What is Azure Active Directory?
Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), now known as Microsoft Entra ID, is a cloud-based identity and access management service provided by Microsoft. It is designed to help organizations manage user identities and control access to resources securely. Azure AD is a multi-tenant service that allows employees to sign in and access various resources within the organization using a single set of login credentials.
Key Features and Benefits
Single Sign-On (SSO)
Azure AD supports single sign-on to more than 2800 SaaS applications, including Office 365, Salesforce, Google Apps, and ServiceNow. This feature allows users to enter their credentials once and access multiple applications without re-entering their credentials.
High Availability
Microsoft Azure AD data centers are spread across 58 locations worldwide, providing a 99.99% SLA for all paid versions of Azure AD. This ensures high availability and reliability for users.
Self-Service Password Reset
Azure AD allows users to reset their passwords without contacting the support team. This feature, known as self-service password reset, helps organizations save money and improve user experience.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Azure AD provides multi-factor authentication, also known as two-step verification, to enhance security. This feature requires users to provide multiple factors to authenticate themselves, adding an extra layer of security.
Privileged Identity Management
Azure AD offers privileged identity management to secure critical business assets. This feature provides just-in-time administrative access, ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive information.
Azure AD B2B and B2C
Azure AD B2B allows organizations to add their partners to their projects or groups, enabling secure information sharing internally. Azure AD B2C allows organizations to let customers access their business applications using their social or corporate email accounts1.
Licensing and Pricing
Azure AD offers different licensing options, including:
Azure AD Free: Basic features like user management, group management, and single sign-on for up to 10 apps per user.
Premium P1: Advanced features like dynamic groups, self-service group management, and cloud write-back capabilities.
Premium P2: Additional features like identity protection and privileged identity management.
Pay-as-you-go: Identity and access management solutions for customer-facing apps1.
Use Cases
Azure AD is used by IT administrators, application developers, and online customers. IT administrators manage sign-in procedures and authentication issues, application developers build applications using Azure AD services, and online customers use services like Office 365 and CRM services.
Conclusion
Azure Active Directory (Microsoft Entra ID) is a comprehensive cloud-based identity and access management solution that helps organizations manage user identities, secure access to resources, and improve productivity. With features like single sign-on, multi-factor authentication, and self-service password reset, Azure AD provides a robust and scalable solution for modern enterprises.