I'm looking to implement Conditional Access (CA) policies for around 1200 users, but I want to make sure I can test these policies without causing disruptions in our production environment. Microsoft suggests using 'report-only' mode, but this only indicates what could happen rather than what will actually break. Here's our situation:
- We're using a mix of Windows 10 and 11, with some BYOD devices.
- We still have a few legacy applications that aren't compatible with modern authentication.
- Our users are remote, spread across six countries.
- We don't have a separate test tenant that closely mirrors our production setup.
I'm concerned about properly testing emergency access accounts without risking getting locked out and finding it hard to gauge real user impacts without affecting actual users. What strategies do you suggest? Should I roll it out to a small group first, consider using a third-party tool, or have you found effective methods for testing?
7 Answers
Deploy in report-only mode first, followed by a small group of test users. It’s smart to have a precise strategy in place with clear goals from the start. Looking into Microsoft’s template policies could also be beneficial. And don’t hesitate to reach out for external expertise if needed!
Absolutely! Having a structured approach is critical.
Maybe start with the 'what-if' tool while your policy is off. Then, set it to report-only for a small group. Just remember to communicate with your users beforehand, as they'll see a popup if they're on iOS or Android. Also, confirm that your break glass accounts are good to go after testing.
Good call! Clear communication will help smooth things over for users.
Using the 'what-if' tool sounds like a smart way to get a grip on what might happen.
You can use the 'report only' mode as long as you're aware that it's not compatible with macOS. Run it for a few hours or days, then use a pilot security group for deployment. Remember to exclude your break glass account from these tests. It's important to check on enterprise apps using Single Sign-On (SSO) to watch for potential issues that might arise from the logs.
This is a solid plan. Those logs will be essential in spotting any future concerns!
Great tip! Just keep an eye on everything to avoid any surprises.
I simply test using my own normal account first to check for issues. If that goes well, I expand it to some IT folks, and then to my test users from different departments working both remotely and onsite. If all is good, I put it in report-only for the whole company to catch any potential issues before full deployment. Be prepared, though—something always seems to break once you go live!
Your method makes sense! Real-world testing really shines a light on the tricky parts.
For sure! It's always surprising what goes wrong after testing.
A good strategy is to implement in phases—start with a small group, then gradually increase the size. You might call it a pilot ring approach.
One approach you could take is to create a tailored user group representation in a restricted organizational unit (OU) to test against. It doesn't need to be massive—maybe just 20 to 50 users to act as a pilot group. This way, you can get a clearer picture of how the policies will affect your user base without going all-in.
Definitely! A pilot group is a great way to ensure everything's working as expected before a full rollout. It doesn't have to be complicated.
I agree with this! A smaller, representative group can save you a ton of hassle later.
Templates and external help can really simplify the process!