Suez: Reducing Overexposure Risk and Data Volume on Microsoft 365

Reducing Overexposure Risk and Data Volume on Microsoft 365

Context:

With over 28,000 users, SUEZ operates in an environment where data flows constantly between employees, external partners, and local authorities. Collaboration is at the heart of the group's performance, but it also comes with continuous storage growth (+10% every 6 months) and an increased risk of data overexposure.

Faced with this situation, SUEZ sought to regain control over its Microsoft 365 environment and reduce its data exposure surface while empowering users to take responsibility.

Challenges:

To address these challenges, SUEZ implemented a structured governance program built around five key pillars, leveraging IDECSI's DETOX solution. The initiative aimed to:

• Reduce unnecessary storage and eliminate redundant file versions — freeing up over 110 TB within just a few weeks.
• Strengthen access security through user-driven rights reviews and the removal of critical sharing links.
• Raise employee awareness through targeted communication over a four-week period.
• Classify and better manage sensitive data using Microsoft Purview.
• Govern external collaboration to ensure lasting security.

In just 3 months, the group achieved tangible results: reduced storage costs, improved security, and the adoption of new governance rules across Teams and SharePoint.

 "With the DETOX solution, we achieved our financial objective by removing 110 TB, a major win to tackle M365 storage growth while strengthening data security." 

   Robin Foucault,  Security Project Manager