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Learn how to get actionable network security recommendations using Microsoft Defender for Cloud to protect your Azure virtual networks. This lesson walks through Defender for Cloud’s assessments, Secure Score, mapped compliance guidance, and how to monitor and respond to alerts and incidents — all focused on improving your Azure network security posture.
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In this lesson we will examine the security controls available to protect Azure virtual networks and how Defender for Cloud evaluates and remediates risks. The following table summarizes the main focus areas and what you’ll gain from each.
Focus areaWhy it mattersWhat you’ll learn
Microsoft recommended best practices and Microsoft Cloud Security BenchmarkEstablishes a baseline of secure configurations for cloud resourcesHow to apply industry and Microsoft-specific best practices to your network resources
Defender for Cloud evaluation (Secure Score & recommendations)Prioritizes risks and provides actionable guidanceHow Secure Score is calculated and how to interpret recommendations to reduce attack surface
Mapping recommendations to compliance standardsStreamlines audit and compliance effortsHow Defender for Cloud links findings to standards and helps automate remediation steps
Monitoring, investigation, and responseDetects and contains security incidentsHow to view alerts, investigate incidents, and respond using built-in workflows and playbooks
A presentation slide titled "Learning Objectives" showing a vertical list of four numbered goals. They cover Azure virtual network security, Microsoft's cloud security best practices and benchmarks, how Defender for Cloud helps meet compliance, and monitoring/responding to security alerts.
Learning objectives
  1. Understand the primary security mechanisms available to protect Azure virtual networks, including network segmentation, access control, and threat protection.
  2. Learn Microsoft’s cloud security best practices and the Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark to align your environment with proven standards.
  3. Discover how Microsoft Defender for Cloud identifies configuration and compliance gaps and produces prioritized, actionable recommendations to improve Secure Score.
  4. Learn how to monitor, investigate, and respond to security alerts and incidents generated by Defender for Cloud to reduce risk and improve incident response time.
Tip: Before starting, ensure you have appropriate Azure permissions (such as Security Reader or Owner) to view Defender for Cloud recommendations and Secure Score. Familiarity with Azure networking concepts like NSGs, Azure Firewall, and virtual network peering will help you get the most from this lesson.
Links and references

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