Azure Active Directory MFA Setup: A Step-by-Step Guide to Securing Sign-In and Sign-Up Flows

As businesses and organizations rely more and more on digital systems and cloud-based services, protecting sensitive information and assets has become increasingly important. Azure Active Directory (AAD) multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a powerful security tool that provides an extra layer of protection for user accounts. In this article, we will show you how to set up MFA in Azure AD for sign-in and sign-up flows, with a step-by-step example.

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Why Multi-Factor Authentication?

Traditional username and password authentication has become less secure over time, as cybercriminals become more sophisticated in their methods of stealing login credentials. Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide a second form of verification in addition to their username and password. This can be in the form of a security code sent to a mobile phone, a fingerprint scan, or a code generated by an authentication app.

Getting Started with MFA in Azure AD

To set up MFA in Azure AD, you will first need to sign in to the Azure portal as a global administrator. Then, you can follow these steps:

1. Go to Azure Active Directory > Security > MFA.
2. Select the “Users” tab and then click “Multi-factor authentication.”
3. Click the “Get started” button to enable MFA for your organization.
4. Choose the authentication methods you want to allow, such as phone call, text message, or authentication app.
5. Click the “Save” button to save your changes.

MFA for Sign-In and Sign-Up Flows

Next, we will show you how to set up MFA for sign-in and sign-up flows in Azure AD. This will require the use of custom policies in Azure AD B2C.

1. Go to Azure Active Directory B2C > Policies.
2. Create a new policy by clicking the “New policy” button.
3. Choose the “Sign-up or sign-in policy” option and then click the “Create” button.
4. On the next screen, configure the policy settings as desired. For example, you can specify the sign-up attributes you want to collect, such as first name, last name, and email address.
5. Go to the “Orchestration steps” section and click the “Add step” button.
6. Choose the “MFA” step and then click the “Add” button.
7. On the next screen, configure the MFA settings as desired. For example, you can specify the authentication methods you want to allow, such as phone call or text message.
8. Save your changes and then publish the policy.

With these steps, you have successfully set up MFA for sign-in and sign-up flows in Azure AD. By adding this extra layer of security, you can help protect your users’ accounts and sensitive information from cybercriminals and other threats.

In conclusion, Azure AD MFA provides a simple and effective way to add an extra layer of security to your digital systems and cloud-based services. Whether you are looking to secure sign-in and sign-up flows or protect sensitive information and assets, AAD MFA is a powerful tool that is well worth considering.