Microsoft 365 Vendor Management: How to Enhance Security Without Disrupting Relationships

Yiu Lung Jerry LEE
1 day ago
2 min read

Business owner and IT vendor collaborating on Microsoft 365 security and governance. — **Enhance Microsoft 365 security without disrupting your trusted vendor relationship.**

Introduction: Trust Matters, But So Does Security

You’ve partnered with a trusted vendor to manage your Microsoft 365 environment. They handle licenses, user onboarding, and support tickets. Everything seems fine—until you start asking:“Who else has access? How secure is my data? What happens if something goes wrong?”

Here’s the good news: You don’t need to replace your vendor to improve security. Microsoft 365 allows multiple vendors to collaborate, so you can keep your existing partner and add specialized security expertise without disrupting relationships.

Why Microsoft 365 Vendor Management Matters

In business, relationships and trust are everything. Changing vendors feels risky and disruptive. But security is a specialized function—just like hiring an electrician for wiring while your contractor builds the house. Your vendor manages daily operations; a security partner focuses on advanced protection.

Quick Summary: 4 Things You Can Do Today

Review Vendor Access – Check who has delegated admin rights in your Microsoft 365 tenant.
Strengthen Security – Turn on MFA, apply Conditional Access, and enable PIM if available.
Add a Security Specialist Vendor – Bring in expertise for Secure Score, Intune, and compliance.
Monitor & Audit – Regularly review logs and vendor access to maintain governance.

(Want details? Scroll down for the full procedure.)

Full Details for Those Who Want More

Step 1: Review Vendor Access. Go to Microsoft 365 Admin Center → Settings → Partner Relationships. Confirm which vendors have delegated admin rights and ensure roles align with your contract.
Step 2: Strengthen Security Immediately. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all admins, apply Conditional Access, and use Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for Just-In-Time access if you have Entra ID P2.
Step 3: Add a Security Specialist Vendor. Your current vendor may not offer advanced security services. A specialized partner can help with:
- Secure Score Optimization
- Intune & Endpoint Protection Deployment
- Data Loss Prevention & Compliance Policies
- Vendor Access Auditing & Governance
Step 4: Maintain Vendor Governance. Keep an inventory of all vendors and their roles, schedule quarterly access reviews, and remove vendors who no longer provide services.

Key Takeaway

You don’t have to choose between trust and security. Microsoft 365 gives you the flexibility to work with multiple partners while maintaining full control. At MPS Consultants, we complement your existing vendor—not replace them—by adding specialized security and compliance expertise.