What is a key feature of Microsoft Defender for Cloud?

A key feature of Microsoft Defender for Cloud is that it offers a comprehensive security benchmark. This benchmark helps organizations understand and improve their security posture by providing a set of security recommendations based on best practices, compliance requirements, and risk assessments. It evaluates various resources and configurations within cloud environments and assigns security scores, enabling teams to prioritize their security efforts effectively.

This comprehensive approach not only highlights vulnerabilities but also helps organizations implement necessary security controls to protect their cloud resources. By following the guidance provided by the security benchmark, organizations can better align their cloud deployments with established security frameworks and regulatory requirements, enhancing overall security and compliance in the cloud.

In contrast, multi-cloud authorization, while an important aspect of cloud security, does not capture the breadth of features offered by Defender for Cloud. Integrating with third-party databases is more of an interoperability feature rather than a core characteristic. Requiring on-premises hardware also does not align with the cloud-first approach of Defender for Cloud, which is designed to protect cloud environments and can operate entirely within the cloud infrastructure.