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Conditional Access is the most powerful security control in Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD). It is also the most misconfigured. This 2026 guide gives you 8 copy-paste-ready Conditional Access policy templates that you can deploy in your own tenant, with a deployment order that minimizes risk and avoids lockouts.
Why Conditional Access matters
Conditional Access is the policy engine that enforces Zero Trust at the identity layer. It evaluates every sign-in against your policies and decides: allow, block, require MFA, require compliant device, require password change, or block entirely. Without it, you have no defense against credential theft, session hijacking, or impossible travel attacks. Microsoft's 2026 baseline requires all enterprises to have a documented Conditional Access strategy.
Template 1: Require MFA for all users
The foundation. Every user, every cloud app, every device, every location. Use report-only mode first for 14 days, audit the impact, then switch to On. This single policy blocks 99.9% of identity-based attacks per Microsoft research.
Template 2: Block legacy authentication
Legacy auth (POP, IMAP, SMTP basic, MAPI) bypasses MFA entirely. Block it for all users. This single policy closes a huge attack surface that most enterprises leave open by default.
Template 3: Require MFA + compliant device for admins
All users with any admin role (Global Admin, Exchange Admin, Security Admin, etc.) must use MFA on a compliant (or hybrid Azure AD joined) device. This protects the keys to the kingdom.
Template 4: Block access from untrusted countries
Create a Named Locations list of your operating countries. Block all other countries. Adjust for business travel and remote workers. This stops impossible-travel attacks.
Template 5: Require password change for high-risk sign-ins
For sign-ins flagged as high risk by Azure AD Identity Protection, require a password change. Use the Sign-in risk and User risk detections. P2 license required for risk-based policies.
Template 6: Require app protection policy on iOS/Android
For mobile users, require an Intune App Protection Policy (MAM) on Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams. This protects corporate data inside managed apps without requiring full device management.
Template 7: Restrict session for unmanaged devices
For browsers on unmanaged devices, restrict the session to read-only and block download, print, and sync. Use the "Use app enforced restrictions" or "Sign-in frequency" controls.
Template 8: Require MFA for guest users
Apply the same MFA requirement to B2B guest users when they access your resources. Optionally require them to use a specific trusted IdP.
Deployment order to avoid lockouts
Week 1: Templates 1, 2, 3 in report-only mode. Week 2: review logs, fix break-glass accounts, exclude break-glass from policy scope. Week 3: switch templates 1, 2 to On. Week 4: deploy 4, 5, 6. Week 5: deploy 7, 8. Document every change. Have a 24/7 incident response plan for accidental lockouts.
Talk to a Counsellor
Conditional Access mastery is one of the 8 modules in SkilBrill's IAM training in Chennai. You will design and test all 8 templates above plus 3 more advanced ones in your capstone project.
Ready to start? Call +91 8610964691, WhatsApp us, or enrol online. Visit us at No 22, 200 Feet Radial Road, Thoraipakkam, Chennai 600097.
