Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD)
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) is the cloud-based identity and access management platform that underpins every Microsoft 365 environment. It manages user identities, authentication, single sign-on, multi-factor authentication, conditional access, and application access for your entire organisation. Despite being the foundation of Microsoft 365 security, many businesses never properly configure Entra ID — leaving their environment vulnerable to identity-based attacks, which are now the most common entry point for cybercriminals. We help businesses across London and the UK design, configure, and manage Microsoft Entra ID — ensuring your identities are secure, your access is controlled, and your users can work productively from anywhere.
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) is Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management service. It provides user and group management, authentication, single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), conditional access, privileged identity management, and application access management. It is the identity foundation for Microsoft 365, Azure, and thousands of third-party SaaS applications. Entra ID is included with Microsoft 365 plans, with advanced features available through Entra ID P1 and P2 add-ons.
Understanding Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD)
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) is Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management service. It provides user and group management, authentication, single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), conditional access, privileged identity management, and application access management. It is the identity foundation for Microsoft 365, Azure, and thousands of third-party SaaS applications. Entra ID is included with Microsoft 365 plans, with advanced features available through Entra ID P1 and P2 add-ons.
The business impact
Identity is the new security perimeter. With remote work, cloud applications, and BYOD, the traditional network perimeter no longer protects your business. Entra ID provides the identity-based security controls — multi-factor authentication, conditional access, risk detection — that protect against the most common attack vectors: phishing, password spray, and credential theft. Proper Entra ID configuration is the single most effective security control for Microsoft 365 environments.
Who needs this?
Every business using Microsoft 365 or Azure needs Entra ID — it is the identity foundation. Businesses that need single sign-on across multiple applications. Businesses that need conditional access to control where and how users access company resources. Businesses that need to protect against identity-based attacks. Businesses that need to manage user access to SaaS applications. Businesses with compliance requirements for access control and audit logging.
Who doesn't need this?
No business using Microsoft 365 can avoid Entra ID — it is the identity provider. However, businesses with very simple needs (a few users, no remote work, no SaaS apps) may only need the basic Entra ID features included with Microsoft 365, without the advanced P1 or P2 features.
The technical overview
Entra ID is a cloud-based identity service hosted in Microsoft's Azure cloud. Users authenticate to Entra ID, which then grants access to Microsoft 365, Azure, and integrated applications. Administrators manage users, groups, policies, and security through the Entra admin centre. Conditional access policies evaluate each sign-in attempt based on user, device, location, and risk — granting or blocking access accordingly. We handle the design, configuration, and ongoing management of your Entra ID environment.
Related technologies
What affects the cost?
Expert recommendations
Enable security defaults or conditional access policies from day one — never leave Entra ID in its default configuration.
Require multi-factor authentication for all users, especially administrators — this blocks 99.9% of identity-based attacks.
Use conditional access to restrict access to trusted locations and compliant devices.
Implement Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for administrator accounts — just-in-time access reduces the risk of compromised admin credentials.
Regularly review and clean up stale user accounts and application registrations.
Monitor Entra ID sign-in logs and risk events for suspicious activity.
Industries that benefit
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