How to Fix: Configure Smart Lockout Protection
Step-by-step guide to implement configure smart lockout protection in your Microsoft 365 environment.
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15-20 minutes
Estimated Time
4
Steps
low
Severity
Recommended Secure
Baseline Level
Why This Matters
Password spray attacks try common passwords across many accounts. Smart lockout detects these patterns and blocks attackers while allowing legitimate users to authenticate. Weak settings leave you vulnerable.
Prerequisites
- 1Global Administrator or appropriate admin role in Microsoft Entra ID
- 2Access to Microsoft Entra admin center (entra.microsoft.com)
Expected Configuration
- Smart lockout is enabled with appropriate thresholds
- Lockout threshold is 5 or fewer failed attempts
- Custom banned password list is configured
Remediation Steps
Assess Current Identity Configuration
Review your current identity settings in Microsoft Entra ID.
- •Navigate to Microsoft Entra admin center
- •Go to Identity > Users or relevant section
- •Review current configuration
Plan Required Changes
Determine what modifications are needed.
- •Compare current state to expected configuration
- •Identify affected users or groups
- •Plan rollout strategy
Apply Configuration
Implement the required identity configuration changes.
- •Update relevant settings
- •Configure policies as needed
- •Apply changes to affected scope
Validate Changes
Confirm the configuration meets requirements.
- •Run TrueConfig scan
- •Verify expected behavior
- •Monitor for any issues
Related Resources
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