Microsoft Entra ID

Not to be confused with Active Directory.
Microsoft Entra ID
DeveloperMicrosoft
TypeCloud-based identity management service
Launch dateOctober 27, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-10-27)
Platform(s)Cross-platform
StatusActive
WebsiteOfficial Site

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]

  1. ^ Bertocci, Vittorio (December 17, 2015). Modern Authentication with Azure Active Directory for Web Applications. Pearson Education (published December 13, 2015). ISBN 9780735698482.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. ^ "What's the difference between a Microsoft account and a work or school account? - Microsoft Support". support.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  3. ^ Moniz, Hencita (7 March 2023). "Azure Active Directory and identity management". Skillzcafe. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  4. ^ Chik, Joy (2023-07-11). "Microsoft Entra expands into Security Service Edge and Azure AD becomes Microsoft Entra ID". Microsoft Security Blog. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  5. ^ "New name for Azure Active Directory - Microsoft Entra". 29 August 2023.