To maintain administrative access when normal sign-in fails—including during a federated identity-provider outage—configure at least two independent, cloud-only Microsoft Entra emergency accounts. Give them permanent Global Administrator access, phishing-resistant authentication, narrowly scoped Conditional Access exclusions, secure credential custody, and tested monitoring. These steps are specific to Microsoft Entra; administrators using another identity provider should follow that provider’s current official guidance instead.
Why emergency accounts need an independent sign-in path
A break-glass account is a contingency for losing normal administrative access. If administrator sign-in depends on a federated identity provider or on-premises directory, an outage in that system can prevent access to the tenant even while Microsoft Entra itself is available. Emergency accounts are intended to avoid that dependency.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Microsoft’s Entra guidance says to create two or more emergency access accounts. Make them cloud-only users on the tenant’s *.onmicrosoft.com domain, and confirm they are neither federated nor synchronized from on-premises identity. Two accounts provide redundancy if one account or its credential is unavailable.
Recommended Free Tools
Configure Microsoft Entra emergency accounts
- Create or identify at least two accounts. Use cloud-only users on the tenant’s
*.onmicrosoft.comdomain. Confirm that their sign-in does not rely on federation or directory synchronization. See Microsoft’s emergency-access account guidance. - Assign the required administrative role. Microsoft’s documented configuration uses the Global Administrator role. If the tenant uses Entra Privileged Identity Management (PIM), make each emergency account’s assignment active and permanent rather than merely eligible.
- Register a phishing-resistant authentication method before an incident. Microsoft recommends Passkey (FIDO2). Certificate-based authentication is another option when the organization already operates public key infrastructure (PKI). Choose a method whose dependencies are distinct from ordinary administrator sign-in, and ensure authorized administrators can securely access and use its credential when needed. Microsoft’s current guidance calls for passwordless methods that satisfy mandatory multifactor authentication requirements; an exclusion from a Conditional Access policy is not an instruction to abandon strong authentication.
- Review Conditional Access policies. Exclude the emergency accounts from policies that could block or restrict their sign-in, such as policies requiring a compliant device or another control that may be unavailable in an outage. A policy that creates the lockout must not also prevent the recovery path. Report-only policies do not block sign-in and do not need an exclusion. Keep exclusions limited to the emergency accounts and the policies that could obstruct access.
- Prevent credentials from disappearing through routine lifecycle controls. Check that credentials do not expire and that the accounts or their authentication methods will not be removed by inactivity cleanup. Restrict use to authorized people, but make access available to multiple appropriate administrators rather than tying it to one employee’s personal device.
- Arrange secure use and storage. Use a designated secure administrative workstation or Privileged Access Workstation (PAW). Keep credentials in secure, fireproof storage at separate locations, as Microsoft recommends. A FIDO2 security key is one possible physical credential for the recommended FIDO2 path, but verify compatibility with the tenant’s identity-provider configuration and credential policy.
- Monitor use and account changes. Review sign-in and audit activity, and alert on every emergency-account use. Also create high-priority alerts for account changes, including password changes, role or permission changes, and changes to credentials or authentication methods. Microsoft identifies Azure Monitor and Microsoft Sentinel as possible monitoring tools in Entra environments; consult Microsoft’s privileged-account incident-response guidance for security-operations considerations.
- Test the complete recovery path. Validate account functionality at least every 90 days. In a planned drill, tell security-monitoring staff it is a test; review authorized users, confirm the documented process and staff readiness, test sign-in and administrative tasks, and verify that alerts fire. After real emergency use, conduct a post-incident review.
Choose an authentication method by dependency, not convenience alone
Microsoft recommends Passkey (FIDO2) and allows certificate-based authentication where an organization already has PKI. The important operational question is whether the emergency credential can still be used when the systems or devices involved in routine administrator sign-in are unavailable.
#1 Best Overall
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key C NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key C NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key C NFC via USB-C and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
| Option | Phishing resistance | Dependency and prerequisites | Practical consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passkey (FIDO2) | Microsoft recommends it as a phishing-resistant option. | Requires a FIDO2-capable setup compatible with the tenant’s credential policy; confirm its dependency path is independent of normal sign-in. | Plan secure storage, access by multiple authorized administrators, and periodic sign-in testing. |
| Certificate-based authentication | Listed by Microsoft as an option; the cited guidance does not provide a head-to-head comparison with FIDO2. | Appropriate when the organization already operates PKI. Confirm that certificate issuance, storage, and use remain available during the outage being planned for. | Register and test the certificate-based path in advance, with secure custody and a documented recovery process. |
The guidance does not establish a universal performance or cost winner between these methods. Select a supported method that remains usable during the relevant outage and can be stored, distributed, and tested securely.
Keep policy exclusions narrow without weakening authentication
Emergency accounts need a way around Conditional Access policies that could themselves cause a lockout. Exclude them from policies that block or restrict sign-in, but do not treat that exclusion as permission to use weak authentication: Microsoft separately recommends phishing-resistant methods for emergency access. Report-only policies have no blocking effect, so they do not need exclusions.
Rank #2
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5C NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5C NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5C NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
Document which accounts are excluded and from which policies. Revisit those exclusions when policies change so an emergency path does not become a general bypass for other users or controls.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Make alerting and drills part of the configuration
Emergency access is only useful if its use is visible and the team knows how to use it. Configure monitoring for both sign-ins and sensitive account changes, including changes to passwords, assigned roles or permissions, and authentication credentials or methods. A sign-in alert alone will not reveal every change that could compromise or disable an account.
Rank #3
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5 NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5 NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
During each at-least-every-90-days validation, exercise the documented process in a planned drill. Confirm that the account can sign in and complete necessary administrative work, and that the expected alerts reach the people responsible for monitoring. After a real use, review what happened and update the process or custody arrangements if needed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Scope: these are Entra-specific steps
The account type, Global Administrator role, Conditional Access handling, and testing workflow described here are Microsoft Entra guidance. They should not be assumed to map directly to Okta, Google Workspace, or another identity provider. For another provider, use its current official emergency-access documentation and verify the correct account model, authentication options, policy behavior, logging, and testing interval.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Security Key : Protect your online accounts against unauthorized access by using FIDO2 and U2F authentication with T110. It's the world's most protective security key that works with windows, Mac OS, Linux as well as Chrome, Firefox, Edge and many other major browsers.
- Certified with the new FIDO2 standard, T110 provides the benefit of fast login and strong protection against phishing, account takeover as well as many other online attactks.
- Works with : Bank of America, Github, Google, Microsoft, DUO, Twitter, Facebook, Dropbox, Apple, ebay, BINANCE, mor and more.
- Fits USB-A port : Insert the T110 security key into the USB-A port of each service and log in conveniently with one touch
- For the driver download and user guide, please visit TrustKey Solutions Home support page.
Rank #4
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key NFC via USB-A and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
