Microsoft Azure Entra ID in Detail
Prakash Agrawal
What is Microsoft Entra ID?
Microsoft Entra ID, previously known as Azure Active Directory (AD), is the core identity platform within the Entra ecosystem. It’s a cloud-native identity and access management service that replaces traditional on-premises Active Directory with robust security and scalability, all powered by Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure.
In August 2023, Microsoft rebranded Azure AD to Microsoft Entra ID to better reflect its expanded capabilities in the identity and access management space.
Why Microsoft Entra ID? Key Benefits & Features
Microsoft Entra ID is designed to securely manage and streamline access to Microsoft Azure services and resources, offering a flexible, cloud-first approach to identity management.
Core Features Include:
Secure Authentication: Robust mechanisms to verify user and device identities.
Advanced Device Management: Comprehensive control over user devices, including BYOD scenarios.
Hybrid Identity Support: Seamless integration between on-premises directories and cloud environments.
Key Concepts in Microsoft Entra ID
Account: Represents a digital identity linked to personal or organizational data.
Identity: A verifiable entity that can be authenticated using various security methods.
Microsoft Entra ID Account: An identity created via Microsoft Entra ID or other Microsoft cloud services.
Tenant/Directory: A secure, isolated instance where all users, groups, and devices are managed. Every Microsoft cloud subscription automatically creates a tenant. Tenant and Directory are often used interchangeably.
Azure Subscription: The billing and management framework for Azure services.
How Microsoft Entra ID Differs from Active Directory Domain Services
Identity-Centric: Unlike Active Directory, which focuses on domain services, Entra ID is optimized for identity and access management in the cloud.
No Group Policy Objects (GPOs): Entra ID operates without traditional GPOs, relying instead on modern access controls.
API-Driven: Supports REST API calls over HTTP/HTTPS for dynamic identity operations.
Modern Authentication Protocols: Built to support industry standards like SAML, WS-Federation, and OpenID Connect.
Third-Party Federation: Easily integrates with external platforms, including social identities like Facebook.
Flat Organizational Structure: Unlike Active Directory’s hierarchical OUs, Entra ID manages identities in a simplified flat model.
Managing Device Identities with Microsoft Entra ID
Registered Devices:
Perfect for BYOD environments.
Authentication via Microsoft accounts.
Tied to user identities for secure access.
Managed through MDM tools like Microsoft Intune.
Supported OS: Windows 10+, iOS, Android, macOS.
Joined Devices:
Ideal for cloud-first or cloud-only organizations.
Designed for organization-owned devices.
Requires an Azure organizational account for joining.
Supports Conditional Access for enhanced security.
Supported OS: Windows 10+.
Hybrid Joined Devices:
For enterprises maintaining legacy apps (e.g., Win32).
Leverages traditional Group Policy alongside cloud management.
Integrates with existing imaging and deployment tools.
Supported OS: Windows 7+.
Enabling Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR)
SSPR enhances user convenience while reducing IT overhead by allowing users to reset their passwords securely without admin intervention.
How to Set Up SSPR:
Define the user groups eligible for SSPR.
Configure the number of authentication methods required and available options (email, SMS, security questions).
Mandate user registration for SSPR, following a process similar to Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enrolment.
About me: I am an independent Cloud Architect and technical writer. If you are an organization that want to hire me then I can be contacted at techonlinewriter@gmail.com
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