2.1.2 Ensure that 'Multi-Factor Auth Status' is 'Enabled' for all Privileged Users

Information

[IMPORTANT - Please read the section overview: If your organization pays for Microsoft Entra ID licensing (included in Microsoft 365 E3, E5, or F5, and EM&S E3 or E5 licenses) and CAN use Conditional Access, ignore the recommendations in this section and proceed to the Conditional Access section.]

Enable multi-factor authentication for all roles, groups, and users that have write access or permissions to Azure resources. These include custom created objects or built-in roles such as;

Service Co-Administrators

Subscription Owners

Contributors

Rationale:

Multi-factor authentication requires an individual to present a minimum of two separate forms of authentication before access is granted. Multi-factor authentication provides additional assurance that the individual attempting to gain access is who they claim to be. With multi-factor authentication, an attacker would need to compromise at least two different authentication mechanisms, increasing the difficulty of compromise and thus reducing the risk.

Impact:

Users would require two forms of authentication before any access is granted. Additional administrative time will be required for managing dual forms of authentication when enabling multi-factor authentication.

NOTE: Nessus has not performed this check. Please review the benchmark to ensure target compliance.

Solution

Remediate from Azure Portal

From Azure Home select the Portal Menu

Select Microsoft Entra ID blade

Under Manage, click Roles and administrators

Take note of all users with the role Service Co-Administrators, Owners or Contributors

Return to the Overview

Under Manage, click Users

Click on the Per-User MFA button in the top row menu

Check the box next to each noted user

Click Enable MFA

Click Enable

Other Options within Azure Portal
Follow Microsoft Azure documentation and enable multi-factor authentication in your environment.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/tutorial-enable-azure-mfa
Enabling and configuring MFA with conditional access policy is a multi-step process. Here are some additional resources on the process within Entra ID to enable multi-factor authentication for users within your subscriptions with conditional access policy.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/conditional-access/howto-conditional-access-policy-admin-mfa
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/howto-mfa-getstarted#enable-multi-factor-authentication-with-conditional-access
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/howto-mfa-mfasettings

Default Value:

By default, multi-factor authentication is disabled for all users.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/16820

Item Details

Category: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION

References: 800-53|IA-2(1), 800-53|IA-2(2), CSCv7|4.5, CSCv7|16.3

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