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Access to this page requires authorization. You can try changing directories.
Dropbox is a cloud storage and collaboration tool that lets users share documents across your organization and with partners. However, Dropbox can expose sensitive data to external collaborators or make it publicly available through a shared link. Malicious actors or unaware employees can cause these incidents.
Connecting Dropbox to Defender for Cloud Apps gives you better insight into your users' activities. It provides threat detection through machine learning anomaly detections and information protection detections, such as detecting external information sharing. You can also enable automated remediation controls.
Note
Dropbox changed the way shared folders are stored, moving them to Team Spaces. The Defender for Cloud Apps file scan will be updated in due course to include Team Spaces.
Main threats
Dropbox environments face the following main threats:
- Compromised accounts and insider threats
- Data leakage
- Insufficient security awareness
- Malware
- Ransomware
- Unmanaged bring your own device (BYOD)
How Defender for Cloud Apps helps to protect your environment
Use the following best practices to protect your Dropbox environment with Defender for Cloud Apps:
- Detect cloud threats, compromised accounts, and malicious insiders
- Discover, classify, label, and protect regulated and sensitive data stored in the cloud
- Enforce DLP and compliance policies for data stored in the cloud
- Limit exposure of shared data and enforce collaboration policies
- Use the audit trail of activities for forensic investigations
Control Dropbox with built-in policies and policy templates
You can use the following built-in policy templates to detect and notify you about potential threats:
Important
File policies retire on January 6, 2027. To maintain file-based data protection for this app, migrate to Microsoft Purview DLP or auto-labeling policies.
| Type | Name |
|---|---|
| Built-in anomaly detection policy | Activity from anonymous IP addresses Activity from infrequent country Activity from suspicious IP addresses Impossible travel Activity performed by terminated user (requires Microsoft Entra ID as IdP) Malware detection Multiple failed login attempts Ransomware detection Unusual file deletion activities Unusual file share activities Unusual multiple file download activities |
| Activity policy template | Logon from a risky IP address Mass download by a single user Potential ransomware activity |
| File policy template | Detect a file shared with an unauthorized domain Detect a file shared with personal email addresses Detect files with PII/PCI/PHI |
For more information about creating policies, see Create a policy in Defender for Cloud Apps.
Automate governance controls
You can also apply and automate Dropbox governance actions to fix detected threats:
| Type | Action |
|---|---|
| Data governance | - Remove direct shared link - Send DLP violation digest to file owners - Trash file |
| User governance | - Notify user on alert (via Microsoft Entra ID) - Require user to sign in again (via Microsoft Entra ID) - Suspend user (via Microsoft Entra ID) |
To learn more about fixing threats from apps, see Governing connected apps.
Protect Dropbox in real time
Review our best practices for securing and collaborating with external users and blocking and protecting the download of sensitive data to unmanaged or risky devices.
SaaS security posture management for Dropbox
Connect Dropbox to automatically get security posture recommendations for Dropbox in Microsoft Secure Score. In Secure Score, select Recommended actions and filter by Product = Dropbox. Dropbox supports security recommendations to Enable web session timeout for web users.
For more information, see:
Connect Dropbox to Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Use the following instructions to connect Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps to your existing Dropbox account using the connector APIs. Connector APIs let Defender for Cloud Apps connect directly to supported apps for monitoring and governance. This connection gives you visibility into and control over Dropbox use.
Dropbox enables access to files from shared links without signing in. Defender for Cloud Apps registers users who access files without signing in as Unauthenticated users. If you see unauthenticated Dropbox users, it might indicate users who aren't from your organization, or they might be recognized users from within your organization who didn't sign in.
To connect Dropbox to Defender for Cloud Apps
In the Microsoft Defender Portal, select Settings. Then choose Cloud Apps. Under Connected apps, select App Connectors.
In the App connectors page, select +Connect an app, followed by Dropbox.
In the next window, give the connector a name and select Next.
In the Enter details window, enter the admin account email address.
In the Follow the link window, select Connect Dropbox.
The Dropbox sign in page opens. Enter your credentials to allow Defender for Cloud Apps access to your team's Dropbox instance.
Dropbox asks you if you want to allow Defender for Cloud Apps access to your team information, activity log, and perform activities as a team member. To proceed, select Allow.
Back in the Defender for Cloud Apps console, you should receive a message that Dropbox was successfully connected.
In the Microsoft Defender Portal, select Settings. Then choose Cloud Apps. Under Connected apps, select App Connectors. Make sure the status of the connected App Connector is Connected.
After connecting DropBox, you'll receive events for seven days prior to connection.
Note
Any Dropbox events for adding a file are displayed in Defender for Cloud Apps as Upload file to align to all other apps connected to Defender for Cloud Apps.
If you have any problems connecting the app, see Troubleshooting App Connectors.