Azure AD Overview
Introduction
Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is a cloud-based identity and access management service from Microsoft. It helps your employees sign in and access resources. It includes features like multi-factor authentication, single sign-on, and conditional access policies.
Key Concepts
1. Identity Provider (IdP)
Azure AD acts as an identity provider, allowing users to authenticate and gain access to various applications.
2. Tenants
An Azure AD tenant is a dedicated instance of Azure AD for your organization. It serves as a central repository for user identities.
3. Users and Groups
Users are the identities that authenticate, while groups are collections of users that simplify access management.
Key Features
- Single Sign-On (SSO) - Access multiple applications with one login.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) - Adds an extra layer of security.
- Conditional Access - Policies to control access based on conditions.
- Identity Protection - Risk-based conditional access.
- Integration with various SaaS applications.
Best Practices
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication for all users.
- Use Conditional Access policies to manage user access.
- Regularly review user access and group memberships.
- Implement role-based access control (RBAC).
- Monitor sign-in and audit logs regularly.
FAQ
What is the difference between Azure AD and Active Directory?
Azure AD is a cloud-based identity and access management service, while Active Directory is an on-premises solution. Azure AD supports modern authentication protocols and is designed for cloud-based applications.
How can I integrate Azure AD with my applications?
You can integrate Azure AD using various protocols like OpenID Connect, OAuth 2.0, and SAML. Microsoft provides libraries and SDKs for easier integration.
Is Azure AD free?
Azure AD comes with a free tier that offers basic features. However, advanced features like conditional access and identity protection require a premium subscription.