Entra ID Break Glass Accounts Explained Fast

Key insights

• Break Glass Accounts in Microsoft Entra ID are special high-privilege admin accounts created for emergency situations, such as losing access due to lockouts or technical issues. They act as a last-resort method for regaining control of your organization's environment.
   
• These accounts often have Global Administrator privileges and may be set up to bypass certain security steps like Conditional Access policies or MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication), ensuring they remain accessible even if normal login methods fail.
   
• Phishing-resistant MFA, such as hardware security keys or Windows Hello for Business, is recommended to protect these accounts while still making sure admins can use them during emergencies. Microsoft has updated guidance to support stronger authentication options.
   
• Regular Testing is essential. Organizations should frequently check that break glass accounts work and are not accidentally disabled or blocked, so they are ready when truly needed.
   
• The use of break glass accounts should be tightly controlled and monitored, with minimal exposure. They must only be used in real emergencies and activity on these accounts should be closely watched to reduce risks.
   
• Compliance and Best Practices: Maintaining these emergency accounts helps organizations meet standards like ISO 27001. In 2025, new features such as passwordless authentication and QR code-based login are being introduced to further strengthen emergency access while balancing security with usability.
   

Introduction: Understanding Entra ID Break Glass Accounts

In a recent YouTube video by Andy Malone [MVP], the crucial concept of Microsoft Entra ID’s break glass accounts is explored in depth. These specialized accounts are designed as an emergency measure for administrators, offering a safety net when regular access to administrative functions is lost or compromised. As organizations increasingly rely on cloud-based identity systems such as Microsoft 365, the need for robust contingency plans becomes more important than ever.

Malone’s demonstration provides a step-by-step guide on how to create and manage a break glass account, emphasizing the significance of being prepared for worst-case scenarios. The video aims to demystify the process, ensuring that global admins understand both the benefits and the necessary precautions associated with these high-privilege accounts.

What Are Break Glass Accounts in Entra ID?

Break glass accounts, also known as emergency access accounts, serve as a last-resort mechanism for regaining full administrative control over an organization’s Microsoft Entra ID environment. Unlike standard administrator accounts, break glass accounts are reserved strictly for emergencies and are subject to tighter controls and security measures.

However, these accounts must also remain accessible even if common security features—such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) or device-based access—fail. This delicate balance between security and accessibility is what makes break glass accounts both essential and challenging to manage effectively.

How Break Glass Accounts Really Work

According to Malone’s detailed walkthrough, break glass accounts are assigned the global administrator role, granting them unrestricted access across the Administrator and Entra ID landscapes. This elevated privilege ensures that, should all other admin accounts be locked out due to technical issues or misconfigurations, there is still a reliable way to recover system access.

To guarantee accessibility during emergencies, these accounts are sometimes configured to bypass certain Conditional Access policies or MFA requirements. Nevertheless, experts now recommend using phishing-resistant MFA methods—such as hardware security keys or passkeys—to maintain strong security while minimizing the risk of accidental lockouts. This approach ensures that organizations are not forced to compromise between security and availability.

Furthermore, break glass accounts complement existing security controls like Conditional Access and Privileged Identity Management (PIM). While PIM enhances day-to-day security by requiring just-in-time activation, break glass accounts provide an immediate and unrestricted pathway for crisis recovery.

Best Practices and Emerging Guidance

Malone’s video highlights several best practices for managing break glass accounts. First, organizations are urged to implement strong, phishing-resistant authentication mechanisms—such as Windows Hello for Business or hardware tokens—to protect these critical accounts. At the same time, it is vital to regularly test the accessibility of break glass accounts, ensuring that they have not been inadvertently disabled or blocked.

Moreover, the usage of these accounts should be strictly limited to genuine emergencies and closely monitored to detect any signs of misuse. Maintaining clear documentation and aligning break glass account policies with compliance standards, such as ISO 27001, further strengthens organizational resilience.

What’s New in 2025?

This year, Microsoft has introduced enhancements to the authentication options available for emergency access accounts. Notably, there is a stronger push toward passwordless and phishing-resistant authentication methods, which can now be integrated directly into Entra ID’s Conditional Access policies. These advancements reflect a growing recognition of the need to balance security with practicality in high-stakes scenarios.

Additionally, new features, such as QR code-based authentication, are being piloted to streamline emergency access even further. Security experts have also updated their guidance, focusing on strategies that reduce the risk of accidental lockouts while maintaining a high level of protection for these sensitive accounts.

Conclusion: Balancing Security and Accessibility

In summary, Microsoft Entra ID break glass accounts are a vital component of any comprehensive identity management strategy. Andy Malone’s video underscores the importance of combining secure authentication practices with routine testing and vigilant monitoring. By adhering to these principles, organizations can safeguard against catastrophic lockouts without undermining the security of their environments.

Ultimately, the ongoing evolution of best practices and technology features in 2025 ensures that break glass accounts remain both effective and secure. For IT teams and global admins, staying informed and prepared is the best defense against the unexpected.

Keywords

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