As cyber threats become more complex, it’s crucial for organizations to implement robust security measures. In today’s treacherous digital landscape, securing users’ access to organizational resources is critical. Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) includes conditional access security capabilities that are beneficial for macOS admins and users.
Conditional access in Workspace ONE allows organizations to define specific access policies based on a variety of conditions. This capability then considers the context of both the device and the user at the moment of access to assess their security status. For example, conditional access may note that a user is logging in from an uncommon location, or there has been an unusual spike in download activity. A variety of actions can be taken based on the results of this analysis, such as granting full access to corporate resources, enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA), or auto-remediating configuration issues.
This dynamic security capability enables admins to ensure that only trusted devices and users can access sensitive information and applications. Let’s explore how conditional access can be leveraged within Workspace ONE for macOS.
Integration with Workspace ONE UEM enrollment status
One of the key features of conditional access is its integration with Workspace ONE enrollment status. This allows admins to use the enrollment status of devices as a condition for access policies, which can enhance the security of macOS environments.
Per-app conditional access policies
Workspace ONE enables admins to define per-app conditional access policies for macOS devices so access to specific apps can be restricted based on factors like device compliance, user identity, and network location. For example, admins can create policies that require MFA for access to sensitive applications, adding an extra layer of security.
Integration with Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
Workspace ONE enrollment and compliance status for macOS can be integrated with Microsoft Entra Conditional Access policies (formerly Azure AD) to enhance security and compliance. This integration allows organizations to enforce policies based on the enrollment and compliance status of macOS devices managed by Workspace ONE. By utilizing Microsoft Entra Conditional Access policies, organizations can ensure that only compliant and enrolled devices can access corporate resources, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.
Integration with Google’s Context-Aware Access
We’ve enhanced Workspace ONE for macOS by integrating Google Chrome Enterprise (formerly BeyondCorp) context-aware policies, boosting security and identity management. This integration with Google enables authentication for Google Workspace apps based on device compliance in Workspace ONE. Workspace ONE communicates with Google through an API to relay compliance status, ensuring macOS devices that meet security standards gain access to necessary resources.
Benefits of using conditional access in Workspace ONE for macOS
Here are three benefits macOS admins can achieve with conditional access in Workspace ONE:
- Enhanced security: By enforcing access policies based on device enrollment status and other factors, organizations can improve the security posture of their macOS environments.
- Improved compliance: Conditional access in Workspace ONE helps organizations comply with regulatory requirements by ensuring that only authorized devices and users can access sensitive information.
- Increased control: Admins have greater control over access to applications and data, allowing them to enforce policies that align with organizational security requirements.
Additional resources
Find more information here:
- Learn more about the integration with Google Context-Aware Access here: Use Compliance Data in Google BeyondCorp Context-Aware Access.
- Learn more about the integration with Entra ID here: Use Compliance Data in Azure AD Conditional Access Policies.
