Forum Discussion
SandroRudin
May 10, 2022Copper Contributor
Multifactor Authentication MFA and Virtual Machines VM
We are a small development company using Office365. For a new project we now want to use some Windows VMs in the cloud. Because Azure integrates nicely with Office365 it seems to make sense to create...
- May 17, 2022Ok, so I think I found the problem.
As described above I have disabled MFA for my account in order to be able to login to the VMs using the AzureAD credentials. I was then able to login as desired but got redirected to the MFA setup wizard every time I logged in to some MS website. I then skipped the setup as I expected this would deny login to the VMs again.
I now realized that this MFA setup was for another organization where I was added as an external user. This organization still has company-wide MFA required and therefore I was bothered with the setup at every login. I now completed the MFA setup process and it really only requires it for that company and not for my own company so login to the VMs is still possible. I have to admit that I find this behavior quite confusing as it is nowhere shown for what organization you are setting up MFA.
Therefore my main problem is solved now. I would prefer to enable MFA and disable it only for RDP or even better enable it everywhere but unfortunately this seems to be too complicated. If a simple solution pops up please let me know.
lukemurraynz
May 16, 2022Learn Expert
Sign in to the Azure portal as a security administrator, Conditional Access administrator, or global administrator.
Browse to Azure Active Directory > Properties.
Select Manage security defaults.
Set the Enable security defaults toggle to No.
Select Save.
SandroRudin
May 16, 2022Copper Contributor
Asi I said three times already, I have turned off company-wide MFA, which is why I can remove MFA from my account which is why I can login. The redirect to the wizard is still popping up every time I login to Azure portal and I can then just skip setup on the first step.
- SergNovakSep 17, 2022Copper Contributor
SandroRudin Iit looks like the premium version of AAD is enough only for administrators
- SandroRudinMay 17, 2022Copper ContributorOk, so I think I found the problem.
As described above I have disabled MFA for my account in order to be able to login to the VMs using the AzureAD credentials. I was then able to login as desired but got redirected to the MFA setup wizard every time I logged in to some MS website. I then skipped the setup as I expected this would deny login to the VMs again.
I now realized that this MFA setup was for another organization where I was added as an external user. This organization still has company-wide MFA required and therefore I was bothered with the setup at every login. I now completed the MFA setup process and it really only requires it for that company and not for my own company so login to the VMs is still possible. I have to admit that I find this behavior quite confusing as it is nowhere shown for what organization you are setting up MFA.
Therefore my main problem is solved now. I would prefer to enable MFA and disable it only for RDP or even better enable it everywhere but unfortunately this seems to be too complicated. If a simple solution pops up please let me know. - SandroRudinMay 16, 2022Copper ContributorSo I open your link or go to Azure Portal, "View account", "Update security information" and I get stuck in an endless loop.
To be more precise: I open the Azure Portal (redirect to MFA setup, skip), then "View account" (redirect to MFA setup, skip), then "Update security information" and then redirect to MFA setup, skip, redirect to MFA setup, skip, ...
I have no idea what MS is thinking... - lukemurraynzMay 16, 2022Learn ExpertSorry, I don't know; you may need to open a support case with Microsoft to check the setting on the Tenancy.
I just did some testing after disabling Security Defaults and removing any authentication information from my user account (https://account.activedirectory.windowsazure.com/Proofup.aspx). It is allowing me to log in with no prompts.