US Department of Labor’s Zero Trust Security Journey with Microsoft Entra ID

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, organizations are increasingly adopting Zero Trust security frameworks to safeguard sensitive data and operations. One prominent example is the United States Department of Labor (DOL), which has embraced Microsoft Entra ID to streamline and fortify its identity management systems. This move aims to reduce risks, enhance user experience, and ensure compliance with federal cybersecurity standards.

The following article outlines DOL’s transition to a Zero Trust security model, focusing on their integration of Microsoft Entra ID and its capabilities to support secure, efficient authentication methods and improved access control policies.

Journey to Zero Trust: Streamlining Security with Microsoft Entra ID

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has been working towards modernizing its identity systems and authentication processes. Historically, DOL used multiple identity systems, including on-premises Active Directory, Active Directory Federation Services, and Ping Federate. These fragmented approaches resulted in a complex environment, with users needing to authenticate to different systems for access to various applications.

In partnership with the Microsoft team, DOL consolidated these disparate systems into Microsoft Entra ID. This decision was fueled by the platform’s ability to support Single Sign-On (SSO) through protocols like SAML and OIDC, making access more seamless and secure. By integrating Entra ID into their environment, DOL could apply Conditional Access policies to strengthen security.

As the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to remote work, DOL introduced more advanced security features, such as enforcing device compliance through Microsoft Intune and integrating with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. These measures allowed DOL to evaluate device risk before granting access, ensuring that only secure devices could access sensitive resources.

Strengthening Zero Trust with Risk-Based Policies

In 2022, DOL took further steps to enhance its Zero Trust approach by implementing phishing-resistant authentication and risk-based Conditional Access policies. These policies assess sign-in risk, user risk, and device risk, enabling DOL to apply the principle of least privilege access.

One of the key innovations was the integration of device-bound passkeys within the Microsoft Authenticator app. By using passkeys, DOL could enhance security for privileged users—those with access to sensitive resources. This method reduces the reliance on traditional multifactor authentication, which is more vulnerable to phishing attacks, and offers a faster, more convenient way to authenticate.

Privileged users only need to install the Microsoft Authenticator app on their government-issued phones to authenticate, bypassing the need for a second PIV card or GFE device. This change streamlines authentication and reduces the risk of credential theft. Microsoft’s testing shows that signing in with a passkey is eight times faster than using a password and traditional MFA methods.

Leveraging Report-Only Mode for Continuous Improvement

DOL used the “report-only” mode in Conditional Access policies to monitor and fine-tune their implementation. This approach allowed the department to observe user behaviors and identify areas for policy refinement. For example, DOL noticed that some privileged users were signing in as administrators when they shouldn’t have been. By running risk-based policies in report-only mode, the department was able to adjust these behaviors before fully enforcing the new policies.

The use of report-only mode also helped DOL uncover technical debt and redundancies in their previous policies. By consolidating these into fewer, more comprehensive risk-based policies, DOL aimed to create a more streamlined and secure authentication process.

Looking Ahead: Future Plans for Enhanced Security

DOL’s future plans include further refining their security posture by implementing attestation, which will ensure that employees use the official Microsoft Authenticator app before registering a passkey. Additionally, they are considering the central management of devices through Entra ID to streamline updates, policy deployment, and application management.

By incorporating these features, DOL aims to continue advancing its transition to phishing-resistant authentication, reducing risk and improving the security of its workforce.

What Undercode Say:

The U.S. Department of Labor’s integration of Microsoft Entra ID into their security strategy represents a powerful example of how public sector organizations can modernize their identity and access management processes. The adoption of Zero Trust principles—such as risk-based authentication and device-bound passkeys—aligns with the ongoing global push for more robust cybersecurity practices.

By embracing Microsoft Entra ID, DOL not only strengthens security but also enhances operational efficiency. For organizations looking to implement similar security measures, Entra ID provides a scalable and secure foundation. The integration of passkeys, for instance, allows for faster and more secure authentication, which is crucial in today’s increasingly remote and hybrid work environments.

DOL’s approach also demonstrates the importance of continuous monitoring and improvement. The use of report-only mode in Conditional Access policies exemplifies how organizations can leverage their security tools for real-time analysis and fine-tuning, ensuring that security gaps are quickly identified and addressed.

As more agencies adopt Zero Trust security models, the lessons learned from DOL’s experience could serve as a blueprint for other government and private sector organizations. Their journey underscores the significance of modernizing legacy systems and embracing innovative technologies that balance security, user experience, and cost-efficiency.

Fact Checker Results:

Zero Trust Implementation: The article correctly outlines DOL’s successful transition to a Zero Trust model using Microsoft Entra ID and associated technologies.
Phishing-Resistant Authentication: The use of passkeys in the Microsoft Authenticator app is a valid solution for strengthening authentication against phishing attacks.
Risk-Based Conditional Access: DOL’s use of risk-based Conditional Access policies aligns with best practices for least privilege access and ensuring secure resource access based on contextual risk factors.

References:

Reported By: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/03/27/us-department-of-labors-journey-to-zero-trust-security-with-microsoft-entra-id/
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