Create and configure access review programs

They ensure that users retain only the access they need to perform their roles. Managing access is essential, not only to protect sensitive data but also to comply with various regulations. Microsoft’s Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) provides capabilities that help organizations implement and configure access review programs. For the SC-300 Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator exam, understanding how to create and configure these programs is important.

Understanding Access Reviews

Being able to perform access reviews efficiently requires a good understanding of what they are. Access reviews in Azure AD enable organizations to manage group memberships, access to enterprise applications, and role assignments. Regularly reviewing these can help to identify and revoke access that is no longer necessary, thus minimizing the risks associated with excessive or outdated permissions.

Configuring Access Reviews

To configure Access Reviews in Azure AD, follow these essential steps:

1. Identify the need for access reviews: Determine the groups, applications, or roles that need to be reviewed in your organization.
2. Plan the access review cycle: Decide how often the reviews should occur – e.g., monthly, quarterly, or annually.
3. Configure Access Review Policies: Navigate to the Azure AD portal, under Identity Governance, to set up the access review policies.
4. Define reviewers: Assign individuals or groups that will be responsible for performing the reviews. Reviewers can be group owners, selected users, or even members themselves.
5. Determine the action on review completion: Set up what should happen when the review is completed – approvals can result in continued access, while denials can lead to automatic removal or trigger a manual process.
6. Notifications and reminders: Ensure that reminder emails are configured so that reviewers are prompted to complete their tasks on time.
7. Reporting and auditing: Set up reports and audit logs to track the reviews for compliance purposes and future assessment.

Access Review Process

The typical process for an access review involves several steps:

1. Start the review: The review begins as per the defined schedule.
2. Notifications: Reviewers receive notifications to start the review process.
3. Review & respond: Reviewers analyze each user’s access and decide whether to approve or deny it.
4. Complete the review: The outcome of the reviews determines if access is maintained or revoked.
5. Apply results: Changes are applied based on the review decisions, and can be automatic or require further approval.
6. Audit & report: The entire process is logged for auditing purposes, and reports can be generated for compliance.

Examples of Scenarios for Access Reviews

Scenario 1: Controlling guest access

• Access Review Policy: Review all guest accounts every 90 days.
• Reviewers: Group owners of groups with guest members.
• Outcome: Guests with unnecessary access are removed or confirmed.

Scenario 2: Validating employee roles

• Access Review Policy: Review employee role assignments annually.
• Reviewers: IT department heads or direct managers.
• Outcome: Role assignments are adjusted to reflect the current job functions.

Scenario 3: Reassess accessibility for sensitive applications

• Access Review Policy: Review access to sensitive applications every quarter.
• Reviewers: Application owners or compliance officers.
• Outcome: Ensures that only those who need access to sensitive applications retain it.

Tools For Review Automation and Monitoring

To streamline the access review process, tools for automation and monitoring should be utilized:

• Automation: Use Azure AD’s built-in features to automate scheduling, notifications, and enforcement actions for the reviews.
• Power BI: Integrate with Power BI for advanced reporting and to analyze trends over time. This integration can provide more insights into the access patterns and potential risks.
• Azure AD Access Review API: Leverage the API for custom automation or integration with other systems, providing more flexibility in managing the access review process.

Conclusion

Regular access reviews are vital for maintaining a secure and compliant identity governance framework. For the SC-300, understanding how to create and configure access reviews is fundamental. It is all about balancing security with functionality—ensuring that users have the access they need to be productive, while also preventing any unnecessary or excessive permissions that could expose an organization to risks. Through strategic planning, execution, and utilizing Azure AD’s tools, organizations can establish an effective access review regimen that supports a robust security posture.