Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) stands as a cornerstone of modern identity and access management (IAM) in the cloud era, especially for apps in the Microsoft ecosystem.
This detailed overview delves into the multifaceted aspects of Microsoft Entra ID’s pricing, reviews, and pros and cons.
Microsoft Entra ID Pricing
- Microsoft Entra ID Free: This entry-level tier provides essential identity and access management capabilities, including user and group management, single sign-on for cloud applications, basic security reports, and self-service password change for cloud users. It is included with many Microsoft cloud subscriptions, making it a cost-effective option for organizations with basic IAM needs.
- Microsoft Entra ID P1: This plan, priced at $6.00 per user per month, builds upon the Free tier by adding more advanced features such as multifactor authentication, conditional access for enforcing access policies, identity protection for detecting and responding to risks, and support for hybrid identities. It is also included with Microsoft 365 E3 and Business Premium subscriptions, offering a comprehensive IAM solution for many businesses.
- Microsoft Entra ID P2: At $9.00 per user per month, the P2 tier offers the most comprehensive set of features, including everything in P1 plus privileged identity management for securing administrative accounts, identity governance capabilities for managing access lifecycles, and advanced identity protection features. It is also included with Microsoft 365 E5, catering to organizations with the most stringent security and compliance requirements.
- Microsoft Entra ID Governance: This add-on, available for $7.00 per user per month for P1 and P2 users, provides advanced identity governance capabilities such as access reviews, entitlement management, and lifecycle workflows for managing user access throughout their tenure within the organization.
- Microsoft Entra Verified ID: Pricing for Verified ID includes a free tier for up to 50,000 monthly active users. For usage exceeding this limit or for premium features like Face Check, additional costs apply.
- Microsoft Entra Permissions Management: This service is priced at $10.40 per resource per month, providing visibility and control over permissions across multicloud environments.
- Microsoft Entra Workload ID: The cost for Workload ID is $3.00 per workload identity per month, enabling secure management of application and service identities.
Key Features of Microsoft Entra ID
1. Usability and Interface
Microsoft Entra ID features a centralized administrative portal, now known as the Microsoft Entra admin center, which provides a unified interface for managing all aspects of the platform.
- This portal allows administrators to manage users, groups, applications, security policies, and monitor the overall health of their identity infrastructure.
- While the sheer number of features and configuration options can initially seem overwhelming, the interface is generally well-organized and provides search functionality to help administrators quickly find what they need.
- For end-users, the experience is typically seamless, especially with Single Sign-On enabled. Once logged in, they can access their authorized applications without having to re-authenticate repeatedly. The integration with familiar Microsoft tools and services also contributes to a positive user experience.
2. Conditional Access
This powerful feature enables administrators to define granular access policies based on a variety of conditions.
- These conditions can include the user's identity, their location, the device they are using, the risk level of the sign-in attempt, and the application they are trying to access.
- By combining these conditions, organizations can create context-aware access policies that ensure only trusted users, on trusted devices, from trusted locations, can access sensitive resources.
3. Identity Protection
Microsoft Entra ID includes a comprehensive suite of identity protection capabilities designed to detect, investigate, and respond to suspicious activities and potential threats.
- Entra ID uses machine learning algorithms to analyze sign-in patterns, user behaviour, and other risk indicators to identify anomalous activity.
- When a risk is detected, the system can automatically take actions such as requiring the user to change their password or blocking access altogether.
4. Adaptable Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
This feature goes beyond traditional MFA by employing risk-based analysis. It considers factors like the user's location, the device being used, the application being accessed, and the history of the user's activity.
If a login attempt is deemed risky, the system prompts the user for additional verification, such as a one-time code from an authenticator app, a biometric scan, or a phone call.
This adaptive approach enhances security without inconveniencing users with unnecessary authentication prompts for low-risk scenarios.
5. Single Sign-On (SSO)
Single sign-on (SSO) allows users to log in once with a single set of credentials and gain access to all the applications and resources they are authorized to use.
This not only improves user productivity by eliminating the need to remember multiple passwords but also enhances security by reducing the number of passwords that could potentially be compromised.
Microsoft Entra ID supports various SSO protocols, including SAML, OAuth 2.0, and OpenID Connect, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of applications.
6. Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
PIM helps organizations manage, control, and monitor access to important resources by users with administrative privileges.
It enables the principle of least privilege by allowing users to activate their administrative roles only when needed and for a limited duration. PIM also provides audit logs and alerts to track privileged access and ensure accountability.
7. End-User Self-Service
Microsoft Entra ID provides self-service portals that empower users to manage certain aspects of their accounts without requiring IT intervention.
These portals typically allow users to reset their passwords, manage their profile information, and request access to applications, reducing the burden on IT support teams and improving user convenience.
8. Microsoft Entra Permissions Management
In today's multicloud world, managing permissions across different cloud platforms can be complex.
Microsoft Entra Permissions Management provides organizations with visibility into the permissions assigned to users and workloads across Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), allowing them to enforce the principle of least privilege and reduce the risk of over-permissioning.
9. Microsoft Entra Workload ID
This feature focuses on securing and managing the identities of applications and services that need to access cloud resources.
It allows organizations to assign unique identities to workloads and then control their access to resources based on the principle of least privilege, enhancing the security of cloud-native applications.
10. Microsoft Entra Private Access
This solution enables secure access to private, on-premises applications without the need for a traditional VPN.
It leverages a Zero Trust approach to verify the identity and health of users and devices before granting access to internal resources, providing a more secure and user-friendly alternative to VPNs.
Ratings and Reviews for Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft Entra ID is widely recognized as a leading identity and access management solution, receiving strong ratings and positive feedback across various review platforms.
- Capterra: Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) typically holds a high rating, with users frequently citing scores around 4.5 to 4.9 out of 5 stars. Reviews often praise its seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, including Windows, Microsoft 365, and Azure services. Users highlight the robust security features such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and conditional access, as well as its capabilities for managing user identities and access in cloud and hybrid environments.
- Software Advice: Similar to Capterra, Software Advice reviews for Microsoft Entra ID generally show ratings in the range of 4.6 to 4.8 out of 5 stars. Users often commend its strong integration with other Microsoft products, its comprehensive suite of features for identity and access management, and its reliability.
- G2: Microsoft Entra ID is consistently positioned as a leader in the Identity and Access Management (IAM) category on G2. User satisfaction scores are generally high, reflecting its strong market presence and wide adoption.
Reviewers frequently emphasize its robust security features, seamless integration within the Microsoft environment, and for manage user access across various applications and services.
The platform's ability to enforce security policies and streamline user onboarding/offboarding processes also make it a realiable option that many users consider.
Overall View of Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft Entra ID has established itself as a leading identity and access management solution in the cloud, offering a comprehensive suite of features designed to address the evolving security and access management needs of modern organizations. Its tight integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, coupled with its robust security capabilities and a wide range of functionalities, makes it a strong contender for businesses of all sizes.
Whether an organization is looking to simplify user access, enhance security with advanced authentication methods, or improve compliance with data privacy regulations, Microsoft Entra ID provides a scalable and reliable platform to meet these needs. However, it is essential for organizations to carefully consider the pricing structure, potential limitations in integrating with non-Microsoft environments, and the initial learning curve associated with the platform to determine if it is the right fit for their specific requirements.
Infisign: A Reliable Microsoft Entra ID Alternative
Infisign isn't just another choice; it's a top pick over EntraID because it gives you great features without any issues with working with non-Microsoft-powered tools, syncing user info, or using secure phone logins.
Plus, Infisign has tons of connections (over 6000 APIs and SDKs), so it's super easy to link it to all your other tech stuff.
When it comes to keeping things secure, Infisign is often better than the standard:
- Secure, Easy Logins: Infisign uses advanced multi-step security (MFA) that stops fake logins and password theft. It offers lots of simple ways to log in, like codes on your phone, special links, secure keys on your devices, and even using your fingerprint or face. This strong security doesn't make it hard for real users to get in.
- Better Price: Infisign gives you all its top-notch security features at a much more reasonable price right from the start. Unlike EntraID, you won't find any hidden fees or extra charges for important security tools, saving you money.
- Access More Apps Easily: Infisign's special login tool (MPWA) lets you manage access to all kinds of apps, even older ones or those that don't usually work with single sign-on. This helps you avoid people using unapproved apps.
- Smart Security That Adapts: Infisign uses smart MFA that looks at things like your device's security, where you are logging in from, and your internet address. This way, it makes sure the right level of security is used every time someone logs in, keeping you safe without getting in the way.
- Automatic User Management with AI: Infisign uses AI to handle adding new users and removing old ones across all your team apps automatically. This saves time and makes sure everyone has the right access to things like Slack and Microsoft Teams.
- Safe Access for Legacy Systems: Infisign helps you protect even your older, on-site apps with modern security. Its secure network access gateway lets you access these apps safely through the cloud, connecting your old tech with new security rules.
Want to know more about Infisign? Schedule a free demo call today!
FAQs about Microsoft Entra ID
Who uses Microsoft Entra ID?
Microsoft Entra ID is used by a wide range of organizations, from small businesses to large enterprises, across various industries. Any organization that utilizes Microsoft cloud services or requires a robust and scalable IAM solution to manage access for their employees, partners, or customers can benefit from Microsoft Entra ID.
What is the difference between Microsoft Entra ID P1 and P2?
The primary difference between Microsoft Entra ID P1 and P2 lies in the advanced security and governance features offered in the P2 tier. While P1 provides essential features like MFA and conditional access, P2 includes more sophisticated capabilities such as Identity Protection for detecting and responding to advanced threats, Privileged Identity Management for securing administrative accounts, and advanced reporting and analytics for gaining deeper insights into identity-related risks.
Can Microsoft Entra ID be used for on-premises applications?
Yes, Microsoft Entra ID can be used to manage access to on-premises applications through various methods, including Azure AD Connect for synchronizing identities, Azure AD Application Proxy for securely publishing on-premises web applications to the internet, and support for SAML and other federation protocols for integrating with on-premises applications that support these standards.
Is Microsoft Entra ID the same as Active Directory?
No, Microsoft Entra ID is not the same as traditional on-premises Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). While both are directory services that manage user identities and access, Microsoft Entra ID is a cloud-based service designed for modern cloud and hybrid environments, whereas AD DS is primarily an on-premises solution.
