Microsoft is rolling out Conditional Access policies requiring multifactor authentication (MFA) from administrators when signing into Microsoft admin portals such as Microsoft Entra, Microsoft 365, Exchange, and Azure. This is a welcome move, as MFA is one of the most effective ways to protect against unauthorized access to sensitive data and systems.
What is MFA?
MFA is
a security measure that requires users to provide two or more factors of
authentication when logging in to an account. This typically involves entering
a password or PIN, followed by a code from a mobile app, text message, or
hardware security key.
Why is MFA important for businesses?
MFA
adds an extra layer of security to business accounts, making it much more
difficult for attackers to gain access even if they have a compromised
password. This is especially important for businesses that use Microsoft cloud
services, such as Microsoft 365 and Azure, as these services contain sensitive
data such as customer information and financial records.
How will the new Microsoft MFA policies affect businesses?
The
new Microsoft MFA policies will require all administrators to use MFA when
signing into Microsoft admin portals. This will be enforced by Conditional
Access, which is a cloud-based identity and access management service.
Once
the new policies are rolled out, administrators will have 90 days to review
them and choose if they want to enable them or not. However, Microsoft strongly
recommends that all businesses enable the policies to protect their data and
systems.
Benefits of using MFA for businesses
In
addition to protecting against unauthorized access, MFA offers a number of
other benefits for businesses, including:
- Reduced risk of data
breaches and ransomware attacks
- Improved compliance
with industry regulations
- Increased user
confidence in the security of the business's systems
MFA is
a must-have for businesses of all sizes. By enabling MFA for all users,
businesses can significantly reduce their risk of cyberattacks and protect
their sensitive data and systems.
Action items for businesses:
- Review Microsoft's
new MFA policies and enable them as soon as possible.
- Work with your MSP to
develop and implement a plan to deploy MFA to all users and devices.
- Provide training and
support to users on how to use MFA.
- Monitor MFA usage and
report on compliance.
VECTOR CHOICE ADVANTAGE
Vector Choice is here to help businesses implement MFA to keep sensitive business and customer information safe. We can access your current security posture, develop and implement a plan to deploy MFA to all users and devices, provide training and support, and monitor usage.If you are interested in purchasing any of our services, including MFA, please schedule a free 10-minute Discovery Call with us here!
