In the world of cloud computing and identity management, adaptability is the key. Microsoft’s Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), a robust identity and access management service, has driven this adaptability for many organizations worldwide. Microsoft announced that Azure AD is becoming Microsoft Entra ID. In this blog post, I will explain what Microsoft Entra ID means and the consequences of this name change.
An Overview of Azure Active Directory
Azure Active Directory is a cloud-based identity and access management service that enables employees to sign in and access resources in various environments. These include external resources, such as Microsoft Office 365, the Azure portal, and thousands of other SaaS applications.
Azure AD provides identity as a service with scalability, reliability, and accessibility – critical features in the modern, cloud-centric digital ecosystem. It delivers features like multi-factor authentication, device registration, self-service password management, self-service group management, privileged account management, role-based access control, application usage monitoring, and auditing.
The Transition to Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft has announced that Azure AD will be rebranded as Microsoft Entra ID. This name change is more than cosmetic; it represents a shift in focus and an expansion of the identity platform’s capabilities. As part of Microsoft’s effort to help organizations adapt to the changing digital landscape, they have expanded their identity solutions to provide a unified, extensible identity platform that securely connects anyone, anywhere, on any device.
Implications of the Transition
The transition from Azure AD to Microsoft Entra ID emphasizes the company’s commitment to providing a unified identity solution for all users, regardless of their role or location. Microsoft Entra ID enhances interoperability by providing APIs for application developers, facilitating a seamless, secure user experience across different applications and services.
Microsoft Entra ID: Products and Pricing
Microsoft Entra ID, like Azure AD, offers different pricing tiers for your organizational needs.
1. Microsoft Entra ID Free: This free tier is a user and group management solution, offering single sign-on (SSO) for Azure, Office 365, and many popular SaaS apps. It includes features like multi-factor authentication, device registration, and a suite of developer tools for application integration.
2. Microsoft Entra ID Premium P1: Priced at $6 per user/month, this tier offers advanced administrative and dynamic access features, including Conditional Access and Identity Protection.
3. Microsoft Entra ID Premium P2: At $9 per user/month, this tier offers all P1 features and adds Identity Governance and Privileged Identity Management, providing comprehensive protection for your digital identities.
4. Microsoft Entra ID External Identities: This model lets you pay for only what you use. External Identities pricing is based on Monthly Active Users (MAU), ensuring you only pay for the service when your external users use it. The first 50,000 MAUs monthly are free for Premium P1 and P2 features.
Conclusion
The transition from Azure Active Directory to Microsoft Entra ID represents a significant step in the evolution of Microsoft’s identity solutions. Microsoft addresses the growing need for a unified, flexible, and extensible identity solution by rebranding and redefining its identity platform.
With its array of products designed to cater to various needs and budgets, Microsoft Entra ID promises to be a comprehensive solution for identity and access management. Whether you’re a small business looking for basic identity services or a large enterprise needing advanced identity protection and governance, Microsoft Entra ID has you covered. As we navigate this new era of identity management, we look forward to leveraging the expanded capabilities of Microsoft Entra ID to secure our digital experiences. I will dive deeper into these topics in later blog posts!
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