Conditional Access vs Security Defaults: which should you use?

Security defaults are a free, one-size-fits-all baseline that turns on MFA for everyone; Conditional Access lets you set smarter rules, like requiring MFA only from unfamiliar locations or devices, or blocking legacy authentication entirely. If you're a small business just starting out, security defaults are better than nothing; Conditional Access gives finer control without annoying staff on trusted devices.

Coach's tip: always exclude at least one emergency "break-glass" admin account from strict policies, stored safely, so you're never locked out of your own tenant.