What is entra id

Overview

Entra ID is Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management (IAM) platform. Previously known as Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), it was rebranded as Entra ID in 2023 to reflect its broader identity management capabilities. It serves as a central hub for managing user identities, device identities, and access control across cloud and on-premises environments.

Key Features

Entra ID provides several essential capabilities:

• User Authentication - Verifies user identity through multiple methods
• Single Sign-On (SSO) - One login for access to multiple applications
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) - Additional security through multiple verification methods
• Device Management - Controls and secures registered devices
• Conditional Access - Creates policies based on user, device, and location context
• Application Integration - Connects with thousands of cloud and on-premises applications

Cloud vs. On-Premises vs. Hybrid

Cloud-only deployments use only Entra ID for identity management. On-premises scenarios use traditional Active Directory. Hybrid scenarios combine both, synchronizing identities between Entra ID and on-premises Active Directory. This flexibility allows organizations to transition to cloud infrastructure at their own pace.

Security Features

Entra ID includes advanced security capabilities to protect identities and access. Conditional access policies allow administrators to define rules based on risk levels, user location, device compliance, and other factors. Multi-factor authentication adds an extra security layer by requiring additional verification beyond passwords. Identity protection features detect and respond to suspicious activities and compromised identities.

Enterprise Applications

Organizations use Entra ID to manage access to hundreds of SaaS applications, including Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Slack, and many others. It streamlines user onboarding, access management, and offboarding processes. The platform is essential for large enterprises managing thousands of users and devices across distributed networks.