How to Block Printing and Downloading in SharePoint via Adobe Document Cloud
Question details
Users are able to bypass SharePoint Conditional Access policies to print and download documents by opening them through Adobe Document Cloud.
- Product
- SharePoint Online and Adobe Document Cloud
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- An administrator is attempting to enforce a Conditional Access policy to block document printing and downloading in SharePoint.
- Observed behavior
- Users can still print and download documents when they access them using the Adobe Document Cloud integration in SharePoint.
Ensure you have global administrator or security administrator privileges in both Microsoft Entra ID and the Adobe Admin Console to review integration settings and policies.
Verify Authentication Paths and Update Conditional Access Policies
Check how the Adobe Document Cloud integration authenticates with SharePoint and ensure the Conditional Access policy explicitly applies to this third-party enterprise application.
Third-party integrations often use APIs that do not automatically inherit SharePoint's web-based conditional access policies unless explicitly configured in Microsoft Entra ID.
Navigate to the Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) Admin Center and locate the Adobe Document Cloud enterprise application in your app registrations.
Open your Conditional Access policy under Security > Conditional Access. Navigate to the 'Cloud apps or actions' section.
Ensure that the Adobe Document Cloud application is explicitly included in the policy, or that the policy applies to 'All cloud apps' without excluding Adobe.
Save the updated policy and test with a non-admin account to confirm that printing and downloading are now successfully blocked through the Adobe viewer.
Configure Adobe Document Cloud SharePoint Integration Settings
Modify the specific Adobe integration settings within SharePoint to restrict printing and downloading capabilities natively.
Manage and Protect Your Documents with WPS Office
Managing complex Conditional Access policies across third-party SharePoint integrations can be difficult. WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and user-friendly alternative for handling your documents. It offers robust PDF and Office file management, full compatibility with Microsoft formats, and built-in local document protection features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe Document Cloud bypass SharePoint's restricted view?
Third-party integrations like Adobe Document Cloud often use direct API access to fetch files. This API traffic might not automatically inherit SharePoint's web-based conditional access policies unless explicitly routed and restricted in Microsoft Entra ID.
Can I block the Adobe Document Cloud integration entirely in SharePoint?
Yes, SharePoint administrators can disable or remove the Adobe Document Cloud app from the SharePoint Admin Center under 'More features' > 'Apps', which will force users to use the native, restricted SharePoint viewer.
Does Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps help block third-party downloads?
Yes, using Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps allows you to create session policies that monitor and block downloads in real-time for connected third-party applications, providing an additional layer of data security.
