- Article
In complex implementations, organizations may need to restrict authentication sessions. Some scenarios may include:
- Access to resources from an unmanaged or shared device
- Access to confidential information from an external network
- High impact users
- Critical business applications
Conditional Access controls allow you to create policies that target specific use cases within your organization without affecting all users.
Before we dive into the details of how to configure the policy, let's examine the default settings.
User login frequency
The login frequency defines the amount of time before a user is prompted to log in again when attempting to access a resource.
The Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) default setting for user sign-in frequency is a rolling window of 90 days. Asking users for credentials often seems like a sensible thing to do, but it can backfire: Users who are trained to mindlessly enter their credentials can inadvertently provide them to a malicious credentials message.
It may sound alarming not to ask a user to log in again, in reality any violation of IT policies will revoke the session. Some examples include (but are not limited to) a password change, an unsupported device, or account deactivation. You can also explicitlyrevoke user sessions using PowerShell. The default setting for Azure AD boils down to "don't ask users to provide their credentials if the security posture of their sessions hasn't changed."
The login frequency setting works with applications that have implemented the OAuth2 or OIDC protocols according to the standards. Most native Microsoft apps for Windows, Mac, and Mobile, including the following web apps, are compliant with the setting.
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint online
- OneNote online
- oficina.com
- Microsoft 365 admin portal
- online exchange
- SharePoint y OneDrive
- Teams Web Client
- Dynamic CRM online
- blue portal
The login frequency setting works with third-party SAML applications and applications that have implemented OAuth2 or OIDC protocols, as long as they don't leave their own cookies and are redirected to Azure AD for authentication on a regular basis.
User login frequency and multi-factor authentication
Sign-in frequency previously applied only to first-factor authentication on devices that are Azure AD joined, hybrid Azure AD joined, and Azure AD registered. There was no easy way for our customers to enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) on those devices. Based on customer feedback, the login frequency will also apply to MFA.
User login frequency and device identities
On Azure AD joined and hybrid Azure AD joined devices, unlocking the device or signing in interactively will only refresh the Master Refresh Token (PRT) every 4 hours. The last recorded update timestamp for the PRT compared to the current timestamp must be within the time allotted in the SIF policy for the PRT to satisfy the SIF and grant access to a PRT that has an existing MFA claim. InAzure AD registered devices, unlock/sign in would not comply with SIF policy because the user is not accessing an Azure AD registered device through an Azure AD account. However theAzure AD WAMThe plugin can update a PRT during native app authentication using WAM.
Note: The timestamp captured from user login is not necessarily the same as the last recorded PRT refresh timestamp due to the 4 hour refresh cycle. The case when the same thing happens is when a PRT has expired and a user login refreshes it for 4 hours. In the following examples, assume that the SIF policy is set to 1 hour and the PRT is updated at 00:00.
Example 1:when you continue working on the same document in SPO for an hour
- At 12:00 AM, a user signs in to their Windows 10 Azure AD joined device and starts working on a document stored in SharePoint Online.
- The user continues to work on the same document on their device for one hour.
- At 01:00, the user is prompted to log in again based on the login frequency requirement in the Conditional Access policy configured by their administrator.
Example 2:when pausing work with a background task running in the browser, then interacting again after the SIF policy time has passed
- At 12:00 AM, a user signs in to their Windows 10 Azure AD joined device and begins uploading a document to SharePoint Online.
- At 00:10 the user gets up and takes a break by locking his device. Background upload continues in SharePoint Online.
- At 02:45, the user returns from his break and unlocks the device. Background upload shows completion.
- At 02:45, the user is prompted to log in when they interact again based on the login frequency requirement in the Conditional Access policy configured by their administrator since the last login at 00:00.
If the client application (under activity details) is a browser, we defer applying the login frequency events/policies to background services until the next user interaction.
Example 3:with 4 hour refresh cycle of the main refresh token from unlock
Scenario 1: user returns inside the loop
- At 12:00 AM, a user signs in to their Windows 10 Azure AD joined device and starts working on a document stored in SharePoint Online.
- At 00:30 the user gets up and takes a break by locking his device.
- At 00:45, the user returns from his break and unlocks the device.
- At 01:00, the user is prompted to log in again based on the login frequency requirement in the Conditional Access policy configured by their administrator, 1 hour after the initial login.
Scenario 2: User returns out of loop
- At 12:00 AM, a user signs in to their Windows 10 Azure AD joined device and starts working on a document stored in SharePoint Online.
- At 00:30 the user gets up and takes a break by locking his device.
- At 04:45, the user returns from his break and unlocks the device.
- At 05:45, the user is prompted to log in again based on the login frequency requirement in the Conditional Access policy configured by their administrator, 1 hour after the PRT was refreshed at 04:45 ( more than 4 hours after initial signing). at 00:00).
Require reauthentication every time
There are scenarios where clients may want to request a new authentication, each time before a user performs specific actions. Login frequency has a new option toEvery timeas well as hours or days.
Supported Scenarios:
- Require user reauthentication duringIntune device enrollment, regardless of your current MFA status.
- Require user reauthentication for risky users with therequire password changegrant control.
- Require user reauthentication for risky logins with therequire multi-factor authenticationgrant control.
When administrators selectEvery time, it will require a full reauthentication when the session is evaluated.
Persistence of browsing sessions.
A persistent browser session allows users to stay logged in after closing and reopening the browser window.
The Azure AD default for browser session persistence allows personal device users to choose whether to persist the session by displaying a "Stay signed in?" prompt after successful authentication. If browser persistence is configured in AD FS by following the instructions in the articleAD FS Single Sign-On Configuration, we will abide by that policy and preserve the Azure AD session as well. You can also configure whether users in your tenant see the "Stay signed in?" indicator by changing the appropriate setting in thecompany brand dashboard.
In persistent browsers, cookies remain stored on the user's device even after the user closes the browser. These cookies could have access to Azure Active Directory artifacts, and those artifacts can be used until the token expires, regardless of any conditional access policies placed on the resource environment. Therefore, token caching can directly violate desired security policies for authentication. While it may seem convenient to store tokens beyond the current session, doing so can create a security vulnerability by allowing unauthorized access to Azure Active Directory artifacts.
Configuring session authentication controls
Conditional Access is a feature of Azure AD Premium and requires a premium license. For more information on Conditional Access, seeWhat is Conditional Access in Azure Active Directory?
Warning
If you are using theconfigurable token lifetimefeature currently in public preview, please note that we do not support creating two different policies for the same user or combination of apps: one with this feature and one with the configurable token lifetime feature. Microsoft retired the configurable token lifetime feature for session token lifetime and refresh on January 30, 2021 and replaced it with the Conditional Access Authentication session management feature.
Before you enable Logon Frequency, make sure that other reauthentication settings are disabled in your tenant. If "Remember MFA on trusted devices" is enabled, make sure to disable it before using logon frequency, as using these two settings together can cause users to receive unexpected prompts. For more information on reauthentication requests and session duration, see the articleOptimize reauthentication requests and understand session lifetime for Azure AD multi-factor authentication.
policy deployment
To ensure that your policy works as expected, a recommended best practice is to test it before deploying it to production. Ideally, use a test renter to verify if your new policy is working as intended. For more information, see the articlePlanning a Conditional Access Deployment.
Policy 1: Login Frequency Control
Sign in to theblue portalas conditional access administrator, security administrator or global administrator.
navigate toAzure Active Directory>Security>conditional access.
Selectnew policy.
Give your policy a name. We recommend that organizations create a meaningful standard for their policy names.
(Video) Configure Azure AD Conditional Access in Under 10 minutes? Let's try itChoose all the necessary conditions for the customer environment, including the target cloud applications.
Use
We recommend setting the same authentication request frequency for key Microsoft Office applications, such as Exchange Online and SharePoint Online, for the best user experience.
LowAccess controls>session.
- SelectLogin frequency.
- Chooseperiodic reauthenticationand enter a value of hours or days or select itEvery time.
- SelectLogin frequency.
Save your policy.
Policy 2: persistent browser session
Sign in to theblue portalas conditional access administrator, security administrator or global administrator.
navigate toAzure Active Directory>Security>conditional access.
Selectnew policy.
Give your policy a name. We recommend that organizations create a meaningful standard for their policy names.
Choose all required conditions.
(Video) 2023 Reset Windows 10 Password without Software or Bootable Media using only Command LineUse
Note that this control requires choosing "All cloud applications" as a condition. Browser session persistence is controlled by the authentication session token. All tabs in a browser session share a single session token, and therefore all must share persistence state.
LowAccess controls>session.
Selectpersistent browser session.
Use
Configuring persistent browser session in Azure AD Conditional Access overrides the "Stay signed in?" settings in the company branding dashboard in the Azure portal for the same user if you have configured both policies.
Select a value from the dropdown menu.
Save your policy.
Policy 3: Login frequency control every time a risky user
- Sign in to theblue portalas conditional access administrator, security administrator or global administrator.
- navigate toAzure Active Directory>Security>conditional access.
- Selectnew policy.
- Give your policy a name. We recommend that organizations create a meaningful standard for their policy names.
- Lowassignments, selectUsers or workload identities.
- LowInclude, selectAll users.
- LowDelete, selectUsers and groupsand choose the one of your organizationemergency access or emergency accounts.
- SelectMade.
- LowApplications or actions in the cloud>Include, selectAll applications in the cloud.
- LowConditions>user risk, to placeTo set upaYeah. LowConfigure the user risk levels required for the policy to take effectselectAlto, then selectMade.
- LowAccess controls>Grant, selectwill authorize access,Require password changeand selectSelect.
- Lowsession controls>Login frequency, selectEvery time.
- Confirm your settings and configureenable policyareport only.
- SelectCreatecreate to enable your policy.
After the administrators confirm their settings usingreport only mode, they can move theenable policychange ofreport onlyaIn.
Validation
Use theWhat if the toolto simulate a user login to the target application and other conditions based on how you configured your policy. The authentication session management controls appear in the output of the tool.
fast tolerance
We account for five minutes of clock skew, so we don't ask users more than once every five minutes. If the user has performed MFA in the last 5 minutes and encounters another Conditional Access policy that requires reauthentication, we won't prompt the user. Requiring users too much to reauthenticate can affect their productivity and increase the risk of users approving MFA requests that they didn't initiate. Use "Login frequency: every time" only for specific business needs.
Known issues
- If you set mobile login frequency: Authentication after each login frequency interval may be slow, it may take 30 seconds on average. Also, it could happen in multiple apps at the same time.
- On iOS devices: If an app configures certificates as the first factor of authentication and the app has login frequency andIntune mobile app management policiesapplied, end users cannot log in to the application when the policy is triggered.
Next steps
- If you're ready to configure Conditional Access policies for your environment, see the articlePlanning a Conditional Access Deployment.
FAQs
How often do you need to prompt for MFA? ›
Remember Multi-Factor Authentication
These clients normally prompt only after password reset or inactivity of 90 days. However, setting this value to less than 90 days shortens the default MFA prompts for Office clients, and increases reauthentication frequency.
- Sign in to the Azure portal as a Conditional Access Administrator, Security Administrator, or Global Administrator.
- Browse to Azure Active Directory > Security > Conditional Access.
- Select New policy.
- Give your policy a name. ...
- Under Assignments, select Users or workload identities.
Go to Azure AD > Multifactor authentication > select the Additional cloud-based multifactor authentication settings link. Adjust the number of days in the remember multi-factor authentication on trusted device section to 90 days.
How do I check my MFA configuration? ›You can access service settings from the Azure portal by going to Azure Active Directory > Security > Multifactor authentication > Getting started > Configure > Additional cloud-based MFA settings.
How do I force a MFA prompt? ›To enable MFA for any account you can create conditional access policy. In Access controls -> Grant -> Grant access -> Require multifactor authentication -> click ->Select.
How often will you be prompted for MFA in Outlook for Office 365? ›The change was made to align MFA “remember me” settings with Microsoft Office 365 desktop and mobile applications that prompt for a username and password every 90 days. This should prevent users from receiving an ambiguous Azure MFA prompt without a username and password every 30 days.
How to enable Multi-Factor Authentication Office 365 per user? ›- Go to the Azure AD Admin Center.
- Navigate to Users > All Users.
- Select the More option and click Multi-Factor Authentication.
- Here you can enable MFA for multiple users using a bulk update. You can also check the boxes next to the required user accounts and enable MFA for them.
- Sign in to the Azure portal and select User management.
- Select Multifactor authentication.
- Select the user you want to enable and then select Enable. "Enabled" in this procedure means that the user is asked to set up MFA verification when they sign in for the first time.
Sign in to Microsoft Intune admin center, select Endpoint security > Conditional Access > New Policy. Type a Name for your new Conditional Access policy. For example, “Restrict Office 365 access to CPCs”.
How can we reduce the number of times Users must authenticate to access multiple applications? ›SSO enables a user to remember only one ID and one password to access multiple applications.
How do I disable MFA prompt? ›
- Open the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
- In the left side navigation, click Azure Active Directory admin center.
- In the left side navigation, click Azure Active Directory.
- Click Properties.
- Click Manage Security Defaults.
- Select No to Disable Security defaults.
Azure AD Multi-Factor Authentication works by requiring two or more of the following authentication methods: Something you know, typically a password. Something you have, such as a trusted device that's not easily duplicated, like a phone or hardware key.
How do I change my Azure MFA authentication method? ›Browse to Azure Active Directory > Users > All users. Choose the user for whom you wish to add an authentication method and select Authentication methods. At the top of the window, select + Add authentication method. Select a method (phone number or email).
What is the difference between enabled and enforced MFA in Office 365? ›Enabled: The user has been enrolled in MFA but has not completed the registration process. They will be prompted to complete the registration process the next time they sign in. Enforced: The user has been enrolled and has completed the MFA registration process.
What are MFA settings? ›Multifactor authentication (MFA) is an added layer of security used to verify an end user's identity when they sign in to an application. An Okta admin can configure MFA at the organization or application level.
What is MFA prompt? ›What is MFA Prompt bombing? MFA Prompt bombing is a social engineering attack vector that uses the “something you have” method of authentication (your mobile device) to play on a person's security apathy to gain access to a network. Access is usually unwittingly granted by the target.
How do I know if Azure MFA is enabled? ›- Sign in to the Azure portal as a Global administrator.
- Search for and select Azure Active Directory, then select Users > All users.
- Select Per-user MFA.
- A new page opens that displays the user state, as shown in the following example.
Another social engineering technique that is becoming popular is known as “consent phishing”. This is where hackers present what looks like a legitimate OAuth login page to the user. The hacker will request the level of access they need, and if access is granted, they can bypass MFA verification.
Is Office 365 forcing MFA? ›Admins will always be prompted for MFA on login. Users will be prompted for MFA "when necessary" (this is not strictly defined by Microsoft but includes when users show up on a new device or app, and for critical roles and tasks). Access to Azure portal, Azure CLI or Azure PowerShell by anyone will always require MFA.
How to force Outlook to use Modern authentication Office 365? ›Using the Microsoft 365 admin center
In the Microsoft 365 admin center, go to Settings > Org Settings > Modern Authentication. In the Modern authentication flyout that appears, click to enable or disable Turn on modern authentication for Outlook 2013 for Windows and later (recommended).
Why does Outlook keep asking for MFA? ›
This issue can occur if the Logon network security setting on the Security tab of the Microsoft Exchange dialog box is set to a value other than Anonymous Authentication.
How to setup MFA for external users? ›- Sign in to the Azure portal as a Conditional Access Administrator, Security Administrator, or Global Administrator.
- Browse to Azure Active Directory > Security > Conditional Access.
- Select New policy.
- Give your policy a name. ...
- Under Assignments, select Users or workload identities.
Select the user you want, expand Mail Settings, and then select Edit next to Mailbox permissions. Next to Read and manage, select Edit. Select Add permissions, then choose the name of the user or users that you want to allow to read email from this mailbox. Select Add.
How do I manage permissions in Office 365? ›In the Microsoft 365 admin center, you can go to Role assignments, and then select any role to open its detail pane. Select the Permissions tab to view the detailed list of what admins assigned that role have permissions to do. Select the Assigned or Assigned admins tab to add users to roles.
How do I manage access in Office 365? ›- Go to Settings. > Site Permissions.
- Under Sharing Settings, click Change sharing settings.
- Under Sharing permissions, set the level of access: Site owners and members can share files, folders, and the site. ...
- Click Save.
Using SSO means a user doesn't have to sign in to every application they use. With SSO, users can access all needed applications without being required to authenticate using different credentials.
Which enables users to authenticate to multiple applications by using? ›Single sign-on (SSO) is an authentication method that enables users to securely authenticate with multiple applications and websites by using just one set of credentials.
What is the minimum number of instances necessary to get the SLA guarantee from Microsoft? ›To get an SLA guarantee from Microsoft, you need to have at least two instances running in separate availability zones or fault domains.
How do I disable Multi-factor authentication for all users in Office 365? ›In the Microsoft 365 admin center, in the left nav choose Users > Active users. On the Active users page, choose Multi-factor authentication. On the multi-factor authentication page, select each user and set their Multi-Factor auth status to Disabled.
How do I disable more information required MFA prompt for guests? ›Configure MFA Registration Policy
Under “Assignments” click on “Users”. On the Include tab, if “All Users” is selected, deselect it and click the “Select individuals and groups”. After you click the other option, a sidebar will appear on the right. Click “All Users Except Guests” and click on the “Select” button.
How do I disable MFA for single user? ›
- Go to the AAD Admin Center. Drill down to Azure Active Directory... ...
- Next, go to Azure Active Directory... Manage... ...
- The link will jump you out to a "multi-factor authentication" page. There select a user or users and then click on Disable under "quick steps" if MFA is currently Enabled for them.
MFA is enabled on a per-user basis; however, at this time, users are not automatically enrolled in MFA. To use MFA, users must enroll themselves.
What is the most secure MFA method? ›The most secure Multi-Factor Authentication method is a phishing-resistant type of MFA, which means that attackers cannot intercept or dupe users into providing account access. Phishing-resistant types of MFA include FIDO2 and WebAuthn standard, hardware-based security keys.
What is the difference between MFA and 2FA? ›2FA is a multi-factor authentication method that requires exactly two authentication factors. MFA, compared with 2FA, has an additional dimension of authentication, requiring at least two or more authentication factors — two, three, or even more. Note that 2FA is MFA, but MFA cannot be considered a 2FA.
How do I change how often my MFA prompts? ›In the left-hand side menu, select Security. In the Multi-factor Authentication section of the page, click Update. Select the frequency you want to set your MFA to prompt on login from the drop-down menu. The options available are: Every Login, Daily, Weekly, or Never (only for new devices).
Is Microsoft MFA mandatory? ›MFA is required for Microsoft services and applications connected to Microsoft sign-in, for example, Office 365 tools (Word, Excel, and Outlook email etc.) and Eduhouse learning services. Thus, MFA must be completed to use applications that require it both in the internal JYU network and outside it.
Why is Microsoft requiring MFA? ›In this article
Mandating MFA helps partners to secure their access to customer resources against credentials compromise.
- Sign in to Microsoft 365 using your password and second verification method.
- Click here to see the Additional security verification page.
- Choose how you want to do your second verification. ...
- When complete, click Save.
Authentication factors can be classified into three groups: something you know: a password or personal identification number (PIN); something you have: a token, such as bank card; something you are: biometrics, such as fingerprints and voice recognition.
What is Microsoft MFA setup? ›See What is: Multifactor authentication. By setting up MFA, you add an extra layer of security to your Microsoft 365 account sign-in. For example, you first enter your password and, when prompted, you also type a dynamically generated verification code provided by an authenticator app or sent to your phone.
How do I manage MFA service settings? ›
You can access service settings from the Azure portal by going to Azure Active Directory > Security > Multifactor authentication > Getting started > Configure > Additional cloud-based MFA settings. A window or tab opens with additional service settings options.
What is the grace period for Microsoft MFA? ›Security defaults will trigger a 14 day grace period for registration after a user's first login and security defaults being enabled. After 14 days users will be required to register for MFA and will not be able to skip.
What is the grace period for MFA? ›Multi-factor authentication (MFA): multi-factor authentication is a type of authentication that requires the use of two or more verification factors to gain access to a system. Azure MFA offers a 14 day grace period after being initiated.
How long does MFA code last? ›Email MFA codes follow the MFA transaction lifetime, which means they are valid for 5 minutes. This is how it works: The email expires after 5 minutes. If you enter after 5 minutes, it tells you the code is invalid.
How long does an MFA last? ›MFA programs can take anywhere from a year to as long as four years to finish, although most take 2-3 years to complete. If you need to juggle work and family with your MFA program, you might consider programs that allow you to study part-time or online.
Is Microsoft making MFA mandatory? ›Partners are required to enforce MFA for all user accounts in their partner tenant, including guest users.
Why do I have to wait 30 days for Microsoft? ›When all security info is removed from a Microsoft account, the account is put into a restricted state for 30-days. While we understand this 30-day period might be frustrating, this is done to protect and alert you in case the security info was removed by someone who had unauthorized access to your account.
How many MFA denials to trigger account lockout? ›Number of MFA denials to trigger account lockout: 3 denials. Minutes until account lockout counter is reset: 5 minutes. Minutes until account is automatically unblocked: 15 minutes.
What happens when you deny MFA? ›Note: A blocked user will not receive Multi-Factor Authentication requests. Authentication attempts for that user will be automatically denied. A user will remain blocked for 90 days from the time they are blocked.
How do I know if my MFA is enforced? ›- Sign in to the account and click on 'Admin'.
- Click on 'Users'.
- Select 'Active Users' and click on the 'Multi Factor Authentication' option at the top of the page.
How is MFA bypassed? ›
1) MFA Fatigue
MFA fatigue is one of the most common and high-profile ways to bypass MFA. It is seen as a form of social engineering, as it involves cybercriminals manipulating users into giving them access to their accounts unwittingly.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security measure that requires users to enter a dynamically generated six-digit verification code in addition to their username and password when logging in. This six-digit code is generated by a piece of authentication software, such as Google Authenticator.
Is two-factor authentication permanent? ›Remember that once you turn off two-factor authentication on your Mac, you will be able to turn it on again. But if you activate two-factor authentication again, then it will be permanently installed on all of your Mac devices and cannot be disabled.
What is the lifetime of MFA token in Office 365? ›The default lifetime for the access token is 1 hour. The default max inactive time of the refresh token is 90 days.
Is MFA 100% secure? ›Today, with the rise of data breaches and attacks and remote workforces, MFA is seen as one of the best ways to protect user accounts. While MFA adds a vital extra layer of security to your sensitive data, it doesn't promise to eliminate all threats.
How does MFA bombing work? ›A multi-factor authentication (MFA) fatigue attack – also known as MFA Bombing or MFA Spamming – is a social engineering cyberattack strategy where attackers repeatedly push second-factor authentication requests to the target victim's email, phone, or registered devices.