Tutorial / Cram Notes
Monitoring access review activity is a critical aspect of managing identities and ensuring that the right users have the right access to resources in an organization.
Access reviews enable organizations to efficiently manage group memberships, access to enterprise applications, and role assignments within Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). As part of the requirements for the SC-300 Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator exam, understanding how to monitor these activities is key.
The Importance of Monitoring Access Review Activities
Regular monitoring of access reviews helps in maintaining security and compliance within an organization by ensuring only authorized users have access to resources. It is an essential part of a Zero Trust security model where verification is required from everyone trying to access resources in an organization’s network.
Configuring Access Reviews
Before monitoring can take place, you need to set up access reviews. The following steps are usually taken:
- Define the access review policy by specifying what is being reviewed, such as group memberships or application access.
- Set the frequency and duration of the reviews.
- Determine who will perform the review, such as the group owner, members, or application owners.
- Specify what happens upon review approval or denial – for instance, whether access is removed automatically or requires manual intervention.
Monitoring Access Reviews
After setting up access reviews, administrators can monitor the activity through the Azure AD access reviews dashboard. The dashboard provides an overview of all ongoing, upcoming, and completed access reviews. It also shows the status of reviews, including the percentage completed and any items pending review.
Viewing Access Review Results
To view the results of an access review:
- Go to the Azure portal.
- Navigate to Azure AD > Identity Governance > Access Reviews.
- Select the specific access review to see detailed results.
The detailed results will show information such as who has completed their review, the decisions made, and any comments provided by the reviewers.
Important Metrics to Monitor
Several metrics are important for monitoring access review activities:
- Completion Percentage: A measure of how much of the current review has been completed by the assigned reviewers.
- Decision Distribution: A breakdown of the access review decisions, such as Approve, Deny, or Don’t Know.
- Expired Reviews: Access reviews that have passed their end date without completion.
- Actioned Items: The number of reviewed items where action (like removal of access) has been taken.
Using Audit Logs
Additionally, administrators can utilize audit logs to monitor and investigate changes made during an access review. The audit log can help track who made what changes and when, providing an audit trail for regulatory compliance purposes. To access audit logs:
- Go to Azure AD.
- Navigate to Audit logs under Monitoring.
- Filter the audit logs by activity type to find records related to access reviews.
Audit logs can provide information such as:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Date and Time | When the access review decision was made |
| Actor | Who made the decision |
| Activity | The type of decision made (Approve/Deny) |
| Target | The target resource of the review decision |
| Change before | The access status before the review decision |
| Change after | The access status after the review decision |
Reporting and Compliance
The data obtained from monitoring access review activities can be used to generate reports for compliance audits. These reports can show access changes over time and evidence of periodic reviews to fulfill regulatory requirements.
Best Practices
For effective monitoring, it’s recommended to:
- Ensure regular review and clean up of access rights.
- Automate access review processes where possible to minimize the administrative burden.
- Train reviewers on how to make informed decisions during the review process.
- Follow up on recommendations provided by access reviews and take appropriate action.
- Keep thorough records of all decisions and actions taken as part of the access review process for auditing purposes.
In summary, monitoring access review activities is a central part of the role of a Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator. The ability to set up access reviews, monitor their progress, understand the impacts of decisions, and generate reports are crucial competencies measured by the SC-300 exam. Properly executing these responsibilities helps ensure that the principle of least privilege is maintained, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: Azure Active Directory Premium P2 is required for access reviews.
- True
Azure Active Directory Premium P2 is indeed required to perform access reviews.
True or False: Access reviews can only be conducted for users within an organization.
- False
Access reviews can be performed for both internal users and external guests collaborating in the organization.
What permission is necessary to read access review reports in Azure AD?
- A) Global Administrator
- B) User Administrator
- C) Compliance Administrator
- D) Reports Reader
Answer: D) Reports Reader
A Reports Reader has the necessary permissions to read access review reports in Azure AD.
True or False: Microsoft Cloud App Security can be used to monitor access review activity.
- False
Microsoft Cloud App Security is a different tool focused on monitoring user activities and data across cloud apps, not specifically for monitoring access review activity.
Which feature allows you to automate access reviews at regular intervals?
- A) Azure AD Identity Protection
- B) Azure AD Conditional Access
- C) Azure AD Access Reviews
Answer: C) Azure AD Access Reviews
Azure AD Access Reviews allows you to set up automatic recurring access reviews at desired intervals.
True or False: Access review decisions can be applied automatically once a review completes.
- True
Access review decisions can be configured to apply automatically after the review period ends, removing or maintaining access as needed.
True or False: Access reviews do not support reviewing application access.
- False
Access reviews support reviewing access to applications, as well as Azure AD roles and group memberships.
Which role must a user have to create access reviews?
- A) User Access Administrator
- B) Compliance Data Administrator
- C) Global Administrator
- D) Security Administrator
Answer: C) Global Administrator
A Global Administrator can create access reviews in Azure AD.
True or False: Users who are being reviewed cannot be assigned as reviewers.
- True
It is not a recommended practice to assign users who are being reviewed as reviewers for the same access review.
True or False: Business justifications are mandatory for every access review decision.
- False
While business justifications can be required by policy for access review decisions, they are not mandatory for every review. This is configurable.
Select all that apply: Which attributes can be used for grouping in access reviews?
- A) Department
- B) Group membership
- C) Manager
- D) Location
Answer: A) Department, B) Group membership, C) Manager
These attributes can be used to create specific groupings for access reviews, whereas location is not an attribute used for this specific function.
True or False: It’s possible to use PowerShell to manage access reviews in Azure AD.
- True
PowerShell can be used to manage different aspects of access reviews in Azure AD, such as creating, updating, or retrieving access reviews.
Interview Questions
What is an access review in Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)?
An access review is a process of evaluating and managing user access to resources in Azure AD.
Why is it important to monitor access review activity in Azure AD?
Monitoring access review activity is important to ensure that access management policies are being implemented effectively and to identify areas for improvement.
What is the first step in monitoring access review activity in Azure AD?
The first step is to access the access review activity report in Azure AD.
What information does the access review activity report provide?
The access review activity report provides information on the status of all access reviews in your organization.
How can you identify access reviews that require attention in Azure AD?
You can identify access reviews that require attention by reviewing the access review activity report in Azure AD.
What actions can you take to address issues identified in access reviews in Azure AD?
Actions that can be taken to address issues identified in access reviews include assigning additional reviewers, modifying access permissions, or revoking access.
How can you monitor the progress of access reviews in Azure AD?
After taking action, monitor the progress of access reviews to ensure that they are completed in a timely manner.
How often should access reviews be conducted in Azure AD?
The frequency of access reviews will vary based on the size and complexity of an organization, but they can be done daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
What is an access review cycle in Azure AD?
An access review cycle is the period of time in which an access review program is conducted.
How can you generate additional reports to gain insight into access review activity in Azure AD?
Additional reports can be generated to gain insight into access review activity by using the Access Review Status report in Azure AD.
What are some benefits of using Azure AD for access reviews?
Some benefits of using Azure AD for access reviews include increased security, more efficient access management, and compliance with industry standards and regulations.
How can access reviews for groups and apps help improve access management?
Access reviews for groups and apps can help improve access management by ensuring that users only have access to the resources they need to perform their job.
How can automation tools be used to create and configure access reviews in Azure AD Entitlement Management?
Automation tools can be used to create and configure access reviews in Azure AD Entitlement Management, helping to streamline the process and reduce manual effort.
What types of apps can be included in access reviews in Azure AD Entitlement Management?
Apps that can be included in access reviews in Azure AD Entitlement Management include managed apps, in-house apps, and third-party apps.
What are some common compliance requirements that can be met through access reviews in Azure AD Entitlement Management?
Common compliance requirements that can be met through access reviews in Azure AD Entitlement Management include those related to data privacy, data protection, and data access control.
Interesting post on SC-300 Exam, can someone explain how to set up a periodic access review?
I struggled with configuring the access review notifications. Any tips?
Thanks for the helpful article!
I think the UI for Azure AD could be more intuitive when it comes to Access Reviews.
Can seasonal staff be set up to have their access automatically reviewed?
Certification for SC-300 was super tough but your content is a great preparatory material!
Can someone clarify the difference between Access Reviews and Privileged Identity Management?
How do you automate access reviews using PowerShell?