Goodbye Legacy MFA: Be Ready for the new Microsoft Authentication Methods Policy
The change is happening… ready or not!
Microsoft has announced that on September 30, 2025 they will deprecate the legacy multifactor authentication (MFA) and self‑service password reset (SSPR) policies in Microsoft Entra ID. After this date, all authentication method management will move to the unified Authentication Methods policy.
This shift is part of Microsoft’s broader Secure Future Initiative, which is designed to streamline identity security, reduce attack surfaces, and ensure consistent policy enforcement across the Microsoft cloud ecosystem.
Failing to migrate to the Authentication Methods policy in time could mean:
- Loss of enforcement for MFA/SSPR settings
- Potential lockouts for admins and users
- Gaps in compliance and security posture
What is the New Authentication Method Policy?
Microsoft’s legacy MFA setup relied on a separate per-user configuration model that was difficult to manage at scale and inconsistent across scenarios. The new Authentication Methods policy centralizes all authentication methods into a single, modern framework within Entra ID (formerly Azure AD).
The new, unified approach allows organizations to manage MFA, passwordless sign-ins, FIDO2 keys, Temporary Access Pass, and other methods from one policy set, with granular controls for specific users, groups, or scenarios. The result is simplified administration, stronger security posture, and a smoother user experience compared to the fragmented legacy MFA system.
Why Legacy MFA Retirement Matters
The retirement of legacy MFA opens the door to stronger security and a better user experience. Legacy MFA was limited in scope and managed separately, which often created administrative overhead and inconsistent enforcement. By moving to the modern Authentication Methods policy, organizations can simplify management, gain access to advanced options that align with Microsoft’s future roadmap. The shift isn’t just about keeping up with change. It’s an opportunity to improve both protection and usability across the organization.
Legacy MFA and SSPR policies were built for a different era of identity management. While functional, they:
- Operate separately, creating policy silos
- Lack the flexibility of modern conditional access and authentication method controls
- Can be harder to audit and align with compliance frameworks
The Authentication Methods policy unifies identity management controls within Entra ID, enabling:
- Centralized management of all MFA and SSPR settings
- Granular targeting by user/group
- Support for modern, phishing‑resistant authentication methods
How to Check If You’re Ready
Here’s a readiness checklist and some quick wins you can achieve to accelerate your migration:
- Identify Current MFA/SSPR Configuration
- In Microsoft Entra admin center, check if users are still enabled for per‑user MFA (statuses like Enabled or Enforced indicate legacy use).
- Review SSPR settings under the legacy policy. If methods are still configurable there, you haven’t fully migrated.
- Quick Win: Move accounts into the Authentication Methods policy as they are discovered.
- Verify Authentication Methods Policy
- Ensure all required MFA and SSPR methods are configured in the Authentication Methods blade.
- Confirm that security defaults or conditional access policies are enforcing MFA where needed.
- Quick Win: Configure SSPR settings found in the legacy blade with new policies and include modern options like Authenticator or FIDO2 keys.
- Test Critical Accounts
- Include Global Admins in your testing. They’re subject to the same rules and could be locked out if not migrated.
- Quick Win: Migrate global admins and validate their access before the cut-off date.
- Run a Pilot Migration
- Use Microsoft’s migration wizard to move a subset of users and validate the experience before full rollout.
- Quick Win: Validate user experience before full migration.
How GuidePoint Security Can Help
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner with deep expertise across Entra, Defender, Purview, Sentinel, Intune, Copilot and Azure, GuidePoint Security can:
- Assess Your Current State: We can help you map your existing MFA/SSPR configurations, identify legacy dependencies, and highlight risks. This critical information provides the foundation for a successful migration that reduces interruptions to business continuity.
- Design a Migration Plan: With an understanding of your current state in hand, we tailor a phased migration approach that minimizes disruption and aligns with your compliance requirements.
- Implement and Validate: Our Microsoft certified engineers will work by your side or as an extension of your team to configure your Authentication Methods policy, update conditional access, and run user acceptance testing. You’ll get a comprehensive migration without disrupting your mission critical projects.
- Enhance Security Posture: GuidePoint can take your migration further, delivering even greater value by integrating phishing‑resistant MFA methods (e.g., FIDO2 keys, Windows Hello for Business) and aligning with zero trust principles.
- Provide Ongoing Support: Through strategic partnerships, we can enable 24×7 managed detection and response support for rapid response to threats, including those originating with identities.
Don’t Wait! Get Ahead of Authentication Methods Policy Migration
With the September 30, 2025 deadline approaching, now is the time to act. A smooth migration not only avoids service disruption but also strengthens your organization’s identity security for the long term.
Let’s make sure you’re ready.
Contact GuidePoint Security’s Microsoft Professional Services team to schedule your MFA/SSPR readiness assessment today.