Microsoft Entra ID explained

Microsoft Entra ID (formerly known as Microsoft Azure Active Directory or Azure AD) is a cloud-based identity and access management (IAM) solution. It is a directory and identity management service that operates in the cloud and offers authentication and authorization services to various Microsoft services, such as Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Microsoft Azure and third-party services.^[1] Entra ID provides users with single sign-on experience, called "work or school accounts",^[2] regardless of whether their applications are cloud-based or on-premises.

Entra ID offers various authentication methods, including password-based, multi-factor, smart card, and certificate-based authentication. It also includes several security features, such as conditional access policies, risk-based authentication, and identity protection.^[3]

On July 11, 2023, Microsoft announced the renaming of Azure AD to Microsoft Entra ID to improve consistency with other Microsoft cloud products.^[4] The name change took place on July 15, 2023.^[5]

See also

• Microsoft Entra Connect
• Active Directory

Further reading

• Book: Zaal, Sjoukje. Azure Active Directory for Secure Application Development: Use modern authentication techniques to secure applications in Azure. 2022. Packt Publishing. 978-1838646509.
• Book: Developing Applications with Azure Active Directory: Principles of Authentication and Authorization for Architects and Developers. 2019. Apress. 978-1484250396. Mayank. Manas. Garg. Mohit.
• Book: Bertocci, Vittorio. Modern Authentication with Azure Active Directory for Web Applications. 2016. Microsoft Press. 978-0735696945.

Notes and References

1. Book: Bertocci, Vittorio . Modern Authentication with Azure Active Directory for Web Applications . December 17, 2015 . Pearson Education . 2015 . 9780735698482 . December 13, 2015 . English.
2. Web site: What's the difference between a Microsoft account and a work or school account? - Microsoft Support . 2024-11-18 . support.microsoft.com.
3. Web site: Moniz . Hencita . 7 March 2023 . Azure Active Directory and identity management . 2023-04-10 . Skillzcafe.
4. Web site: Chik . Joy . 2023-07-11 . Microsoft Entra expands into Security Service Edge and Azure AD becomes Microsoft Entra ID . 2023-07-12 . Microsoft Security Blog.
5. Web site: New name for Azure Active Directory - Microsoft Entra . 29 August 2023 .