Microsoft Entra ID (formerly known as Azure Active Directory) is a comprehensive identity and access management (IAM) solution provided by Microsoft. It enables secure access to resources across Azure, Microsoft 365, and thousands of other cloud applications.
Key Characteristics
- Cloud-based identity service: Unlike Windows Server Active Directory, which is designed for on-premises environments, Entra ID is built for the cloud.
- Not the same as Windows Server Active Directory: While they serve similar purposes, Entra ID and on-prem AD are different. However, they can be integrated using Azure AD Connect to provide hybrid identity capabilities.
Who Uses Microsoft Entra ID?
- Users: They can use Entra ID to sign into Microsoft services such as Azure, Microsoft 365, and other SaaS platforms that support SAML, OAuth, or OpenID Connect.
- Application Developers: Developers can integrate Entra ID into their apps to allow users to log in using their organizational credentials, improving both security and user experience.
- IT Administrators: Entra ID helps manage authentication (AuthN) and authorization (AuthZ) policies. It allows the creation of conditional access rules, multi-factor authentication, identity protection policies, and more.
Features and Capabilities
- Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
- Conditional Access
- Identity Protection and Governance
- Self-service password reset
Microsoft Entra ID plays a critical role in modern IT infrastructure by enabling secure, compliant, and scalable identity management across cloud and hybrid environments.
Learn more in our AZ-900 video course. Alternatively, please go back to our list of AZ-900 requirements.
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