plan and implement access reviews in Azure AD identity governance

Access reviews in Azure AD allow organizations to review group memberships, access to enterprise applications, and role assignments. Administrators can specify reviewers who are responsible for ensuring that users still require their assigned access. The primary benefits include improved security and compliance, as well as a reduction in the risk of data breaches due to outdated access privileges.

Planning Access Reviews

Before implementing access reviews, it is essential to devise a clear and structured plan. Here are the steps involved in the planning stage:

1. Identify the Scope:
   • Determine which resources, groups, or applications require regular access reviews.
   • Identify sensitive or high-impact resources that may require more frequent reviews.
2. Define the Frequency:

   Decide on how often the access reviews should occur (e.g., monthly, quarterly, annually).

3. Assign Reviewers:

   Choose who will perform the reviews. This could be the resource owner, group owner, or a specific individual within the organization.
4. Set Policies and Guidelines:

   Create clear guidelines for reviewers on how to evaluate access needs and what actions to take for approval or denial.

5. Determine Outcomes:

   Define what should happen when access is approved, denied, or not reviewed (e.g., auto-approval, auto-denial, or escalation to an administrator).

Implementing Access Reviews

With a plan in hand, you can move on to the implementation phase in Azure AD:

1. Navigate to Azure AD Identity Governance:
   
   – Log in to the Azure portal and go to the Identity Governance section.

2. Create a New Access Review:
   
   – Click on ‘Access Reviews’ and then select ‘New access review’.

3. Configure the Access Review Settings:
   
   – Name the access review and describe its purpose.
   
   – Choose the start date, frequency, and duration of the review cycle.
   
   – Configure who the review is for (specific group, application, or Azure AD role) and who will be conducting the review.

4. Advanced Settings:
   
   – Use advanced settings to automate decisions if no response is received.
   
   – Set up notifications and reminders for the reviewers.

5. Monitor and Report:
   
   – Once the access review is in progress, monitor its completion rate.
   
   – Generate reports at the end of reviews to audit and document the decisions.

6. Remediation Actions:
   
   – Take the appropriate actions based on review outcomes, such as removing or maintaining access.

7. Review and Adjust:
   
   – After each access review cycle, analyze the process for efficacy and make necessary adjustments.

Example Scenario

For example, consider a scenario where you have a Microsoft 365 group named “Project X” that contains both internal and external users. This group has access to a SharePoint site with sensitive project information. To ensure that only those who need access continue to have it, you schedule a quarterly access review. The group owner is assigned as the reviewer and receives a reminder one week before the review starts. If the owner doesn’t respond, access is maintained, but the owner is flagged for follow-up.

In another instance, you may have an Azure AD role, such as “Global Administrator,” which has significant privileges. A bi-annual review can be scheduled with a decision to revoke access if a response isn’t provided in order to maintain high security for such critical roles.

By planning and executing access reviews carefully, organizations can greatly enhance their security posture and ensure compliance. This level of understanding and hands-on experience with Azure AD access reviews is beneficial for candidates preparing for the MS-100 Microsoft 365 Identity and Services exam as it demonstrates proficiency in identity governance within the broader Microsoft 365 ecosystem.