Cybersecurity has changed. The biggest threat to your organization today isn’t malware, it’s someone logging in with a legitimate username and password.

In 2025, identity has officially replaced the traditional firewall as the frontline of defense.

Identity Attacks: The Startling Numbers

• 74% of breaches involve human error or credential-based attacks, like phishing or social engineering.
• Recent MFA fatigue attacks, where users unknowingly approve fraudulent login prompts, have surged by over 200% year-over-year. (Due to Crowdstrike 2025 Global Report)
• The average cost of a breach involving credential theft is now approximately $4.9 million, up 10% from the previous year.
• Microsoft reports more than 600 million identity attack attempts daily, with nearly 100% being password-based.

Identity is now the main battleground, and risk has never been higher.

What Is Conditional Access, and Why Does It Matter?

Microsoft Conditional Access is a security feature included in Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) that evaluates each login attempt and determines whether access should be allowed, blocked, or require additional verification.

But what makes it powerful is context.

Instead of asking “Is the password correct?” it asks:

• Is this the right person?

• Are they using a trusted device?

• Are they signing in from a known location?

• Is this sign-in consistent with their past behavior?

• Is the app they’re accessing secure and supported?

This is called adaptive access control – and it’s essential in a world where attackers are constantly testing the edge of your environment.

MFA Is Not Enough. Here’s Why

You might think that multi-factor authentication (MFA) already protects you. And it’s true – MFA is a critical step. But here’s the problem:

MFA keeps the door locked, but conditional access makes sure the right person is knocking before you open the door. 

Andy Rose,
Director of Professional Services at WorkSmart

And MFA alone doesn’t prevent:

• Users approving fake push prompts from attackers

• Logins from risky or unverified devices

• Access to apps that lack MFA enforcement

• Former employees or guests retaining old credentials

• Password reuse from other breached platforms

Conditional Access lets you add logic and restrictions before the door even opens. It’s not just a lock – it’s a smart gatekeeper.

 

Already on Microsoft Business Premium? You Likely Have It – You Just Need to Use It

If your company uses Microsoft 365 Business Premium or Microsoft E3/E5, you already own Conditional Access.

But here’s the catch: it’s not turned on by default. And when it is, most organizations rely on Microsoft’s basic templates, which can miss critical use cases like:

• Securing administrator accounts with stricter rules

• Blocking legacy protocols (e.g., IMAP or POP) that bypass MFA

• Preventing sign-ins from unmanaged personal devices

• Applying different rules for contractors and external collaborators

What Happens Without Conditional Access? Real Examples

At WorkSmart, we’ve seen it all. Here are a few anonymized stories:

A user logged in from an overseas location while on vacation, but no policy flagged the unusual activity. An attacker followed the same pattern a week later and wasn’t blocked.

A finance manager clicked “approve” on a fake MFA request. The attacker gained full access to inboxes, payroll files, and sensitive financial data, before IT even knew what happened.

A third-party vendor still had access to the client’s SharePoint site 6 months after their contract ended. No automatic expiration policy was in place.

These aren’t just technical oversights – they’re real business risks that can lead to breaches, regulatory fines, reputational damage, and financial loss.

The Good News: You Don’t Have to Tackle This Alone

Conditional Access can seem complex – but it doesn’t have to be. With the right guidance, you can go from vulnerable to resilient in a matter of days.

At WorkSmart, we help clients:

• Review their existing access policies and risk exposure

• Align with Microsoft’s latest best practices (and improve upon them)

• Design custom, multi-layered policies by user type, location, device, and role

• Roll out policies with minimal disruption to end users

• Monitor and optimize access controls as the business evolves

Final Thought

If your cybersecurity strategy doesn’t include identity-first protection, you’re relying on luck.
Conditional Access isn’t a luxury anymore – it’s a must-have layer of defense.

Let’s secure your environment the smart way. Explore our conditional access services now.