies rely on Microsoft 365, making it a frequent target of threat actors. Conventional security solutions, such as security information and event management (SIEM) platforms and endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, are crucial but frequently need manual intervention during an account takeover. Now, Automated Threat Response in Barracuda XDR Cloud Security is transforming how companies effectively remedy compromised Microsoft 365 accounts, instantly mitigating harm and improving your security posture.

What is Automated Threat Response in XDR Cloud Security?

Barracuda XDR is a unified security platform that correlates multiple streams of security telemetry from diverse data sources to detect and respond to threats. Using predefined rules, machine learning, and real-time data analysis, XDR provides visibility and detection across an organization's entire digital estate to offer timely threat remediation guidance.

Automated Threat Response (ATR), a part of security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) within XDR, takes this further by responding to threats without human intervention. When a security incident is detected, such as malware propagation or unusual network traffic, ATR can immediately act by isolating affected endpoints or blocking malicious IP addresses.

XDR Cloud Security is the module within Barracuda Managed XDR that monitors cloud services like Microsoft 365, Azure, Google Workspace, AWS, and more. With ATR introduced in XDR Cloud Security, Microsoft 365 user accounts can be automatically disabled in real time when they are determined to be compromised. The key advantage is that the response happens instantly, reducing the harm a threat actor can inflict on their victim, often before a human analyst can even become aware of the threat.

Why is ATR in XDR Cloud Security important?

Microsoft 365 accounts provide access to company infrastructure, email systems, collaboration tools, and sensitive data. So, compromised accounts provide access to these systems to an attacker. Threat actors frequently use these accounts to do the following:

• Data exfiltration, encryption, and extortion – Attackers steal sensitive data like personally identifiable information (PII), personal health information (PHI), or intellectual property, render that data inaccessible to the victim, and coerce a payment to restore access to the data or avoid leaking it to the public.
• Espionage – Cybercriminals manipulate data in systems to cause harm (e.g., changing a test result or blood type in medical records or releasing dangerous amounts of chlorine in drinking water).
• Escalate privileges to access other systems – Threat actors exploit a vulnerability in a system accessible to the compromised user account to gain administrative or root-level privileges in another system or domain.
• Supply chain or phishing attacks – This involves using the victim's trusted identity to launch phishing attacks or compromise other victims.
• Establish persistence and sell access – Attackers establish persistent footholds within their victim’s environment, allowing them to charge a premium price on the dark web for dependable access to the victim.

Traditional manual responses are often too slow to avert damage, making automation critical. Rapid response is vital to counter the threat of hackers using compromised accounts.

How does ATR work in XDR Cloud Security?

Barracuda XDR Cloud Security integrates automated threat detection and SOAR-powered Automated Threat Response to protect Microsoft 365 credentials.

Here's how it typically works:

1. Detection of anomalies: Using advanced machine learning models powered by proprietary anomaly detection algorithms, XDR Cloud Security continuously monitors Microsoft 365 authentication logs for signs of compromise. Looks for common indicators of compromise by monitoring:

• The number of successful logins during the last 24 hours in order to spot odd login patterns.
• The location of successful logins to identify unusual or suspicious access locations.
• Whether a user has deactivated or modified multifactor authentication in the last 24 hours.
• How many times, in the past 24 hours, a user has logged in from various places where travel is not feasible.

2. Risk assessment: XDR Cloud Security uses risk-based policies to categorize alerts as low, medium, or high severity. When a high-severity alert is identified, ATR promptly responds by connecting to Microsoft 365 via API integration to trigger automated actions.

3. Response automation: When an account is flagged as compromised, ATR performs the following actions:

• Disables the affected account
• Logs off the affected user
• Terminates all active sessions
• Alerts the designated account contact

Conclusion

Automated Threat Response in XDR Cloud Security is a significant leap forward in modern cybersecurity. By combining automated detections with real-time responses, ATR empowers businesses to defend themselves against threat actors more effectively and helps MSPs and channel partners deliver enhanced security. As companies encounter increasingly complex and persistent threats, adopting Automated Threat Response will be essential to stay ahead of attackers and reduce the strain on security teams.

With continuous improvements in AI, machine learning, and behavioral analytics, the future of XDR appears brighter than ever. Integrating these systems into your security program ensures faster, more consistent, and more resilient defenses against the evolving cybercrime ecosystem.