Can Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Identity Protection detect whether user credentials were leaked to the public?

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Identity Protection is designed to enhance security by managing risks associated with user identities. One of its key functionalities is the ability to detect compromised user credentials, including those that may have been leaked in public data breaches.

When Azure AD Identity Protection identifies that a user’s credentials have been found in external breach data, it can alert administrators to take appropriate action. This includes enabling additional security measures, such as requiring multi-factor authentication or blocking sign-in attempts from suspicious locations. This proactive detection helps organizations respond swiftly to potential threats, thus reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

This capability signifies a robust level of security monitoring that extends beyond just internal activities, allowing for the identification of risks based on external threats. By utilizing intelligence from various sources that track breaches, Azure AD can significantly improve an organization’s defense against credential-based attacks.