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Conditional access is a core component of the security features within Microsoft 365, which helps organizations enforce access controls to their applications and data. It is essentially a set of policies and configurations that administrators can use to determine who can access resources, under what conditions, and what they can do with those resources.
The primary purpose of conditional access is to provide enhanced security by ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive information and that they do so in a secure manner. This involves evaluating several signals such as user identity, device health, location, and risks associated with a user or device to make real-time decisions on access.
Scenario | Access Control | Example Use Case |
---|---|---|
Always require MFA | Enforce MFA regardless of other signals | Access to high-value resources, e.g., financial applications |
Risk-based conditional access | Require stronger authentication or block access based on risk | User signs in from an unusual location |
Require compliant devices | Only allow access from devices that meet compliance standards | Users attempting to access data from personal devices |
Block legacy authentication | Prevent sign-ins from legacy protocols which don’t support MFA | Blocking access via outdated mail protocols like POP/IMAP |
Allow limited access (session control) | Provide limited, web-only access without ability to download data | Users accessing from BYOD or unmanaged devices |
Conditional access in Microsoft 365, as demonstrated through the scenarios above, serves as both a defense mechanism against potential security breaches and a flexible, intelligent system to facilitate productivity without sacrificing security. The MS-900 Microsoft 365 Fundamentals exam would test an understanding of these concepts, ensuring that candidates are familiar with the basic principles and value of such access policies.
Conditional Access is used to implement automated access control decisions for accessing cloud apps based on conditions.
Answer: B, C, D
Conditional Access is used to apply automatic access controls, protect against unauthorized access, and ensure security policies are adhered to, not to provide unlimited access.
Conditional Access policies can be targeted to specific roles, groups, or even specific users.
Answer: C
The primary value is enhancing security by ensuring that the necessary conditions are met before granting access to resources.
Conditional Access policies can be applied to both user and service accounts within an organization.
Answer: A, B, C, D
Conditional Access uses signals such as user risk, location, time of the day, and device compliance to enforce access controls.
Conditional Access policies are not permanent and can be updated or removed based on the evolving needs of an organization.
Answer: C
Conditional Access reflects an identity-driven security approach by applying the right access controls to the right identities under the right circumstances.
Conditional Access works best with applications that support modern authentication protocols. Some legacy applications may not be compatible without proper support.
Answer: A, B, D
Conditional Access policies can be triggered by changes in group membership, sign-in from a new location, or a device being compromised (e.g., jailbroken), not by public holidays.
Conditional Access can be used for both cloud and on-premises applications, especially when used in conjunction with Azure Active Directory Application Proxy or hybrid Azure AD join.
Answer: D
Conditional Access policies require Azure AD Premium as they are a premium feature not available in the free edition of Azure AD.
Conditional access is a policy-based access management tool that provides administrators with control over access to corporate resources based on specified conditions.
Conditional access provides many benefits, including increased security, better visibility and control over access to corporate resources, and improved user productivity.
Conditional access works by setting policies that require specific conditions to be met before a user is allowed access to a particular resource. These conditions may include the user’s location, device status, and other factors.
Conditions that can be set in conditional access policies include the user’s location, the type of device being used, whether the device is managed, and the user’s group membership.
Conditional access can be useful in a variety of scenarios, including when users are accessing corporate resources from untrusted networks, when accessing sensitive data, and when using unmanaged devices.
While both tools are focused on identity and access management, conditional access is a policy-based tool that enforces specific access requirements, while Identity Protection is focused on detecting and mitigating risks related to identity and access.
Yes, conditional access can be integrated with on-premises applications through the use of Azure AD Application Proxy.
Azure AD Conditional Access App Control is a feature of conditional access that provides additional security and control over access to SaaS applications.
Yes, conditional access can be used with third-party MFA solutions, provided they support the protocols required by Azure AD.
To use conditional access in Azure AD, organizations must have an Azure AD Premium P1 or P2 license, and the user or application being secured must be licensed for Azure AD.
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