To prepare for the upcoming mandatory Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) requirement for Azure sign-ins, administrators should take several proactive steps to ensure a smooth transition and maintain security across their environments. The enforcement begins on October 15, 2024, for the Azure Portal, Microsoft Entra Admin Center, and Microsoft Intune Admin Center, with additional tools being included in early 2025.

Steps for Administrators to Prepare for MFA

1. Verify Current MFA Settings:

• Check if Security Defaults are enabled or if you are using Conditional Access policies in your Microsoft Entra tenant. This will help assess your current MFA setup.

2. Identify Affected User Accounts:

• Generate a report of all user accounts that have accessed the Azure Portal, Microsoft Entra Admin Center, or Microsoft Intune Admin Center in the past 90 days. This can be done using PowerShell scripts or the Multifactor Authentication Gaps workbook provided by Microsoft

3. Choose Authentication Methods:

• Select appropriate authentication methods for the identified user accounts. Consider implementing more secure options like FIDO2 security keys or certificate-based authentication

4. Implement Conditional Access Policies:

• Create and enforce Conditional Access policies that require MFA for users accessing critical services. You can start in report-only mode to monitor potential impacts before full enforcement

5. Enable MFA for All Users:

• Ensure that MFA is enforced for all user accounts accessing the Azure Portal and other relevant applications. This includes both regular users and emergency access accounts (previously known as break-glass accounts), which must also comply with MFA requirements

6. Communicate Changes to Users:

• Inform all users about the upcoming changes and provide guidance on how to set up their MFA methods. Use notifications from Microsoft as well as internal communications to keep everyone updated

7. Monitor and Adjust:

• After implementing these changes, continuously monitor sign-in attempts and user feedback to identify any issues or gaps in coverage that may arise during the transition.

By following these steps, administrators can effectively prepare their organizations for the mandatory MFA requirement, enhancing security while minimizing disruptions to operations.