Plan and implement multifactor authentication in Azure Virtual Desktop

Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is a comprehensive desktop and app virtualization solution provided by Microsoft. It enables users to access their desktops and applications from any device and any location, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android platforms. To enhance the security of AVD, it is highly recommended to implement multifactor authentication (MFA) to protect against identity theft and unauthorized access.

In this article, we will explore how to plan and implement multifactor authentication in Azure Virtual Desktop. We will leverage Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) and Azure Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to enable MFA for user authentication.

Prerequisites

Before getting started, ensure you have the following prerequisites in place:

1. An Azure subscription with sufficient permissions to configure Azure AD and MFA.
2. An Azure Virtual Desktop deployment already provisioned.
3. Azure AD tenant with synced user accounts or Azure AD cloud-only user accounts.

Step 1: Set up MFA Provider

1. Open the Azure portal (portal.azure.com) and navigate to Azure Active Directory.
2. In the Azure AD blade, click on “MFA” under the “Security” section.
3. Click on “Getting started” and select the appropriate options based on your requirements, such as MFA for cloud users, MFA server, etc.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to configure the MFA provider. This may include configuring additional settings like phone call verification, text message verification, or mobile app verification.
5. Once configured, ensure MFA is enabled for the desired users or groups in Azure AD.

Step 2: Configure Azure Virtual Desktop

1. Navigate to the Azure Virtual Desktop resource in the Azure portal.
2. Click on “Settings” in the left-hand menu and select “Session Hosts.”
3. Select the relevant session host and click on “Networking” in the left-hand menu.
4. Under “Virtual network,” click on “Configure network security group (NSG).”
5. In the NSG blade, add an inbound security rule to allow traffic from the MFA provider to the relevant ports required for AVD connectivity.
6. Save the NSG configuration.

Step 3: Enable MFA for Azure Virtual Desktop Users

There are two methods to enable MFA for Azure Virtual Desktop users: Azure AD Conditional Access and Azure AD Security Defaults. Choose the method that aligns with your organization’s requirements and capabilities.

Method 1: Azure AD Conditional Access

1. In the Azure AD blade, navigate to “Security” and click on “Conditional Access.”
2. Create a new policy or modify an existing policy that applies to Azure Virtual Desktop users.
3. In the policy settings, define the conditions and controls to enable MFA for AVD users. For example, you can configure MFA to require users to provide an additional verification factor when accessing AVD from a specific location or using a specific device.
4. Save the policy and assign it to the relevant user or group.

Method 2: Azure AD Security Defaults

1. In the Azure AD blade, navigate to “Security Defaults” under “Security.”
2. Enable the “Enable Security Defaults” option if it’s not already enabled.
3. Security Defaults automatically configures baseline security settings, including MFA.
4. Users assigned to Azure Virtual Desktop will be prompted to set up MFA during their next sign-in.

Step 4: Test Multifactor Authentication

To test multifactor authentication in Azure Virtual Desktop:

1. Open a web browser and navigate to the Azure Virtual Desktop URL or use the Remote Desktop client.
2. Sign in with a user account that has MFA enabled.
3. Provide the additional verification factor as per the MFA configuration.
4. Upon successful authentication, you should be granted access to Azure Virtual Desktop resources.

Congratulations! You have successfully planned and implemented multifactor authentication in Azure Virtual Desktop. With MFA enabled, user accounts accessing AVD will be protected by an additional layer of security, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

Note: It is essential to regularly review and update your MFA policies to align with the evolving security landscape and organizational requirements.