INTRODUCTION – Microsoft Azure Identity Services
Here you will learn about how Azure Active Directory assists in the management and security of identities in your organization. This would lead to a complete understanding of the practical aspect of single sign-on (SSO), multifactor authentication, and Conditional Access, which together create a strong hall for accessing resources securely.
All these tools let users securely access network or internet applications: safely getting access to your resources whether they are internal resources or -external resources that use the Internet. Understanding and applying those features makes it possible to provide further security and at the same time better access opportunities for users, thus creating a more effectively protected environment.
Learning Outcomes:
- Explain the role of single sign-on (SSO), multifactor authentication, and Conditional Access in user identity management.
- Discuss how Azure AD handles identity and access management.
- Understand the distinction between authentication and authorization.
KNOWLEDGE CHECK
1. What is the process of establishing the identity of a person or service that wants to access a resource known as?
- Authentication (CORRECT)
- Authorisation
Correct: Authentication is the process requested to verify the identity of a person or service that is attempting to access a resource. Legitimate credentials are obtained from the requesting party, and it is the basis of deriving security principles for identity and access control. In essence, authentication indicates whether the user is indeed what he or she claims.
2. What kinds of resources can Azure AD help secure?
- Only external resources
- Only internal resources
- Both External and Internal Resources (CORRECT)
Correct: Azure AD is such a source for accessing some outside as well as internal resources to the user. Some outside resources include access to Microsoft Office 365, the Azure portal, and a host of other SaaS applications, while internal resources can refer to applications on your corporate network and intranet or any cloud applications developed within your organization.
3. True or False
Single sign-on enables a user to sign in one time and use that credential to access multiple resources and applications from different providers.
- True (CORRECT)
- False
Correct: With single sign-on, an individual needs to sign in only once and will use that identity to access a variety of resources and applications from several different providers.
4. Multi-factor authentication is a process where a user is prompted during the sign-in process for an additional form of identification. A code that’s sent to your mobile phone is an example of which type of multi-factor authentication?
- something you are
- Something you know
- Something you have (CORRECT)
Correct: An SMS code could easily be classified as-“Something that you possess.”
5. Your company wants to ensure that certain content is only accessible from specific locations. Which of the following solutions is the most suitable to meet this requirement?
- Multifactor Authentication
- Conditional Access (CORRECT)
- Single Sign On (SSO)
Correct: Conditional Access is a function of Azure Active Directory that conveys access or restriction to resources based on identity signals such as user identity, their location, and the device from which a user is requesting access.
TEST PREP
1. Multi-factor authentication is a process where a user is prompted during the sign-in process for an additional form of identification. Using a fingerprint matches which of the following?
- Something you have
- Something you know
- Something you are. (CORRECT)
Correct: Biometrics in the sense of “something you are,” like a fingerprint or facial scan, are generally used in mobile devices for authentication.
2. Your company wants to implement a facial recognition system to manage access to certain areas of the building. Which of the following solutions can enable this?
- Single Sign On (SSO)
- Conditional Access
- Multifactor Authentication (CORRECT)
Correct: Something that the user knows, something that the user possesses, or something the user is can all be utilized in multifactor authentication.
3. What is the process of establishing the level of access a person or service has known as?
- Authorisation (CORRECT)
- Authentication
Correct: The act of granting permissions is where an authenticated person or a service is identified and then allowed access on a specific level to the resources open for them, stating also resources restricted to that account and what actions can or cannot be performed on those.
4. Your company has migrated to Azure cloud services and the development team has deployed several new applications for internal use. Users are now complaining about the number of times they are asked to authenticate as they move between different applications. Which of the following solutions can be implemented to reduce this requirement?
- Single Sign On (SSO) (CORRECT)
- Multifactor Authentication
- Conditional Access
Correct: A user can log in once and access multiple resources and applications across different service providers with single sign-on using their credentials.
5. What do you think is the purpose of Authentication?
- Creates user access permissions for new users
- Creates user access roles
- Establishes Identity (CORRECT)
- Establishes Authorization
Correct: It is through authentication that one can verify, through identities, whether a person or service attempts to gain access to a certain resource.
6. Which of the following are services provided by Azure Active Directory?
Select all that apply.
- Authentication (CORRECT)
- Network Security
- Device Management (CORRECT)
- Application Management (CORRECT)
Correct: The Azure Active Directory, as a service, provides authentication to ascertain the identity of users or services.
Correct: The aspect of device management capability is to enable an organization to capture and keep secure devices accessing its resources within Azure Active Directory.
Correct: Application Management is one of the features that Azure Active Directory provides to manage and secure applications using seamless access and integration within an organization.
7. Which of the following would be considered elements of Authentication?
Select all that apply.
- A biometric property such as a fingerprint (CORRECT)
- An employee badge number
- An access code sent to users mobile device (CORRECT)
- A username and password (CORRECT)
Correct: A biometric characteristic is exactly what the user is, such as a fingerprint, or facial recognition.
Correct: Access code is an example of one such thing which will be the possession of user like a code sent over their mobile device.
Correct: A username and password can refer to things that the user knows.
CONCLUSION – Microsoft Azure Identity Services
In the end, this module provides a complete insight into the use of Azure Active Directory for empowering identity management and security. With single sign-on and multifactor authentication as well as Conditional Access, secure access to resources within the organization or even outside would be ensured to users. Not only would those tools improve the security of the organization, but they also make the life of the end-user much easier, leading to a safer, better, and more efficient environment in which to work.