Setting Up Multifactor Authentication With Entra Free/M365

Question

I keep seeing notifications that I need to enable Multifactor authentication on my Azure tenant, but it seems the only way for me to do that is to upgrade to an Entra ID plan. When I follow the instructions on how to do that, I'm taken to a page that says I need to upgrade to a free Premium trial to enable that feature.

However, when I click on more information, it says that MFA should be available even to Entra ID Free or Microsoft 365. I do have M365 and log into Azure Portal with the same ID.

Presently I am only using the always-free features in Azure, and I am an individual user and not a business or enterprise. Can someone help me understand what I need to do in order to be compliant with this MFA requirement?

Answer 1

As an M365 user or GA, you should be able to configure per-user MFA in the Entra portal. Try this direct link: https://entra.microsoft.com/#view/Microsoft_AAD_IAM/MultifactorAuthenticationConfig.ReactView/tabId/users

Answer 2

Hi @Michael Wisebaker

Thank you for posting this in Microsoft Q&A.

Adding to the above information provided by @Vasil Michev

Yes, Multifactor Authentication is available with Microsoft Entra ID Free or Microsoft 365 licenses.

For tenants created on or after October 22, 2019, security defaults are automatically enabled. You should check your settings to confirm this.

To enable security defaults (or confirm you're already enabled):

1. Sign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center as at least a Security Administrator.
2. Navigate to Identity > Overview > Properties.
3. Select Manage security defaults, set Security defaults to Enabled, and click Save.

Once this setting is enabled, you will need to register for multifactor authentication.

For your reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/authentication/concept-mfa-licensing?toc=%2Fentra%2Fidentity%2Ffundamentals%2Ftoc.json&bc=%2Fentra%2Ffundamentals%2Fbreadcrumb%2Ftoc.json

Please follow the documentation to register for multifactor authentication: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-add-your-accounts-to-microsoft-authenticator-92544b53-7706-4581-a142-30344a2a2a57#ID0EBH=signinorgid:~:text=Add%20a%20work%20or%20school%20account%20using%20a%20QR%20code

Hope this helps. Do let us know if you any further queries.

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