SureMDM Now Supports Conditional Access. Enable Secure Access to Microsoft 365 Apps

Businesses heavily rely on Microsoft 365 applications such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for communication and managing corporate documents. Given the importance of Microsoft 365 apps for businesses, ensuring a secure access environment is not merely an option; it's a must.

In recent years, a large number of businesses have moved to the cloud to avoid the high maintenance costs, and the increasing complexity of managing traditional data storage servers. Furthermore, the adoption of BYOD devices at workplaces has made it tedious and risky to ensure authorized access to corporate resources like Microsoft 365 apps from different devices and geographical locations. 

To address this problem, SureMDM has integrated with Microsoft to offer device-based Conditional Access Policies for Microsoft 365 apps. 

What is Conditional Access?

Conditional Access is one of the core security features of Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) that focuses on access controls for Microsoft 365 applications. Conditional Access is a set of IT policies that analyze various incoming authentication and authorization requests. Based on your organization's security policies, Conditional Access can grant or deny access to Microsoft 365 applications.  

Conditional Access in SureMDM

Conditional Access in SureMDM operates through a set of policies and rules that determine whether a user and their device are allowed access to Microsoft 365 apps.

By leveraging Conditional Access, IT admins can restrict access to Microsoft 365 applications on iOS and Android devices. This is achieved by setting device compliance requirements such as minimum OS version, rooted status, security patch level, password policy, etc. Devices that are either unmanaged or don't meet these compliance requirements are blocked from accessing Microsoft 365 apps.

Why does your organization need Conditional Access?

Passwords can no longer protect against unauthorized access and the latest hacking techniques that pose a threat to sensitive corporate data. As such, organizations that rely only on passwords for access control may be at risk.

Conditional Access policies are the best way for organizations to add a security layer to their access controls to prevent unauthorized access. With Conditional Access, you can safeguard sensitive data by restricting access to Microsoft 365 apps to authorized devices while also enforcing device compliance policies to ensure only secure devices can access them. 

Conditional Access in Mobile Device Management (MDM) is crucial as it strengthens security, adapts to modern work trends, and ensures data protection. Think of it like this: a user trying to access sensitive corporate resources from an unmanaged or non-compliant device could be blocked by Conditional Access, thereby preventing data from accidentally falling into the wrong hands.

Like an If-Then statement, Conditional Access protects your data by requiring users to meet specific criteria (based on device compliance rules) before accessing Microsoft 365 apps. SureMDM lets you deploy effective Conditional Access policies to help you prevent unauthorized device access and safeguard sensitive data.