Tutorial / Cram Notes
Conditional Access is a capability of the Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) that allows you to enforce controls on the access to apps in your environment based on certain conditions. As an Identity and Access Administrator preparing for the SC-300: Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator exam, understanding how to implement Conditional Access policy assignments is crucial.
Conditional Access policies are if-then statements, where if a user wants to access a resource, then they must complete an action. For example, a policy could be “If a user wants to access this high-business-impact app, then they must perform multi-factor authentication (MFA).”
When implementing Conditional Access policies, you can target the policies to specific users and groups, cloud apps, and conditions such as device state, location, or sign-in risk. Let’s explore each of these elements in more detail.
Users and Groups
You can target Conditional Access policies at specific users or groups within Azure AD. When designing your policy, make sure to understand the impact it will have on the targeted users.
For example, you might have a policy that requires MFA for any user in the “Finance” Azure AD group when accessing the “Expense Reporting” cloud application.
Cloud Apps
Within Conditional Access policies, you can target specific cloud applications. This ensures that policies are only applied to the applications you specify.
For example, you might apply a different Conditional Access policy to your CRM system than your email application due to the different sensitivity levels of data within each app.
Conditions
Conditions in a Conditional Access policy define when the policy applies. Conditions can include user sign-in risk, device platform, location, client apps, and device state.
Sign-in Risk
Using Azure AD Identity Protection, you can create policies that are triggered based on the calculated sign-in risk level. For example, you could require high-risk sign-ins to perform MFA or change their password.
Location
You can specify locations by defining a set of IP address ranges. These locations can be included or excluded in the Conditional Access policy. For example, you might block access to certain apps from countries where your company does not operate.
Device State
You might want policies to apply differently based on whether a device is marked as compliant with your organization’s device compliance policy or joined to a domain.
Client Apps
Conditional Access policies can apply to client apps like browsers or specific client applications that use modern authentication.
Implementation Steps:
- Identify the resources: Determine which cloud apps require protection.
- Define the user groups: Decide which users or groups the policies will apply to.
- Set conditions: Based on your organizational needs, set the relevant conditions like location, device state, or sign-in risk.
- Determine access controls: Choose what control will be triggered (e.g., require MFA, require device to be marked compliant).
- Test your policy: First, in report-only mode to assess the possible impact without actually enforcing the policy.
- Enable policy: Once you are certain of the policy’s impact and have communicated with affected users, enable the policy to start protecting the defined resources.
Policy Assignment Example
| Users and Groups | Cloud Apps | Conditions | Access Controls | Policy Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance Department | Expense Reporting | Sign-in from outside corp network | Require MFA | Finance Expense MFA |
In the table, the policy “Finance Expense MFA” targets only the Finance Department group. It specifies that when members of this group access the Expense Reporting app from outside the corporate network, they must perform MFA.
Remember, the context of the user’s attempt to access resources is key in determining whether a policy should be applied. Conditional Access is a powerful tool that, when used properly, can significantly increase your organization’s security posture without hindering productivity. As you prepare for the SC-300 exam, focus on understanding the intricacies of Conditional Access policy assignments so that you can effectively secure your organization’s identities and access privileges.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: Conditional Access Policies allow rules to be set based on factors such as user role, location, device, and application.
Answer: True
Explanation: Conditional Access Policies in Azure Active Directory enable rules to be applied that depend on specific circumstances, including user roles, locations, devices used, the applications being accessed, and more.
Which of the following can be used as conditions in a Conditional Access Policy? (Select all that apply)
- A) User or group membership
- B) Application sensitivity label
- C) Sign-in risk
- D) Time of day
Answer: A, C
Explanation: User or group membership and sign-in risk are conditions that can be used in a Conditional Access Policy. Application sensitivity label is not directly a condition, and time of day is not a condition that can be specified in policies.
True or False: Conditional Access Policies are enforced after a user has been authenticated.
Answer: True
Explanation: Conditional Access Policies evaluate the predefined conditions after the initial authentication has been completed and before granting access to a resource.
Which of the following is not a requirement for implementing Conditional Access Policies?
- A) Azure Active Directory
- B) Azure Information Protection
- C) Azure Subscription
- D) Appropriate Licensing
Answer: B
Explanation: Implementation of Conditional Access Policies requires Azure Active Directory and the appropriate licensing. Azure Information Protection is not required for Conditional Access Policies, and while an Azure Subscription is necessary for billing and managing services, it’s not a direct requirement like AAD and licensing.
True or False: A Conditional Access Policy can block access to resources even if a user has the correct credentials.
Answer: True
Explanation: Conditional Access Policies can indeed block access to resources based on the conditions set, irrespective of whether a user has the legitimate credentials.
Which control types are available in Conditional Access Policies? (Select all that apply)
- A) Allow access
- B) Enforce multifactor authentication
- C) Require device compliance
- D) Set user session duration
Answer: B, C
Explanation: Conditional Access Policies include controls like enforcing multifactor authentication and requiring device to be compliant, but they do not natively control user session duration or just “allow access” without setting specific conditions and requirements.
True or False: It is mandatory to define at least one user or group in a Conditional Access Policy.
Answer: True
Explanation: A Conditional Access Policy needs to have at least one user or group defined for it to be valid and applied.
Which component do you need to deploy to use Conditional Access based on device compliance?
- A) Azure Information Protection
- B) Microsoft Intune
- C) Azure Advanced Threat Protection
- D) Microsoft Defender for Identity
Answer: B
Explanation: Microsoft Intune is used to manage device compliance, which can then be used as a condition in Conditional Access Policies.
True or False: Conditional Access Policies can be applied to guest users in Azure Active Directory.
Answer: True
Explanation: Conditional Access Policies can be applied to any user in Azure AD, including guest users.
In a Conditional Access Policy, the term ‘conditions’ refers to:
- A) The actions taken when the policy rules are met
- B) The requirements that need to be satisfied for the policy to be applied
- C) The roles assigned to users
- D) The permissions granted by the policy
Answer: B
Explanation: Within Conditional Access Policies, ‘conditions’ refer to the specific criteria that need to be satisfied for the policy to take effect and can include user groups, location, device state, and more.
True or False: You can create a Conditional Access Policy that applies only when users are not on a trusted network.
Answer: True
Explanation: Conditional Access Policies can be configured to apply only under certain network conditions, such as when users are not connecting from a trusted network.
What should be considered when configuring a Conditional Access Policy to ensure minimal impact on end users?
- A) Enforce re-authentication every 5 minutes
- B) Apply to all users including administrators
- C) Start with a report-only mode
- D) Target only a single application for all users
Answer: C
Explanation: Starting with a report-only mode enables administrators to understand the impact of a Conditional Access Policy without actually affecting users, which can help in minimizing disruptions.
Interview Questions
What are conditional access policies in Microsoft Intune?
Conditional access policies in Microsoft Intune allow you to define the conditions under which users and devices are allowed to access your organization’s resources, and then automatically block or allow access based on those conditions.
What is an example of a condition that could be enforced by a conditional access policy?
An example of a condition that could be enforced by a conditional access policy is requiring multi-factor authentication (MFA) for users accessing sensitive resources from outside of your organization’s network.
How can you create a conditional access policy in Microsoft Intune?
You can create a conditional access policy in Microsoft Intune using the Intune console.
How can you assign a conditional access policy to a group of users or devices?
To assign a conditional access policy to a group of users or devices, you can use the “Assignments” feature in the Intune console.
What is the purpose of a conditional access policy for Exchange Online?
The purpose of a conditional access policy for Exchange Online is to help ensure that only authorized users and devices can access an organization’s Exchange Online resources.
What are some examples of conditions that can be enforced by a conditional access policy for Exchange Online?
Examples of conditions that can be enforced by a conditional access policy for Exchange Online include requiring MFA for users accessing Exchange Online from outside of your organization’s network, and blocking access from non-compliant devices.
How can you create a conditional access policy for Exchange Online in Microsoft Intune?
You can create a conditional access policy for Exchange Online in Microsoft Intune using the Exchange Online admin center.
What is the purpose of the “Locations” feature in a conditional access policy?
The “Locations” feature in a conditional access policy allows you to define the locations from which users and devices are allowed to access your organization’s resources.
How can you configure a conditional access policy to affect specific apps and services?
You can configure a conditional access policy to affect specific apps and services by using the “Cloud apps” feature in the Intune console.
Can you assign multiple conditional access policies to the same group of users or devices?
Yes, you can assign multiple conditional access policies to the same group of users or devices.
How can you monitor the effectiveness of your conditional access policies?
You can monitor the effectiveness of your conditional access policies by using monitoring and reporting tools provided by Microsoft, such as Azure AD sign-in logs.
What are some best practices for creating and assigning conditional access policies?
Some best practices for creating and assigning conditional access policies include regularly reviewing and updating policies, communicating changes and updates to users, and testing policies in a non-production environment before deploying them to production.
How can you troubleshoot issues with a conditional access policy?
You can troubleshoot issues with a conditional access policy by reviewing policy logs, checking the status of devices and users, and verifying that policies are properly assigned.
How can you customize the conditions enforced by a conditional access policy?
You can customize the conditions enforced by a conditional access policy by using the advanced settings in the Intune console.
Can you assign conditional access policies to groups of users and devices in a hybrid environment?
Yes, you can assign conditional access policies to groups of users and devices in a hybrid environment by using Azure AD Connect to synchronize the user and device information.
Great blog post! Implementing conditional access policies really boosts security!
Does anyone have experience with setting up multi-tenant conditional access policies? Any tips?
Struggling with implementing CA policies for mobile devices. Anyone else?
Can conditional access be applied to specific applications only?
Conditional access policies can occasionally block legitimate access. How do you handle that?
How frequently should we review and update our conditional access policies?
Do conditional access policies apply to guest users in Azure AD?
I appreciate the attention to detail in this blog. Thanks for the useful information!