Table Of Contents
- 1 Configure Conditional Access to Require Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Before Joining Microsoft Entra ID
- 2 What is Microsoft Entra ID?
- 3 What is Conditional Access?
- 4 Prerequisites
- 5 Why Use Conditional Access to Require MFA Before Joining Entra ID?
- 6 Steps to Configure Conditional Access for MFA Before Joining Microsoft Entra ID
- 7 Monitor the Policy’s Effectiveness
- 8 Best Practices for Conditional Access Policies
- 9 Conclusion
- 10 About The Author
Configure Conditional Access to Require Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Before Joining Microsoft Entra ID
In today’s rapidly evolving security landscape, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) has become a crucial method to safeguard sensitive data and systems. Microsoft Entra Identity is a robust platform for identity and access management, allowing businesses to maintain tight control over user access. A key feature within Entra ID is the ability to configure Conditional Access policies to ensure that MFA is required before a user can join the organization’s Entra ID. This can help stop unauthorized access and ensure that only legitimate users can access corporate resources. In this post, I will walk you through the step-by-step process of configuring Conditional Access to request MFA before allowing users to join your Microsoft Entra ID.
What is Microsoft Entra ID?
Before diving into the setup, let’s briefly cover what Microsoft Entra ID is. Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) is an identity management service provided by Microsoft that helps organizations manage users, groups, devices, and access to various applications securely. It provides features such as single sign-on (SSO), self-service password reset, and Conditional Access.
What is Conditional Access?
Conditional Access is a security feature in Microsoft Entra ID that enforces policies based on specific conditions. With Conditional Access, administrators can define rules to block or allow access to resources based on factors like:
- User location (e.g., trusted locations)
- Device compliance (e.g., whether the device is managed)
- Risk level (e.g., based on user behavior or sign-in risk)
- Authentication strength (e.g., MFA)
Conditional Access helps improve security by enforcing policies that require additional checks before granting access, reducing the attack surface for potential security breaches.
Prerequisites
Before we get into configuring Conditional Access, make sure you have the following:
- Microsoft Entra ID Admin Access: You’ll need administrative privileges to configure Conditional Access policies.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Ensure MFA is enabled for your organization.
- Microsoft Entra ID Premium P1 or P2 License: Conditional Access requires a premium license, such as Microsoft Entra ID Premium P1 or P2.
Why Use Conditional Access to Require MFA Before Joining Entra ID?
Configuring Conditional Access to require MFA before allowing a user to join your Entra ID is a critical security measure. It ensures that only authenticated, legitimate users are allowed to register and access organizational resources, providing additional protection against credential theft and unauthorized access.
In particular, requiring MFA before joining helps to stop a malicious actor from gaining unauthorized access by simply enrolling a device without first verifying their identity through a second factor of authentication.
Steps to Configure Conditional Access for MFA Before Joining Microsoft Entra ID
You can access the Microsoft Entra ID admin center from Azure or Microsoft Office 365 admin center.
To access the Microsoft Entra ID admin center from Azure, click on Microsoft Entra ID from the left-hand pane or search for Microsoft Entra ID in the search box. To access the Microsoft Entra ID admin center from the Microsoft Office 365 admin center, click on Show all, then click on Identity.
You can configure conditional access from the Microsoft Entra ID admin center or from the Microsoft Intune admin center.
To configure conditional access from the Microsoft Intune admin center, Click on Endpoint Security In the left-hand menu and click Conditional access.
To configure conditional access from the Microsoft Entra ID admin center, click on Protection >Conditional access in the left-hand menu.
Click on Policies > +New policy to create a new Conditional Access policy.
Under the Assignments section, name the policy something descriptive, such as MFA Before Joining Entra ID, for easy identification. Click on Users and select All users to apply the policy to all users.
Click on Target resources to select the resources that the policy should apply to. Select User actions, then check the box next to Register or join devices.
Under Access control, click on Grant, select Grant access and check the box for Require multi-factor authentication. This action will ensure that users must complete MFA before they can join the Entra ID.
Set Conditions for MFA (Optional)
You can further refine when MFA is required. For example:
- Locations: You can limit the MFA requirement to specific geographic regions or trusted IP addresses.
- Device Platforms: Specify which platforms (iOS, Android, Windows, etc.) will be subject to the policy.
- Client Apps: Choose whether the policy applies to web apps, mobile apps, or desktop apps.
Enable and Test the Policy
After configuring your desired conditions and controls, review your policy, making sure it meets your organization’s needs. It is important to test your policy before turning it on. Set the policy to Report-only if you are doing this in a production environment to avoid disruption. Otherwise, select On to enable the policy. Click on the Create button to create the policy and test it by attempting to join an Entra ID with a user account. The MFA prompt should appear before the user can complete the process.
Monitor the Policy’s Effectiveness
Once your Conditional Access policy is live, use the Sign-ins log in Entra ID to monitor how it is being applied. You can view reports on users who have triggered MFA and those who have successfully joined Entra ID.
Best Practices for Conditional Access Policies
- Be Specific: When creating policies, always try to be as specific as possible to avoid overly broad rules. This will help prevent unintended disruptions.
- Test Policies: Always test new Conditional Access policies with a small group of users before applying them organization-wide.
- Monitor Regularly: Continuously monitor the success and failure of MFA requests through the Microsoft Entra ID sign-in logs.
- User Education: Educate users about MFA and its importance to reduce friction and encourage smooth adoption.
Conclusion
Configuring Conditional Access to require MFA before joining Microsoft Entra ID adds a crucial layer of security for your organization. By requiring MFA upfront, you ensure that only verified users can gain access to your Entra ID and the associated resources, reducing the risk of unauthorized access. With the easy-to-follow steps outlined in this guide, you can easily configure a policy tailored to your organization’s needs, ensuring a secure and excellent user experience.
If you want to learn more about how Conditional Access and MFA work together to protect your organization, check out our other resources on Microsoft Entra ID security features.
About The Author
