Entra: Integrate Passkey Registration With Your Conditional Access Framework

In this blog, we will explore the process of registering Passkeys within a robust Conditional Access framework. This approach is primarily aimed at administrators and organizations using separate accounts for privileged tasks. The integration of Passkeys with Conditional Access enhances security by providing phishing-resistant authentication methods.

You Should Know:

1. Understanding Passkeys and Conditional Access:

Passkeys are cryptographic keys that replace traditional passwords, offering a more secure and user-friendly authentication method.
Conditional Access is a feature in Microsoft Entra (formerly Azure AD) that allows you to enforce access policies based on specific conditions.

Steps to Integrate Passkey Registration with Conditional Access:

– Step 1: Enable Passkey Authentication in Microsoft Entra
– Navigate to the Microsoft Entra admin center.
– Go to Security > Authentication methods > Passkey.
– Enable Passkey authentication for your organization.
– Step 2: Configure Conditional Access Policies
– In the Microsoft Entra admin center, go to Security > Conditional Access.
– Create a new policy or modify an existing one.
– Set the conditions for access, such as user risk level, location, and device compliance.
– Under Grant controls, select Require authentication strength and choose Passkey.
– Step 3: Register Passkeys for Users
– Users can register their Passkeys by navigating to their security settings in Microsoft Entra.
– Follow the on-screen instructions to register a new Passkey using a compatible device (e.g., a smartphone or security key).
– Step 4: Test the Integration
– Log in as a user and attempt to access a resource protected by the Conditional Access policy.
– Ensure that the Passkey authentication is required and functions correctly.

3. Commands and Scripts for Administrators:

PowerShell Command to Enable Passkey Authentication:

Set-MsolCompanySettings -AllowPasswordlessAuthentication $true

PowerShell Command to Create a Conditional Access Policy:

New-AzureADMSConditionalAccessPolicy -DisplayName "Require Passkey for Privileged Accounts" -State "enabled" -Conditions @{UserRiskLevels = @("high"); Applications = @("All"); Platforms = @("All")} -GrantControls @{Operator = "OR"; BuiltInControls = @("RequireAuthenticationStrength", "RequireCompliantDevice")}

4. Best Practices:

Regularly review and update Conditional Access policies to adapt to new security threats.
Educate users on the importance of Passkeys and how to use them securely.
Monitor authentication logs to detect and respond to suspicious activities.

What Undercode Say:

Integrating Passkey registration with your Conditional Access framework is a significant step towards enhancing your organization’s security posture. By leveraging Passkeys, you can reduce the risk of phishing attacks and ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive resources. The combination of Passkeys and Conditional Access provides a robust defense against modern cyber threats, making it an essential strategy for any organization using Microsoft Entra.