In today’s cloud-first, remote-enabled world, safeguarding your organisation’s resources from both internal and external threats is critical. As organisations undergo digital transformations, the challenge becomes protecting applications, data, networks, and infrastructure in an increasingly complex threat landscape. Conditional access policies, driven by Zero Trust principles, offer a powerful way to enhance security by evaluating real-time signals before granting access to sensitive resources.
What Are Conditional Access Policies?
At their core, conditional access policies operate as simple if-then statements: if a user attempts to access a resource, then they must complete a predefined action. An example could be as basic as if a user attempts to access an organisation’s Microsoft 365 environment, they may be required to undergo multifactor authentication (MFA) to ensure the security of their sign-in.
These policies are fundamental to protecting modern organisations, using real-time signals about the user, device, and network to make security decisions before granting access. By incorporating real-time risk assessments and machine learning, conditional access adapts on the fly, supporting a robust Zero Trust security model.
How Does Conditional Access Support Zero Trust?
Zero Trust is a security framework built on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” Unlike traditional security models that assume anything within the corporate firewall is safe, Zero Trust demands verification at every access point, regardless of location, user, or device.
Conditional access is an essential enabler of Zero Trust, constantly verifying a range of signals before deciding whether to allow, limit, or block access. These policies dynamically adjust security measures based on factors like:
- User behaviour and location
- Device health and compliance
- Network and application conditions
- Real-time risk signals
Instead of static, one-size-fits-all policies, conditional access continuously evaluates each access request. It enforces least-privilege principles, requiring users to authenticate their credentials based on the risk level.
Practical Applications of Conditional Access
Many organisations already employ some degree of conditional access to address common security challenges, including:
- Enforcing MFA or passwordless access for users in administrative roles.
- Blocking legacy authentication methods to prevent vulnerabilities.
- Restricting access to users in trusted geographical locations.
- Blocking sign-ins from users exhibiting suspicious behaviour.
- Mandating organisation-managed devices for sensitive applications and data retrieval.
The Signals Driving Conditional Access Decisions
Conditional access policies leverage signals from various sources, providing organisations with fine-tuned control over access management. Primary signals evaluated by a robust conditional access policy typically include:
User or Group Membership
Administrators can design policies targeting specific users or groups, allowing granular control. For instance, critical administrative roles might require stronger authentication methods than a base-level user whose access reach is significantly limited by default.
IP Location Information
Trusted IP address ranges can be defined to manage access. Administrators may allow or block entire regions to prevent access from high-risk areas, or even those areas outside of typical working locations, adding an extra layer of defence.
Device Status
Policies can evaluate device health or compliance before granting access. Specific devices, such as privileged access workstations, can trigger more stringent requirements. In an age of widespread BYOD, control over which devices can access sensitive data is more important than ever.
Application Access
Different policies can be applied based on the application being accessed. For instance, users attempting to access sensitive financial systems may be required to go through additional security checks, whereas lower-risk productivity applications may remain more easily accessible.
Real-Time Risk Detection
Integration with Microsoft Entra ID Protection allows conditional access mechanisms to detect risky behaviours or users in real time. Sign-in risks are dynamically assessed, and potentially malicious users may face restrictions or remediation. Operating in real time enables security teams to get ahead of threats, rather than being left in a position of remediation following an attack.
Cloud App Security
Conditional access controls also integrate with Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps to provide real-time monitoring and control over app usage and activities in the cloud. This visibility enhances security by preventing unwanted activities within an organisation’s cloud environment, extending protection beyond traditional walled-off inner networks.
Conditional Access: The Key to Zero Trust Success
Zero Trust isn’t a single consideration, but rather a comprehensive approach to modern security. It ensures every access request is treated as potentially hostile, demanding verification before access is granted. Whether the request comes from inside or outside the organisation, Zero Trust aims to secure user accounts, devices, data, and applications across your entire digital estate.
Conditional Access offers numerous benefits within the context of a Zero Trust security strategy, such as:
Granular Control: Tailor access policies based on real-time conditions such as user behaviour, device health, and network location.
Integrated Security: The most effective conditional access policies are those which work seamlessly with other tools within your security stack. Microsoft Security, including Microsoft Entra ID, Microsoft Defender, and Microsoft Intune, offer such capabilities, ensuring comprehensive and manageable protection.
Compliance Readiness: By its nature, conditional access helps organisations to meet regulatory requirements and demonstrate an ongoing commitment to compliance, such as in the case of NIS2, Cyber Essentials, and ISO standards.
Implementing Conditional Access with Microsoft Entra ID
Conditional access is deeply integrated with Microsoft Entra ID—the identity provider managing access to apps, data, and communications. Threatscape’s Conditional Access for Zero Trust (CAZT) service provides expert guidance in deploying a scalable conditional access architecture. This architecture strengthens your security posture, closes security gaps, and helps meet compliance requirements. Organisations can rely on Threatscape’s CAZT service to ensure a robust conditional access infrastructure that complies with industry standards and strengthens security.
