Azure Entra

With modern security requirements, organizations need to secure user identities and access beyond the traditional network. Microsoft Entra Conditional Access helps organizations implement strong security controls, enforcing policies based on user identity, device compliance, and network location. In this article, we’ll walk through the steps to enable Conditional Access policies with Microsoft’s default policy templates to enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and safeguard your organization. What is Conditional Access? As organizational security extends beyond physical networks, protecting access with identity-driven policies has become crucial. Microsoft Entra Conditional Access is a Zero Trust policy engine that combines signals (like user location and device compliance) to make intelligent access control decisions. It’s a powerful way to enforce if-then conditions on access—if a user wants to access a resource, then they must complete an action, like verifying identity with MFA. Example of Conditional Access Policy: If a user attempts to access Microsoft 365, they must complete Multi-Factor Authentication to gain access. This security model ensures that only verified users can access your organization’s resources, providing greater protection against unauthorized access. Conditional Access Policies and Their Benefits Conditional Access is a key feature for tenants with Microsoft Entra ID P1 or P2 licenses, designed to enable stronger identity and access management controls. With Conditional Access policies, you can enforce various security measures, like MFA, for specific scenarios based on conditions like device, location, or identity type. These policies play a significant role in protecting cloud resources, especially when users connect from outside secure networks. Enforcing MFA with Conditional Access is particularly useful for securing Microsoft 365 and Azure resources, providing additional layers of verification to prevent unauthorized access. In this guide, we’ll configure Microsoft’s four default policy templates to simplify the setup and enhance overall security. Step-by-Step Guide to Enabling Conditional Access Policies in Azure Entra In this guide, we’ll enable Microsoft’s default Conditional Access policies for MFA, covering the essential steps to set up these policies for the first time in a new tenant. Step 1: Disable Security Defaults By default, new tenants in Microsoft Entra come with Security Defaults enabled. Security Defaults provide baseline protection, but to use Conditional Access, you’ll first need to disable these settings. Method 1: Disabling Security Defaults in Entra Admin Center Open Entra Admin Center. Navigate to Identity → Overview → Properties. Select Manage Security Defaults and toggle off the security defaults. (Image-1: Disabling Security Defaults in Entra Admin Center) Method 2: Disabling Security Defaults via Conditional Access Policy Setup Go to Entra Admin Center. Navigate to Protection → Conditional Access. Access Security Defaults and toggle off the option to disable security defaults. (Image-2: Disabling Security Defaults from Conditional Access Policy Setup) Step 2: Enable Microsoft’s Default Conditional Access Policies for MFA Once Security Defaults are disabled, you can use Microsoft’s default Conditional Access policy templates to quickly set up MFA across your organization. The four default policies available are: Block Legacy Authentication: Prevents access using outdated protocols that don’t support MFA, reducing security risks. Multi-Factor Authentication for Azure Management: Enforces MFA for users managing Azure resources to protect critical administrative actions. Multi-Factor Authentication for Admins: Applies MFA to admin accounts to secure these highly privileged roles. Multi-Factor Authentication for All Users: Enforces MFA for all users in the organization to secure general access. How to Enable Default Policy Templates In Conditional Access, while disabling Security Defaults, an additional option will appear: replace Security Defaults by enabling Conditional Access policies. Make sure to select this option, as it will enable all four of Microsoft’s default policy templates for MFA. (Image-3: Enabling Microsoft’s Default Conditional Access Policy Templates) Important: Ensure you select the option to replace Security Defaults with Conditional Access policies. This option will allow you to use Microsoft’s pre-configured policy templates effectively. Now, we have successfully enabled Microsoft’s four Conditional Access policy templates. (Image-4: Successfully Enabled the Four MFA Policies through Conditional Access) Step 3: Exclude Global Admin Account to Prevent Lockouts After enabling the Conditional Access policies, make sure to exclude your Global Admin account from MFA requirements within these policies. Excluding the Global Admin account is essential to prevent potential lockouts during login. To do this: Go to each policy you’ve enabled and select Assignments. In Users and groups, select Exclude and choose your Global Admin account. (Image-5: Configuring Exclusions for Global Admin Account in Conditional Access Policy) Conclusion Congratulations! You have successfully enabled Conditional Access policies in Azure Entra and enforced MFA for added security. With these policies in place, your organization is better protected against unauthorized access. Remember to periodically review and update your policies as your security needs evolve. By following this guide, you’re taking important steps toward a Zero Trust security model, ensuring that only verified and compliant users can access sensitive resources. Suggested Posts Use Case Scenario: Adding Multiple Users to Calendar Access How to Configure OneDrive Files On-Demand Sync: Mastering Configuration for Intune Administrators Easily Copy Group Memberships Between Users in Microsoft 365 Using PowerShell These posts can further enhance your understanding of tools and methods that improve productivity in your organization.