Tutorial / Cram Notes
These policies allow the administrator to enforce granular controls over who can access what resources, under what conditions. When preparing for the SC-300 Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator exam, a thorough understanding of Conditional Access is vital.
Understanding Conditional Access Policies
Conditional Access is a feature provided by Microsoft Azure AD that helps you implement automated access control decisions for accessing your cloud apps, based on conditions. Conditional Access policies are if-then statements; if a user wants to access a resource, they must complete an action or meet a set of conditions.
Key Components of Conditional Access Policies
- Who: This refers to the users and groups the policy will apply to.
- What: This specifies the apps that the policy will protect.
- Where: This considers the location from where the access attempt is made.
- When: This involves assessing the time or sign-in risk level during the access attempt.
- How: This entails the devices used for access, whether they are compliant or not.
Implementation of Conditional Access Policies
- Define the User or Group: Choose the specific users or groups the policy will apply to, which could include all users or just a subset.
- Specify the Cloud App: Determine which cloud apps are to be protected by the policy.
- Configure Conditions:
- Sign-in Risk: Assess the risk level of the sign-in attempt.
- Device State: Determine requirements regarding whether a device is compliant or joined to a domain.
- Location: Define trusted IP ranges or mark certain countries as risky.
- Client Apps: Distinguish between browser and client app access.
- Decide on Access Controls:
- Grant Access: Choose whether to allow or block access or require multi-factor authentication (MFA), device compliance, or a hybrid Azure AD join.
- Session: Apply session controls to manage what a user can do within a cloud app.
Examples of Conditional Access Policies
Let’s consider some example scenarios in which Conditional Access policies play a crucial role:
- Multi-factor Authentication for Outside Office: When employees attempt to access Office 365 outside the corporate network, enforce MFA to ensure an added layer of security.
- Block Legacy Authentication: Legacy authentication protocols like IMAP, SMTP, or POP can be blocked as they don’t support MFA, reducing the risk of credential-related attacks.
- Require Compliant Devices: Access to cloud apps is allowed only from devices that are compliant with the organization’s device compliance policies.
Conditional Access Policy Troubleshooting
Administering Conditional Access policies also involves troubleshooting issues that might arise. For example, if a user reports being unable to access a resource, the administrator would check the Conditional Access policy reports and logs to identify the policy causing the block and the specific conditions not met.
Best Practices for Conditional Access Policies
- Start with a Baseline Policy: Implement commonly recommended baseline policies to cover fundamental protection scenarios before customizing.
- Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Combine Conditional Access with RBAC to provide a least-privilege approach.
- Regular Reviews and Updates: Policies should be evaluated and updated continually to adapt to changing security landscapes.
- Test Before Deployment: Use the “What If” tool within Conditional Access to simulate policies and understand their impact before full-scale deployment.
Comparison Table: Conditional Access Policy Scenarios
| Scenario | User(s) | Cloud Application(s) | Condition(s) | Access Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MFA for Admins | Global administrators | All apps | Sign-in from any location | Require MFA |
| Block High-risk Sign-ins | All users | All apps | Sign-in risk: High | Block access |
| Require Compliance for Cloud Storage | All users | OneDrive, SharePoint | Access from any device | Require device compliance |
| Secure Guest Access | Guest users | All apps | Access from any location | MFA and Session Controls |
Conclusion
Conditional Access policies are central to managing the delicate balance between security and user productivity. For Identity and Access Administrators, mastering these controls is a key aspect of passing the SC-300 exam and effectively securing identity and access within an organization. It is imperative to stay informed of the evolving security models and continuously adapt policies to safeguard against emerging threats.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: Conditional Access policies can be applied to specific users or groups within an organization.
True
Explanation: Conditional Access policies are very flexible and can target specific users or groups, ensuring that the policies are applied only to the intended subjects.
True or False: It is mandatory to use Conditional Access policies when using Azure AD.
False
Explanation: While Conditional Access policies provide an extra layer of security, they are not mandatory to use with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD).
A Conditional Access policy can enforce which type of requirements? (Select all that apply)
- A. Multi-factor authentication
- B. Device compliance
- C. Password change requirement
- D. Specific network location access
Answer: A, B, D
Explanation: Conditional Access policies can enforce requirements such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), device compliance to certain standards, and access from specific network locations. They don’t strictly enforce password changes, as this is managed by other components of Azure AD.
In a Conditional Access policy, what can be used as a condition to control access? (Select all that apply)
- A. User risk
- B. Sign-in frequency
- C. Time of day
- D. Application used for access
Answer: A, D
Explanation: Conditional Access policies can take into account user risk and applications used for access as conditions. Sign-in frequency and time of day are not direct conditions that can be used within Azure’s Conditional Access framework.
True or False: Conditional Access policies allow rules to be targeted at specific applications.
True
Explanation: Conditional Access policies can be very granular, including being applied to specific cloud applications, thus affording precise control over how the policies are applied within an organization.
True or False: To implement a Conditional Access policy, you must have an Azure AD Premium P1 or P2 license.
True
Explanation: Conditional Access is a feature of Azure AD that is available with Azure AD Premium P1 or P2 licenses.
What action can be taken when a sign-in attempt does not meet the required Conditional Access policy? (Single select)
- A. Block access
- B. Grant access
- C. Audit only
- D. Encrypt data
Answer: A
Explanation: When a sign-in attempt fails to meet the conditions set by the Conditional Access policy, the action that can be taken includes blocking access.
True or False: Conditional Access policies are enforced after the first-factor authentication is completed.
True
Explanation: Conditional Access evaluation occurs after the first factor of authentication is successful; it then determines whether to prompt for additional verification steps, block access, or require a device to be compliant.
Can a Conditional Access policy require a user to be located in a specific country? (Single select)
- A. Yes
- B. No
Answer: A
Explanation: Conditional Access policies can be set up to require that users be located in specific countries or regions based on their IP addresses as a condition for access.
True or False: Conditional Access policies can be set up to apply only during certain hours of the day.
False
Explanation: Conditional Access policies do not natively support time-based conditions such as applying only during certain hours of the day.
Which Conditional Access policy signal could be indicative of a user attempting to access resources from an unfamiliar location?
- A. User risk
- B. Application risk
- C. Sign-in risk
- D. Device risk
Answer: C
Explanation: ‘Sign-in risk’ is a signal used to identify the probability that a given authentication request isn’t legitimate; for instance, sign-ins from an unfamiliar location can be flagged as risky.
True or False: Conditional Access policy decisions can be simulated for testing purposes without affecting the live environment.
True
Explanation: Azure AD provides a “What If” tool that allows administrators to simulate Conditional Access policy decisions to understand their impact without affecting the live environment.
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 are some common scenarios for implementing conditional access policies in Exchange Online?
Some common scenarios for implementing conditional access policies in Exchange Online include requiring multi-factor authentication for users accessing Exchange Online from outside your organization’s network, or blocking access from non-compliant devices.
How do you create a conditional access policy for Exchange Online in Microsoft Intune?
To create a conditional access policy for Exchange Online in Microsoft Intune, sign in to the Exchange Online admin center, click on “Policies” in the left-hand menu, and then click on “Conditional Access” to create a new policy.
What are some conditions that can be enforced by a conditional access policy for Exchange Online?
Some conditions that can be enforced by a conditional access policy for Exchange Online include requiring multi-factor authentication, checking for device compliance, and blocking access from specific locations.
How can you assign a conditional access policy to a specific group of users or devices?
You can assign a conditional access policy to a specific group of users or devices by using the “Assignments” feature in the Intune console.
What is the purpose of the “Grant” and “Session” controls in a conditional access policy?
The “Grant” and “Session” controls in a conditional access policy allow you to specify the conditions under which users are granted access and how long they can maintain their session.
How can you use conditional access policies to enforce compliance for mobile devices?
You can use conditional access policies to enforce compliance for mobile devices by requiring users to enroll their device in Intune and to meet certain compliance policies before they can access your organization’s resources.
What is the “Conditional Access App Control” feature in a conditional access policy?
The “Conditional Access App Control” feature in a conditional access policy allows you to control how your organization’s data is accessed and used within cloud-based applications.
Can you use a conditional access policy to control access to on-premises applications?
Yes, you can use a conditional access policy to control access to on-premises applications if those applications are integrated with Azure Active Directory.
How can you test a conditional access policy before deploying it in a production environment?
You can test a conditional access policy before deploying it in a production environment by creating a test policy in a non-production environment and then assigning it to a test group of users or devices.
Can you use a conditional access policy to control access to specific files or data within an application?
Yes, you can use a conditional access policy to control access to specific files or data within an application by using the “Conditional Access App Control” feature.
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 is the purpose of the “Grant controls” in a conditional access policy?
The “Grant controls” in a conditional access policy allow you to specify the conditions under which users are granted access to your organization’s resources.
Can you use a conditional access policy to require approval before granting access to a resource?
Yes, you can use a conditional access policy to require approval before granting access to a resource by using the “Approval” feature in the Intune console.
Implementing conditional access policies has really helped improve our security stance.
I am struggling to configure conditions for legacy apps. Any tips?
Conditional access policies have significantly reduced unauthorized access in our organization.
This blog post was extremely helpful. Thanks!
How are you all handling exceptions for VIP users?
I appreciate the detailed steps provided here.
Is there a way to test conditional access policies before enforcing them?
I didn’t find this blog post very useful.