Identity Management
In a Zero Trust architecture, identity is the foundational control surface. Every access decision — whether from an employee, contractor, service account, or automated workload — must be explicitly verified using all available signals. VSS implements Microsoft's identity security stack to create an adaptive, context-aware security boundary around every identity in your organisation.
Our Identity & Access Modernisation service covers the complete Microsoft Entra ecosystem: from foundational MFA and SSO deployment through to advanced Conditional Access, Privileged Identity Management, passwordless authentication, and full identity lifecycle governance. Each engagement is phased to deliver measurable security improvements at every stage.
Zero Trust identity verification for every access request.
Verify explicitly, use least privilege
The Zero Trust identity model eliminates implicit trust. Every authentication and authorisation decision is made based on real-time evaluation of user identity, device health, location, application sensitivity, and risk level.
VSS deploys Conditional Access as the central policy engine — integrating signals from Entra ID Protection, Intune device compliance, and Microsoft Defender to make adaptive access decisions.
Privileged Identity Management ensures administrative access is never standing — it is always just-in-time, approval-gated, and fully audited.
Related security services:
Advanced monitoring and analytics to identify threats early.
Comprehensive protection for all devices and endpoints.
Secure access control and identity governance.
Rapid response and remediation when incidents occur.
Firewalls, intrusion prevention, and network segmentation.
Identify vulnerabilities before attackers do.
Identity & Access Modernisation
End-to-end Entra ID deployment: MFA, SSO, Conditional Access, Hybrid AD Connect, PIM. Includes device registration, basic Intune compliance, and knowledge transfer to IT admins. Delivered in 4-8 weeks.
Read MorePhishing-Resistant MFA
FIDO2 and Authenticator-based MFA that eliminates credential theft.
Conditional Access
Adaptive policies evaluating identity, device, location, and risk.
Privileged Access
Just-In-Time elevation with approval gates and full audit trails.
Passwordless Ready
Windows Hello and FIDO2 keys for a password-free future.
Why Identity Is the New Security Perimeter
The majority of successful attacks begin with identity compromise
The Microsoft Cybersecurity Reference Architecture (MCRA) is explicit — the majority of successful attacks in the modern threat landscape begin with identity compromise: phishing, credential theft, password spray, and MFA fatigue. Identity is the single most important control surface, and in a Zero Trust model, it replaces the network perimeter as the primary enforcement boundary.
For organisations operating hybrid and remote workforces, the traditional concept of a "trusted network" no longer exists. Users access corporate data from personal devices, home networks, and public Wi-Fi — environments that cannot be controlled. The only constant across all access scenarios is the user's identity, making it the foundational pillar of any Zero Trust security architecture.
Zero Trust Identity Principle: Verify Explicitly
Every access request — from any user, any device, any location — must be authenticated and authorised using all available signals: identity, device health, location, application, and data sensitivity. VSS implements this through Microsoft Entra ID, Conditional Access, MFA, and Identity Protection — creating an adaptive, context-aware security boundary around every identity.
Stage 1 — Foundation Controls
Establish the identity security baseline
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Deploy Microsoft Entra MFA for all users. For administrative accounts, enforce phishing-resistant MFA using FIDO2 security keys or Microsoft Authenticator. Eliminate SMS-based OTP as the sole MFA factor.
Single Sign-On (SSO)
Integrate all SaaS and business-critical applications with Microsoft Entra ID as the central Identity Provider (IdP). Eliminate per-application credentials, reducing both password fatigue and the credential sprawl that attackers exploit.
Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR)
Reduce helpdesk burden and ensure users can securely recover access without bypassing security controls.
Entra ID Protection — Risk Policies
Enable sign-in risk and user risk policies that automatically challenge or block risky authentication events such as impossible travel, unfamiliar locations, and leaked credentials.
Stage 2 — Identity & Access Controls
Policy-based access management and privilege governance
Conditional Access Policies
Implement policy-based access control evaluating: user identity + device compliance state + location + application sensitivity + sign-in risk. Enforce 'deny by default, permit by exception' for high-value applications.
Hybrid Identity (Azure AD Connect)
For customers with on-premises Active Directory, synchronise identities to Entra ID to create a unified identity fabric spanning cloud and on-premises resources.
Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Eliminate standing administrative access. Require time-bound, approval-gated elevation for all privileged roles in Azure, Microsoft 365, and on-premises. Log all privileged activity.
Stage 4 — Advanced Identity Controls
Passwordless, workload identity, and full lifecycle governance
Passwordless Authentication
Transition users from passwords to Windows Hello for Business, FIDO2 keys, or Microsoft Authenticator passwordless sign-in. Passwords are the weakest link — eliminate them wherever possible.
Workload Identity Management
Extend identity governance to service accounts, managed identities, and application service principals. Non-human identities are frequently compromised and overlooked.
Entra ID Governance
Implement access reviews, entitlement management, and lifecycle workflows to ensure identities are provisioned, reviewed, and deprovisioned in alignment with the employment lifecycle.
Conditional Access — The Policy Engine
Context-aware access decisions based on multiple signals
User Identity
Device Compliance
Location & Network
Application Sensitivity
Sign-in Risk Level
Result: All signals are evaluated together to make an adaptive access decision — Allow, Block, Require MFA, or Limit Access
VSS Key Tools for Identity
Microsoft identity and access management technology stack
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Entra ID | Central identity provider for SSO, MFA, and user lifecycle management across cloud and on-premises resources. |
| Conditional Access | Policy engine evaluating identity, device, location, and risk signals to enforce adaptive access decisions. |
| Entra ID Protection | AI-driven risk detection for sign-in anomalies, impossible travel, leaked credentials, and suspicious behaviour. |
| Privileged Identity Management | Just-In-Time, approval-gated privilege elevation for administrative roles with full audit logging. |
| Entra ID Governance | Access reviews, entitlement management, and lifecycle workflows for identity provisioning and deprovisioning. |
| Windows Hello for Business | Biometric and PIN-based passwordless authentication tied to the device TPM for phishing-resistant sign-in. |
| FIDO2 Security Keys | Hardware-based passwordless authentication using industry-standard FIDO2 protocol for the highest assurance level. |
VSS Identity Implementation Approach
Progressive deployment aligned to customer maturity and risk tolerance
Assessment
- Current identity architecture audit
- Password policy and MFA gap analysis
- Entra ID readiness assessment
- Secure Score identity baseline
Foundation
- Deploy Entra MFA for all users
- Configure SSO for critical apps
- Enable SSPR
- Activate ID Protection risk policies
Controls
- Conditional Access policy rollout
- Hybrid AD Connect deployment
- PIM activation for admin roles
- Device compliance integration
Optimisation
- Passwordless authentication rollout
- Workload identity governance
- Access reviews and lifecycle workflows
- Continuous monitoring and tuning
Secure Your Identity Perimeter
Start your Zero Trust identity transformation with a VSS Identity & Access Modernisation engagement. Deploy MFA, SSO, Conditional Access, and PIM in as little as 4-8 weeks with full knowledge transfer to your IT team.
Request an Identity Assessment