From Azure AD to Microsoft Entra ID: What’s Changed?

What is Microsoft Entra ID?

Microsoft Entra ID, formerly known as Azure AD, is a cloud-based identity and access management solution. It offers:

✅ Identity and Access Management (IAM): Manages user identities and controls secure access to apps, services and resources.

✅ Single Sign-On (SSO): Users can log in once and instantly access multiple applications without logging in again.

✅ Conditional access: IT administrators can set policies to allow or restrict access based on factors such as location or device status.

✅ Multiple Authentication (MFA): Increases security by requiring two or more authentication methods for access.

✅ B2B and B2C services: Enables management of external partners (B2B) and customer-facing applications (B2C).

✅ Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 and other Azure services: Provides authentication and access management within Microsoft services such as Outlook, Teams, SharePoint and Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).

 

 

Why the Rebranding?

The name change to Microsoft Entra ID reflects Microsoft’s broader vision of identity management in modern IT environments:

• Broader portfolio: Entra ID is now part of the Microsoft Entra product family, which also includes solutions for authorization management and authenticated identities.
• Multicloud and multiplatform: The new name emphasizes functionality across multiple cloud and platform environments.

 

 

What has changed since the Rebranding?

While the core functionalities of Entra ID have remained consistent, there are some notable developments:

• New features and improvements:

  • Enhanced self-service identity management tools.
  • Advanced monitoring and reporting for better understanding of identity risks.

• Integration into the Entra Suite:

  • Entra ID works seamlessly with other Entra products, such as authorization management and authenticated IDs, enabling a holistic approach to identity and access management.

 

 

 

What Does This Mean for Users?

For current users of Azure AD:

• Continuity: There is no interruption in service; existing deployments and integrations continue to function as before.
• Name change: You will see the new name appear in Microsoft product experiences, but the functionality remains unchanged.

 

 

Conclusion

The transition from Azure AD to Microsoft Entra ID is more than just a name change. It reflects Microsoft’s commitment to a more comprehensive and integrated approach to identity management in an increasingly complex IT landscape. For organizations, it means improved tools and capabilities to effectively manage identities and accesses.

 

 

References

¹https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/fundamentals/new-name

 

 

About the author

My name is Alta Martes, a specialist in Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, with a focus on modern workplace management, cloud security and identity & access management. With years of experience, I help organizations optimize their IT infrastructure and create a secure, efficient digital workplace.

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