Microsoft 365 for Government & Public Sector
Make Microsoft 365 an Advantage, Not Just an Overhead
Independent, on the Wirral, Microsoft partner. You deal with Eric, and the person who scopes the work is the person who does it.
Not ready to talk yet? The health check is six questions and about two minutes, and you get a written fix list in the order worth closing things. We reply within 2 working hours.
Public sector M365 deployments need more than standard configuration. Government data classification, PSN considerations, security clearance requirements, and framework compliance all require specialist expertise. We are independent, with nothing to resell and no agenda, so you get a configuration built to be secure and workable for years ahead, not an experiment on your organisation.
(Available as required)
Need M365 expertise for a public sector project? Book a confidential consultation – we’ll discuss your requirements and compliance needs. No obligation.
Public Sector M365 Security Requirements
Standard M365 configurations don’t meet public sector security requirements out of the box. 43% of UK organisations were hit by a cyber attack in the past year (DSIT 2025). Government data needs additional controls, monitoring, and compliance measures built in from the start, not bolted on afterwards.
Data Classification
OFFICIAL and OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE data requires appropriate handling. Default M365 settings don’t enforce classification or prevent inappropriate sharing.
Data Residency
Government data often requires UK data centres. Multi-Geo configurations and tenant settings need careful management.
Identity & Access
Public sector needs stronger identity controls than commercial defaults. Only 40% of UK businesses use MFA on email today (DSIT 2025); that is not enough for government data.
Email Security
85% of attacks start with phishing (DSIT 2025). Government organisations are high-value targets, so standard email security is insufficient against sophisticated phishing and BEC attacks.
Audit & Compliance
Public sector faces scrutiny on data handling. Comprehensive audit trails and compliance reporting are mandatory, not optional.
Threat Monitoring
Government organisations face nation-state and sophisticated criminal threats. The average breach goes undetected for 241 days (IBM 2025). Reactive security isn’t sufficient.
Ready to Discuss Your M365 Requirements?
Choose your starting point:
Our Microsoft 365 Services for Public Sector
Secure Deployment & Migration
New M365 tenants configured to public sector security standards from day one. Migrations from on-premises or other cloud platforms with minimal disruption.
- Security-first tenant configuration
- Data classification and protection setup
- Phased migration with rollback capability
- User training and adoption support
Security Hardening
Existing M365 environments audited and hardened to meet public sector requirements. Close security gaps without disrupting operations.
- Secure Score assessment and improvement
- Conditional Access policy implementation
- DLP and sensitivity label deployment
- Email security enhancement
Ongoing Management
Day-to-day M365 administration, user lifecycle management, and continuous security monitoring. Your internal team focuses on their core work.
- User provisioning and deprovisioning
- License management and optimisation
- Security policy maintenance
- Monthly reporting and reviews
Continuous Security Monitoring
Round-the-clock SOC monitoring of your M365 environment. Threats detected and responded to before they become incidents.
- Real-time threat detection
- Suspicious activity alerting
- Incident response and remediation
- Threat intelligence integration
Procurement & Frameworks
G-Cloud Framework
On Our Roadmap
Formal listing on G-Cloud and the Digital Marketplace is on our roadmap as our public sector track record builds. We are happy to discuss timelines directly if framework listing matters to your procurement route.
Alternative Procurement Routes
Available Now
In the meantime, we are happy to quote and work within other procurement capabilities outside of the frameworks. We understand public sector procurement requirements and can support your process through:
- Direct award for contracts under threshold
- Competitive quotation processes
- Request for Quotation (RFQ) responses
- Invitation to Tender (ITT) submissions
- Framework sub-contracting arrangements
- Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) opportunities
Need to procure now? Contact us to discuss your requirements and procurement route. We can provide quotes and supporting documentation to support your procurement process.
Compliance & Standards We Support
Government Security Classifications
- OFFICIAL data handling configuration
- OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE with appropriate controls
- Sensitivity labels and DLP policies
- External sharing restrictions
Cyber Essentials
- Access control implementation
- Secure configuration baselines
- Patch management processes
- Malware protection deployment
PSN Considerations
- Network segmentation alignment
- Access control requirements
- Audit logging configuration
- Incident reporting processes
NCSC Guidance
- Cloud Security Principles alignment
- Zero Trust architecture principles
- Secure administration practices
- Logging and monitoring standards
Note: We configure M365 to support your compliance requirements. Ultimate compliance responsibility remains with your organisation. You get documentation and evidence to support your compliance assessments.
Our Public Sector M365 Migration Approach
Migrating email and collaboration tools is sensitive – these are mission-critical systems. Our process is built around the way public sector organisations actually operate, so you get a tested approach rather than an experiment on live systems.
Assessment & Planning
Audit current mail system, shared mailboxes, distribution lists, and public folders. Identify dependencies, archive requirements, and compliance needs. Define licensing requirements.
Tenant Configuration
Set up your M365 tenant with security hardened from day one. Configure Conditional Access, DLP policies, retention policies, and sensitivity labels before any data moves.
Pilot Migration
Migrate a pilot group – typically IT team and early adopters. Validate mail flow, calendar sync, mobile access, and integrations. Gather feedback and refine approach.
Phased Rollout
Migrate remaining users in planned waves. We handle the technical migration while you communicate with staff. Cut-over typically happens overnight or over weekends.
Training & Adoption
Ensure staff can use the new tools effectively. Quick-start guides, drop-in sessions, and power-user training. Focus on Teams, SharePoint, and security awareness.
Our Migration Commitments
Microsoft 365 Licensing for Public Sector
Microsoft offers specific licensing for government and public sector organisations. Here’s what the main options look like:
Business Premium
Full desktop apps + security essentials
- Desktop Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams
- Intune device management
- Defender for Office 365
- Conditional Access
- Azure AD Premium P1
Suitable for: Smaller public sector bodies, arms-length organisations
E3
Enterprise features + compliance
- Everything in Business Premium, plus:
- Unlimited archive mailbox
- Advanced compliance tools
- Information protection
- eDiscovery capabilities
Suitable for: Most government departments, councils, NHS trusts
E5
Advanced security + analytics
- Everything in E3, plus:
- Defender for Endpoint P2
- Advanced Threat Protection
- Cloud App Security
- Power BI Pro included
Suitable for: High-security environments, large departments
Government-specific licensing: Microsoft offers Government Community Cloud (GCC) for US federal requirements. For UK public sector, standard commercial licensing with UK data residency is typically appropriate. We can advise on the right configuration for your specific requirements.
*Note: prices correct at time of writing, Microsoft reserve the right to update their licensing cost and product entitlement.
Why Choose HiltDigital for Public Sector M365
Security-First Configuration
We don’t just migrate – we secure. Every M365 deployment includes security hardening: Conditional Access, MFA enforcement, DLP policies, and threat protection configured from day one.
Regulated-Sector Fluency
You are dealing with the compliance requirements, procurement processes, and stakeholder expectations that govern public sector IT, so you get a partner who speaks your language from day one, not a generic supplier learning on your time.
Cleared Engineers
Access to engineers with SC and DV clearance for projects requiring vetted personnel, sourced through our specialist network. Essential for organisations handling sensitive data or classified systems.
Independent, Remote-First
Nothing to resell, no vendor kickback, no surprise bills. We recommend what’s right for your organisation, not what pays us the best margin. UK-wide, remote-first delivery with occasional on-site sessions arranged as needed.
Compliance Documentation
You get the documentation you need – security configurations, data flow diagrams, compliance evidence. Ready for audits, FOI requests, or governance requirements.
Plain English Communication
We explain complex technical concepts clearly. Your leadership, councillors, or board will understand what we’re recommending and why – no jargon, no confusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have security-cleared M365 engineers?
We have access to engineers with SC and DV clearance, sourced through our specialist network, for sensitive M365 environments that require vetted personnel. For long-term engagements, we can discuss sponsoring additional clearance applications.
Can you ensure UK data residency for our M365 tenant?
Yes. Microsoft’s UK data centres can be configured as the primary location for your M365 data. We configure and document data residency settings and can provide evidence for compliance assessments.
How do you handle OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE data in M365?
We configure sensitivity labels, DLP policies, and access controls to enforce appropriate handling of OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE data. This includes restrictions on external sharing, encryption requirements, and audit logging. Configuration aligns with government guidance.
Can you support existing M365 tenants or only new deployments?
Both. We can take over management of existing tenants, conduct security assessments, and implement improvements. We can also build new tenants from scratch with security-first configuration. Most public sector engagements involve hardening existing environments.
How do you monitor for threats in our M365 environment?
We configure continuous monitoring of audit logs, sign-in activity, and security alerts using Microsoft’s own security tooling, tuned to your environment. We look for signals like impossible travel, credential attacks, and data exfiltration attempts, with alerting and escalation set up to match your severity thresholds.
Do you work through G-Cloud or other frameworks?
Formal framework listing (G-Cloud, DOS, Crown Commercial Service) is on our roadmap. Right now we work through direct award, competitive quotation, RFQ/ITT submissions, and framework sub-contracting arrangements, and we understand the procurement documentation your process will require.
Secure Your M365 Environment
Start with a no-cost M365 security assessment. We’ll review your current configuration, identify compliance gaps, and provide a clear improvement roadmap – whether you choose us or not.
Security Configuration Review
We assess your current M365 security settings against public sector requirements.
Gap Identification
Identify missing controls: MFA gaps, weak DLP, insufficient monitoring, risky sharing settings.
Compliance Alignment
Review against Cyber Essentials, NCSC guidance, and government security requirements.
Clear Roadmap
Prioritised improvement plan with realistic effort estimates and quick wins identified.