Microsoft Entra ID: The Successor to Azure Active Directory

Microsoft Entra ID, formerly known as Azure Active Directory, is a cloud-based service that handles access management to various resources within an organization. It acts as a digital passport for your business, ensuring that the right people have appropriate access to the resources they need. This system is designed to save time managing passwords, increase productivity and provide a quick and easy login experience within your organization’s cloud environment.

Key Features of Microsoft Entra ID

MS Entra ID’s main purpose is to manage your company’s devices and logins. Centralizing this information strengthens security, something ALTA-ICT is particularly excited about.

Supervision of Users and Devices

The system not only monitors users, computers and permissions, but also acts as a gatekeeper to your organization’s resources, such as Microsoft 365, the Azure portal or a Software as a Service (SaaS) application.

Why has Azure AD Changed to Entra ID?

The name change from Azure Active Directory to Entra ID is part of a broader repositioning of Microsoft.

What Does Microsoft Entra ID Offer?

App Integrations and Single Sign-On (SSO).

MS Entra ID connects your organization and employees to all apps, anywhere and on any device, through a secure, single sign-on.

Multifactor Authentication (MFA).

The system strengthens security by applying multifactor authentication, using multiple authentication methods.

Conditional Access and Identity Protection.

It protects access to resources and data with strong authentication and risk-based adaptive access policies.

Privileged Identity Management and Device Registration

MS Entra ID helps manage special identities with administrative access and allows registration of devices within your network.

Self-service for End Users

This allows users to solve their own password problems, promoting independence and speed.

What is Microsoft Entra ID P2?

For small businesses, the basic version of Entra ID may be sufficient, but ALTA-ICT highly recommends the additional security of MS Entra ID P2. This level provides additional features:

Comprehensive Security Features of P2

• Automated enforcement of multi-factor authentication with more robust rules.
• Enforce the Microsoft Authenticator with push notifications.
• Geo-restriction policies for U.S. networks.
• User risk-based conditional access policies.
• User password resets at identified risks.

Main Advantages

• Microsoft Entra ID manages asset access and replaces Azure Active Directory.
• It includes features such as Single Sign-On, Multifactor Authentication and Conditional Access.
• Device registration and end-user self-service increase efficiency and productivity.
• The P2 service provides enhanced security with advanced authentication and user risk policies.

Conclusion

Microsoft Entra ID can make the operation of your business smoother, more efficient and secure. The basic building blocks it provides provide a strong technological foundation for your organization. The P2 service level provides additional security measures that are a worthwhile investment. MS Entra ID is a powerful tool for