Use Defender for Cloud Apps Conditional Access app control

This article provides an overview of how to use Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps app control to create access and session policies. Conditional Access app control provides real-time monitoring and control over user access to cloud apps.

Conditional Access app control usage flow

The following image shows the high level process for configuring and implementing Conditional Access app control:

Which identity provider are you using?

Before you start using Conditional Access app control, understand whether your apps are managed by Microsoft Entra or another identity provider (IdP).

• Microsoft Entra apps are automatically onboarded for Conditional Access app control, and are immediately available for you to use in your access and session policy conditions.

• Apps that use non-Microsoft IdPs must be manually onboarded before you can select them in your access and session policy conditions.

  • If you're working with a catalog app from a non-Microsoft IdP, configure the integration between your IdP and Defender for Cloud Apps to onboard all catalog apps. For more information, see Onboard non-Microsoft IdP catalog apps for Conditional Access app control.

  • If you're working with custom apps, you need to both configure the integration between your IdP and Defender for Cloud Apps, and also onboard each custom app. For more information, see Onboard non-Microsoft IdP custom apps for Conditional Access app control.

Sample procedures

The following articles provide sample processes for configuring a non-Microsoft IdP to work with Defender for Cloud Apps:

• PingOne as your IdP
• Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) as your IdP
• Okta as your IdP

Create a Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access policy

In order for your access or session policy to work, you must also have Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access policy, which creates the permissions to control traffic.

We embedded a sample of this process in the access and session policy creation documentation.

For more information, see Conditional Access policies and Building a Conditional Access policy.

Create your access and session policies

After you've confirmed that your apps are onboarded, either automatically because they're Microsoft Entra ID apps, or manually, and you have a Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access policy ready, you can continue with creating access and session policies for any scenario you need.

For more information, see:

• Create a Defender for Cloud Apps access policy
• Create a Defender for Cloud Apps session policy

Test your policies

Make sure to test your policies and update any conditions or settings as needed. For more information, see:

• Test your access policy
• Test your session policy

Related content

For more information, see Protect apps with Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps Conditional Access app control.