Enforcing MFA for Microsoft 365 Apps for Business
In today’s digital environment, securing your organization’s data is more important than ever. If your organization is using Microsoft 365 Apps for Business, you might be aware that you cannot leverage Conditional Access to enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) without additional licensing. However, all hope is not lost. Microsoft provides an alternative to ensure your organization remains secure—Security Defaults.
Understanding MFA Security Defaults in Microsoft 365 Apps for Business
What Are Security Defaults?
Security Defaults are preconfigured security settings that Microsoft offers to all organizations using Microsoft 365. These settings help protect against identity-related attacks such as phishing, password spray, and replay attacks. The goal of Security Defaults is to provide every organization with a basic level of security without requiring additional licensing costs.
Key Features of Security Defaults
Mandatory MFA Registration: All users must register for MFA.
Admin-Level MFA: Administrators are required to use MFA every time they sign in.
Blocking Legacy Authentication: Outdated protocols that do not support MFA are blocked.
Privileged Access Protection: Extra layers of authentication for access to the Azure portal and other sensitive areas.
Why Your Organization Should Enable Security Defaults
No Conditional Access? No Problem!
Organizations with Microsoft 365 Apps for Business licenses do not have access to Conditional Access, a feature typically available to higher-tier licenses like Microsoft Entra ID P1 or P2. Without Conditional Access, enforcing MFA can be challenging. Security Defaults fills this gap by ensuring all users, especially administrators, are protected with MFA.
Protect Against Common Attacks
Security Defaults automatically block legacy authentication protocols, which are commonly exploited in attacks. By enabling Security Defaults, your organization mitigates the risk of these common security threats without the need for advanced configuration.
How to Enable Security Defaults
Step-by-Step Guide
Sign in to the Microsoft Entra Admin Center: Ensure you have at least Security Administrator privileges.
Navigate to Identity Settings: Go to Identity > Overview > Properties.
Manage Security Defaults: Select Manage security defaults.
Enable Security Defaults: Toggle the setting to Enabled and click Save.
Important Considerations
Revoke Active Tokens: After enabling Security Defaults, revoke all existing tokens using the Revoke-AzureADUserAllRefreshToken PowerShell cmdlet. This forces all users to re-authenticate with MFA.
User Preparation: Communicate the changes to your users. Inform them that they need to register for MFA, and direct them to myprofile.microsoft.com to set up their security info.
The Benefits of Security Defaults
Simplified Security Management
Security Defaults offer a straightforward way to enhance your organization’s security posture. There’s no need for complex configurations or additional licensing. With just a few clicks, you can ensure that MFA is enforced across your organization, protecting both user and administrative accounts.
Comprehensive Coverage
Once enabled, Security Defaults apply across all users and administrators. This comprehensive coverage means that every sign-in attempt will be evaluated and secured, reducing the likelihood of unauthorized access.
Conclusion: Secure Your Microsoft 365 Environment Today
If your organization uses Microsoft 365 Apps for Business, you must take proactive steps to secure your environment. Enabling Security Defaults is a crucial action that ensures your organization is protected by enforcing MFA, blocking legacy authentication, and securing privileged access.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Enable Security Defaults today to safeguard your organization’s data and ensure peace of mind.
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