How Do I Enable Advanced Reporting in Microsoft 365 E3?
Benjamin Gbolaru
Microsoft 365
December 17th, 2024
To enable advanced reporting in Microsoft 365 E3, ensure you have admin privileges and access the Microsoft 365 Admin Center or the Security & Compliance Center. Enable advanced features like usage analytics, audit logs, and threat reports through the appropriate settings.
Step-by-Step Guide to Enabling Advanced Reporting
Microsoft 365 E3 provides a range of built-in reporting features, including usage reports, audit logs, and security analytics. Here’s how to enable and access them:
1. Usage Analytics in Microsoft 365
Usage reports help monitor user activity and app adoption.
Steps to Enable:
Go to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
Navigate to Reports > Usage.
Review and customize the available dashboards for data insights.
Export reports to analyze app usage and user activity trends.
Key Benefits:
Monitor app adoption rates.
Identify inactive accounts or underutilized tools.
2. Enabling Audit Logs
Audit logs track user and admin actions across Microsoft 365.
Steps to Enable:
Go to the Microsoft Purview Compliance Portal.
Select Audit under Solutions.
Click Start Recording User and Admin Activity.
Tips:
Use advanced search filters to pinpoint specific actions.
Retain logs for up to 90 days or longer with specific configurations.
3. Advanced Security and Threat Reporting
Microsoft 365 E3 includes tools for threat management and risk analytics.
Steps to Enable:
Access the Microsoft Defender Portal or the Security & Compliance Center.
Configure Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) settings for email, documents, and links.
Review reports under Threat Management > Dashboard.
Features to Explore:
Threat Explorer for real-time monitoring.
Attack simulation training for proactive defense strategies.
4. Power BI Integration for Custom Reporting
Power BI allows you to create tailored reports using Microsoft 365 data.
Steps to Set Up:
Install Microsoft 365 Usage Analytics in Power BI.
Connect to your Microsoft 365 account to import data.
Customize visuals and share insights across teams.
Advantages:
Create comprehensive dashboards.
Gain deeper insights into productivity and security metrics.
Features Available with Advanced Reporting
Feature
Purpose
How to Access
Usage Reports
Track app usage and user activity trends.
Microsoft 365 Admin Center
Audit Logs
Monitor actions for compliance.
Purview Compliance Portal
Threat Analytics
Identify and respond to risks.
Microsoft Defender Portal
Custom Dashboards
Create tailored visualizations.
Power BI with Microsoft 365 Data
Benefits of Advanced Reporting
Enhanced Visibility
Gain insights into user behavior and system performance.
Improved Compliance
Monitor sensitive actions for regulatory compliance.
Informed Decision-Making
Use data-driven insights to optimize app usage and security strategies.
Proactive Security
Identify and mitigate potential threats quickly.
Conclusion
Advanced reporting in Microsoft 365 E3 provides organizations with critical insights for productivity, compliance, and security. By enabling these features, businesses can streamline workflows, ensure compliance, and enhance decision-making processes.
Ready to unlock the full potential of advanced reporting in Microsoft 365 E3? Medha Cloud can guide you through every step.
Contact Medha Cloud today for a free consultation!
I'm Benjamin, a Microsoft 365 Specialist, helping small and large businesses deploy, configure, and secure M365 environments to maximize the benefits of Microsoft tools. With sound expertise in driving cloud adoption, identity and access management (IAM), security monitoring, system reliability, and proactive troubleshooting.