Implementing Azure AD password protection involves some technical steps. Below are few steps that you can follow to implement it;
Step 1: Set up the Azure AD password protection service
You must first set up the Azure AD password protection service, which is done in Azure portal.
- Navigate to Azure Portal and select Azure Active Directory.
- Click on ‘Security’ and under the Security page, click on ‘Authentication methods’.
- Click on ‘Password Protection’ then set ‘Password protection for Windows Server Active Directory’ to ‘Yes’
Step 2: Download and install the proxy service and DC agent
Both the proxy service and DC agent need to be installed on your domain controllers.
- Download the proxy service and DC agent from Microsoft download page.
- Install the proxy service on a server that has outbound access to the internet. Notably, more than one proxy service can be installed for redundancy purposes.
- The DC agent should be installed on every domain controller that you want to integrate with the Azure AD password protection service.
Managing Azure AD Password Protection
The management of Azure AD password protection mainly involves monitoring the health status, updating the proxy and DC agent software, and viewing activity logs.
Monitoring the Health Status
Azure AD password protection includes a health status feature. It provides information about the service’s health status. This helps in ensuring that the service is running properly.
To view the health status, follow the below steps:
- Navigate to Azure portal and select Azure Active Directory.
- Click on ‘Security’ then under the Security page, click on ‘Azure AD password protection’.
- Under the Azure AD password protection page, click on ‘Health Status’
Updating the Proxy and DC Agent Software
Microsoft routinely releases updates for the proxy service and DC Agent. It’s important to keep your software updated to enjoy new features and security updates.
Viewing Activity Logs
Activity logs give an overview of password changes and their status. They provide detailed information on passwords changed, whether they were allowed or blocked, and why.
The logs can be accessed via the Azure portal, Azure AD password protection Proxy Configuration tool, or via Windows event logs on individual domain controllers.
Conclusion
Thus, Azure AD password protection is an effective way of preventing users from setting easily guessed passwords. With the right kind of implementation and management, it can greatly enhance the safety of your organization’s identities. As you prepare for your MS-100 Microsoft 365 Identity and Services exam, understanding Azure AD password protection will be valuable.
Practice Test
True or False: Azure AD Password Protection extends to both cloud environments and on-premises Windows Server Active Directory.
- Answer: True
Explanation: Azure AD Password Protection is designed to enhance password policies in Azure AD and on-premises Windows Server Active Directory, ensuring protected environments in both areas.
Which one of the following types of commonly attacked passwords is Azure AD Password Protection designed to prohibit?
- a. Commonly used acronyms
- b. Numeric sequences
- c. Most common username-password pairs
- d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above
Explanation: Azure AD Password Protection helps defend against using any of the above-stated types of weak, risky, or commonly attacked passwords.
True or False: Every organization should have a custom banned-password list in Azure AD Password Protection.
- Answer: True
Explanation: Although a global banned password list is provided by Microsoft, it’s best practice for organizations to additionally maintain their own custom banned password list to meet their unique security needs.
Which two features of Azure AD Password Protection aid in evading dictionary-based attacks?
- a. Password lockout
- b. Password strengthening
- c. Banned password list
- d. Password auditing
Answer: b. Password strengthening, c. Banned password list
Explanation: Password strengthening and a banned password list are the primary features of Azure AD Password Protection that help prevent dictionary-based attacks.
True or False: Integrating Azure AD Password Protection with Windows Active Directory requires the Azure AD Password Protection DC agent for on-premises Active Directory.
- Answer: True
Explanation: Azure AD Password Protection DC agent must be installed on-premise to enable Azure AD Password Protection to work with Active Directory forests.
The Azure AD Password Protection Proxy service requires what for outbound connectivity?
- a. HTTPS and LDAP
- b. HTTP and FTP
- c. HTTPS only
- d. HTTP only
Answer: c. HTTPS only
Explanation: The Azure AD Password Protection Proxy service uses HTTPS (port 443) for all outbound connections.
True or False: In Azure AD Password Protection, password enforcement is character-based.
- Answer: False
Explanation: Azure AD Password Protection implements password enforcement on a “per-guess” basis, meaning an entire password is accepted or rejected. It is not based on individual character criteria.
Which of the following denotes a healthy state for Azure AD Password Protection Proxy service and DC agent?
- a. Proxy service has ‘Running’ status and DC Agent’s RUN-FOREST list command returns a valid GUID
- b. Proxy service shows ‘Halted’ status but DC Agent’s RUN-FOREST list command returns a valid GUID
- c. Proxy service shows ‘Running’ status but DC Agent’s RUN-FOREST list command doesn’t return a valid GUID
- d. Both Proxy service and DC Agent show ‘Halted’ status
Answer: a. Proxy service has ‘Running’ status and DC Agent’s RUN-FOREST list command returns a valid GUID
Explanation: These conditions indicate that both the Proxy service and DC agent are operating correctly together.
True or False: There is a limitation on the number of banned passwords you can add to the custom list in Azure AD Password Protection.
- Answer: True
Explanation: Yes, there is a limit of 1000 banned passwords for the custom banned password list.
Which of the following is not a requirement for Azure AD Password Protection?
- a. Azure AD Basic
- b. Azure AD Premium 1 or Premium 2
- c. A hybrid Azure AD join
- d. Internet connectivity
Answer: a. Azure AD Basic
Explanation: Azure AD Password Protection requires an Azure AD Premium 1 or Premium 2 subscription, but Azure AD Basic is not sufficient.
Interview Questions
What does Azure AD Password Protection offer?
Azure AD Password Protection adds security by banning commonly used, expected, and otherwise weak passwords in Azure AD and Windows Server Active Directory and helps you eliminate easily guessed passwords from your environment.
How does Azure AD ensure the strength of passwords?
Azure AD has a feature called Azure AD Password Protection that ensures strong passwords by banning common, weak and easily guessable passwords. It uses a globally banned password list which is updated consistently to prevent bad passwords.
What is a custom banned password list in Azure AD password protection?
A custom banned password list is an additional feature allowing specific terms to be added that the organization views as easy to guess or not secure. Once these terms are added, Azure AD Password Protection will block them from being used in passwords.
How do you enable Azure AD password protection?
Azure AD password protection can be enabled through the Azure portal by navigating to the Azure Active Directory option, then to the security option, then Password Protection. After that, you can enable the option from the GUI.
Where does Azure AD Password protection apply in Azure?
Azure AD password protection applies both in the cloud and on-premise. It applies to all password changes and resets including self-service password resets, Azure admin portal and even PowerShell.
How is Azure AD Password Protection deployed in on-premises environments?
To deploy Azure AD Password Protection in on-premises environments, you need to install two services: Azure AD Password Protection Proxy service and Azure AD Password Protection DC Agent service.
Can I use Azure AD Password Protection with a free subscription?
No, Azure AD Password Protection is not available in the free tier of Azure Active Directory. It’s available with Azure AD Premium P1 and P2 subscriptions.
What is a password protection agent in Azure AD password protection?
A password protection agent, also known as domain controller agent, is a Windows service installed in Active Directory Domain Controller environments to debug and control Azure AD Password Protection.
Does Azure AD Password Protection support multi-factor authentication?
Yes, Azure AD Password Protection integrates with other Azure AD features, including Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to provide an extra layer of security.
What audit data is available for Azure AD Password Protection?
When Azure AD Password Protection is deployed and running, audit data is available which includes events about Password Protection Agent status and registry changes, proxy service status, and password policy decisions. This data can be reviewed in the Windows Event Viewer.
Can I apply Azure AD Password protection to specific users?
No, Azure AD Password Protection policy applies to all users in the organization, both individual user accounts, and administrator accounts. It doesn’t support user-level or group-level password policies.
Is Azure AD Password Protection available across all Azure regions?
Yes, Azure AD Password Protection is available in all public cloud regions where Azure is available.
How often is the global banned password list updated in Azure AD Password Protection?
Microsoft does not disclose the specifics of the frequency, but it does state that it is continually updated to ensure consistent protection against commonly used and compromised passwords.
What happens if a password is found in the banned password list?
If a password is found in the banned password list during a password change or reset, Azure AD rejects the password and asks the user to choose a different password.
Is the data communicated by Azure Password Protection Proxy service secured?
Yes, the data communicated between Azure Password Protection Proxy service and Azure Active Directory is secured with TLS 1.2 protocol for strong encryption.
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