--- title: Protect your SharePoint data and avoid data breaches description: Discover 3 key challenges to protect your data in the SharePoint environment, especially the most sensitive ones, and to avoid data breaches image: https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/Blog%20Images/WEBSITE-BLOG-VISUALS-3-enjeux-sharepoint.png --- [![Logo-Idecsi-Black-tagline](https://blog.idecsi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LOGOS%20IDECSI/LOGOS%20OFFICIELS/Logo-Idecsi-Black-tagline.png?width=1010&height=319&name=Logo-Idecsi-Black-tagline.png)](https://www.idecsi.com/) - Solutions DETOX® pour M365 Audit, Remediation & ROI [Discover DETOX](https://info.idecsi.com/detox-m365?hsLang=en) ![Audit, Remediation & ROI](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/ILLU-4.png) Solutions IDECSI gives security and IT teams full control over their data — across DSPM, Data Access Governance, Human Risk Management, and Data Volume Management. - [![download\_done](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/download_done.svg) M365 Data Security Platform](https://www.idecsi.com/solution/mydatasecurity/) - [![download\_done](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/download_done.svg) Data storage optimization](https://www.idecsi.com/solution/mydatamanagement/) - Challenges M365 Checklist 15 Warning Signs Your M365 Data Is at Risk [Get the checklist](https://info.idecsi.com/checklist-15-warningsigns?hsLang=en) ![Checklist risques M365](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/Frame-2147255341.png) Your 2026 Challenges Address your most critical data security and governance challenges - across your M365 environment - [![download\_done](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/download_done.svg) Gain visibility accross M365](https://www.idecsi.com/challenges/visibility-microsoft-365) - [![download\_done](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/download_done.svg) Get Ready For Copilot M365](https://www.idecsi.com/challenges/m365-copilot/) - [![download\_done](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/download_done.svg) Control external user access](https://www.idecsi.com/challenges/external-access-microsoft-365/) - [![download\_done](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/download_done.svg) Prevent Sensitive Data Exposure](https://www.idecsi.com/challenges/sensitive-data-m365/) - [![download\_done](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/download_done.svg) Gain visibility across Microsoft 365](https://www.idecsi.com/challenges/visibility-microsoft-365/) - [![download\_done](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/download_done.svg) Ensure regulatory compliance](https://www.idecsi.com/challenges/compliance-m365/) - Resources Is Your Tenant Ready for Copilot? A Security & Governance Playbook [Download](https://info.idecsi.com/whitepapper_copilot?hsLang=en) ![Copilot guide](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/Frame-2147255339.png) Our resources Check out our useful resources for improving data protection - [![download\_done](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/download_done.svg) Blog](https://blog.idecsi.com) - [![download\_done](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/download_done.svg) Help Center](https://help.idecsi.com/) - [![download\_done](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/download_done.svg) Ressources & News](https://blog.idecsi.com/resources?hsLang=en) - [![download\_done](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/download_done.svg) About us](https://www.idecsi.com/about-us/) - [Customers](https://blog.idecsi.com/resources-customer?hsLang=en) - - [English](https://blog.idecsi.com/protect-sharepoint-data) - [Français](https://blog.idecsi.com/fr/proteger-donnees-sharepoint) Search [Request a demo](https://info.idecsi.com/demo-idecsi?hsLang=en) Microsoft 365 12 October 2018 # Protect your SharePoint data and gain control over it ![Protect your SharePoint and detect threats on your data](https://f.hubspotusercontent40.net/hubfs/4272098/Blog%20Images/WEBSITE-BLOG-VISUALS-3-enjeux-sharepoint.png) - [Home](https://www.idecsi.com/) - [Blog](https://blog.idecsi.com) - Protect your SharePoint data and gain control over it Our [Microsoft 365 security](https://blog.idecsi.com/data-security-microsoft365?hsLang=en) experts at IDECSI identify three major challenges which cause organizations to suffer repeated data breaches in the SharePoint environment. Many organizations rely on Microsoft SharePoint to share content and collaborate, whether as part of Office 365 or on premise. The convenience and accessibility are also supported by customisability, where embedded technology and scripts allow flexible addition of functionality (often invisibly). At the same time, flexibility and function expose an application to attack. Recent Ponemon Institute research showed that one in two organizations has had a SharePoint data breach in the past two years. Twenty-two percent may have experienced a breach but don’t have the ability to know for sure (source: Ponemon Institute research report, May 2017). This suggests that organizations do not have sufficient control of sensitive data within SharePoint and other file sharing tools. Along with OneDrive, SharePoint must be a top security concern for businesses – it’s certainly a lucrative target for hackers.  There are three key challenges which organizations must address if they are to keep track of and protect their SharePoint data. ## **Where is the data?** In SharePoint, it is trivial for users to create libraries as required, without visibility to the IT team.  Many companies have huge numbers of libraries that they simply do not know about – and therefore have no way of identifying what information is being stored in them – making it impossible to provide security.  *Companies need some way in which they can reliably keep track of all libraries in their SharePoint environment.* ## **Who is accessing the data? ** SharePoint allows collaborators to share documents widely, and easily – precisely the point of a collaboration platform. At the same time, the [Sharepoint sharing](https://blog.idecsi.com/sharepoint-security-overshare?hsLang=en) happens without visibility to the creators or owners of the data. In fact, SharePoint does not provide a native “owner” who can be responsible for distribution of the data.  *Companies must have some mechanism to see when documents are being shared erroneously or maliciously – with the wrong individuals, teams or external users – and report these breaches in real time.* ## **What SharePoint extensions are being used?** SharePoint has a broad set of extensions available (ASPx, workflow packages, hooks, …) allowing code to run in many different modes, invisibly to users. Even when users are aware, they typically do not understand the purpose and context. These extension functionalities are a blessing for hackers who can use them to assign rights, track activity and steal data.  *Companies require tools to identify which extensions are being run, and to know when new extensions are added.* With these challenges, it is no surprise that, according to the Ponemon Institute research, so many organizations have experienced breaches resulting from the loss or theft of confidential information from SharePoint – and many others just don’t know. While additional training for users can help companies address these issues, ultimately they must have tools which will detect address these challenges head on, providing transparent and easy-to-use information regards data sharing and processing.  Recent articles [Microsoft 365 SharePoint Storage Costs in 2026: What's Changing](https://blog.idecsi.com/microsoft-365-sharepoint-storage-costs-2026?hsLang=en) [Zero Trust Data Governance for Microsoft 365: CISO Guide](https://blog.idecsi.com/zero-trust-data-governance-microsoft-365?hsLang=en) [Cybersecurity Awareness Month: A CISO's M365 Action Plan](https://blog.idecsi.com/cybersecurity-awareness-month-ciso-action-plan-m365?hsLang=en) [Microsoft Foundry: Complete Guide and Data Security Implications (2026)](https://blog.idecsi.com/microsoft-foundry-guide-security?hsLang=en) Best practices to improve Microsoft Teams security [![Download the infographic ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4272098/825ad7d1-e961-4a7a-a6b3-6e380b22285f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4272098/825ad7d1-e961-4a7a-a6b3-6e380b22285f) Share this article Subscribe to our newsletter and receive new contents every month Our articles These articles may interest you ![](https://4272098.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/4272098/Co%C3%BBt%20du%20stockage%20Microsoft%20365%20en%202026.png) Microsoft 365 Microsoft 365 SharePoint Storage Costs in 2026: What's Changing [Lire l'article](https://blog.idecsi.com/microsoft-365-sharepoint-storage-costs-2026?hsLang=en) ![](https://4272098.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/4272098/Microsoft%20Foundry%20_%20guide%20complet%20et%20enjeux%20pour%20la%20s%C3%A9curit%C3%A9%20%282026%29.png) Microsoft 365 Security Microsoft Foundry: Complete Guide and Data Security Implications (2026) [Lire l'article](https://blog.idecsi.com/microsoft-foundry-guide-security?hsLang=en) ![](https://4272098.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/4272098/Illus-Blog-Supervision.png) Microsoft 365 Security Microsoft 365 Phishing: Why Oversharing Makes a Compromised Account Far More Dangerous [Lire l'article](https://blog.idecsi.com/fr/phishing-microsoft-365-risques-donnees-partagees-1?hsLang=en) ![](https://4272098.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/4272098/image%20%2858%29.png) Microsoft 365 Security Securing AI Agents in Microsoft 365: Best Practices for 2026 [Lire l'article](https://blog.idecsi.com/securing-ai-agents-microsoft-365?hsLang=en) ### Data protection, let's discuss your project?   [![Contact us](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4272098/bea4f372-c84f-4ec4-980c-ca663747fbfe.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4272098/bea4f372-c84f-4ec4-980c-ca663747fbfe) ![video background](https://idecsi2a-dev-idecsi.pf27.wpserveur.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/video-background-idecsi-responsive-1.png) [![Logo-Idecsi-White-Ss-ES](https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/LOGOS%20IDECSI/LOGOS%20OFFICIELS/Logo-Idecsi-White-Ss-ES.svg)](https://www.idecsi.com/) +33 1 84 79 38 30 - - - - [Why choose IDECSI?](https://www.idecsi.com/user-security/) - [About us](https://www.idecsi.com/about-us/) - [Join the team](https://www.welcometothejungle.com/fr/companies/idecsi) - Solutions - [Visibility](https://www.idecsi.com/challenge-data-visibility/) - [Detection](https://www.idecsi.com/challenge-threat-detection/) - [User engagement](https://www.idecsi.com/challenge-involve-user/) - [Access review](https://www.idecsi.com/challenge-rights-review/) - [Remediation](https://www.idecsi.com/challenge-remediation/) - [Sensitive data](https://www.idecsi.com/challenge-sensitive-data/) - [Products](https://www.idecsi.com/solution/) - [MyDataSecurity](https://www.idecsi.com/solution/mydatasecurity/) - [Advanced Monitoring](https://www.idecsi.com/solution/advanced-monitoring/) - [MyDataManagement](https://www.idecsi.com/solution/mydatamanagement/) - Resources - [Resources & News](https://blog.idecsi.com/resources?hsLang=en) - [Blog](https://blog.idecsi.com) - [Customer success](https://blog.idecsi.com/resources-customer?hsLang=en) - [Extranet](https://extranet.idecsi.com?hsLang=en) © IDECSI ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Daniel Bénabou", "url" : "https://blog.idecsi.com/author/daniel" }, "dateModified" : "2022-08-12T10:45:10.951Z", "datePublished" : "2018-10-12T14:24:00.000Z", "headline" : "Protect your SharePoint data and avoid data breaches", "image" : [ "https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/Blog%20Images/WEBSITE-BLOG-VISUALS-3-enjeux-sharepoint.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.idecsi.com/protect-sharepoint-data", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.idecsi.com/hubfs/Logo-Idecsi-Black-tagline.png" }, "name" : "IDECSI" } } ```