In today’s complex digital landscape, robust identity and access management is the foundation of strong cybersecurity. Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) stands out as a powerful cloud-based solution that significantly improves an organisation’s security posture.

For businesses navigating hybrid and cloud-only environments, Entra ID offers a suite of capabilities that are essential for safeguarding critical assets, in this article we discuss 5 ways it secures your infrastructure.

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5 ways Entra ID helps improve your cyber security

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Conditional Access

One of the most effective ways Entra ID boosts security is through its comprehensive MFA and Conditional Access capabilities. Entra ID enables organisations to implement MFA, requiring users to provide two or more forms of verification This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorised access even if a password is compromised.

Conditional Access allows businesses to define dynamic access policies based on various real-time signals, such as user location, device compliance, application sensitivity, and detected risk levels. For instance, you can configure a policy to require MFA when a user attempts to access sensitive data from an unfamiliar location or an unmanaged device.

Threat Detection and Identity Protection

Entra ID leverages advanced machine learning and AI to proactively identify and mitigate identity-based threats. Identity Protection continuously monitors user and sign-in activities for anomalies and suspicious behaviours. It can detect various risks, including impossible travel scenarios, sign-ins from anonymous IP addresses, password spray attacks, and leaked credentials.

When a risk is detected, Identity Protection can automatically trigger remediation actions, such as blocking the sign-in, requiring a password reset, or enforcing MFA.

By analysing a broad range of signals, Entra ID can assign a real-time risk level to each sign-in attempt. This enables organisations to implement risk-based Conditional Access policies that adapt to the evolving threat landscape, ensuring a more proactive and responsive security strategy.

Privileged Identity Management (PIM)

The principle of least privilege – granting users only the permissions they need, for only the time they need them – is crucial for minimising the impact of a potential breach. Entra ID’s Privileged Identity Management (PIM) is instrumental in enforcing this principle.

PIM allows organisations to provide time-bound and just-in-time access to privileged roles. Instead of having standing administrative access, users must activate their elevated permissions when needed, for a limited duration. This significantly reduces the window of opportunity for attackers to exploit compromised high-privilege accounts.

PIM facilitates regular access reviews for privileged roles, ensuring that permissions remain appropriate and are revoked when no longer required. Comprehensive auditing capabilities provide a clear trail of all privileged activities, aiding in forensic investigations and compliance efforts.

Single Sign-On (SSO)

While enhancing security, Entra ID also significantly improves the user experience through Single Sign-On (SSO). SSO allows users to log in once with a single set of credentials and gain access to numerous applications, both cloud-based and on-premises. This reduces “password fatigue” and the likelihood of users reusing weak passwords or writing them down, which are common attack vectors.

By centralising identity management, Entra ID provides a unified platform for controlling access to all applications. This not only simplifies administration but also ensures consistent security policies are applied across the entire IT ecosystem, reducing the chances of misconfigurations and security gaps.

Securing Hybrid Environments

Many organisations operate in hybrid environments, with a mix of on-premises and cloud resources. Entra ID is designed to seamlessly integrate with existing on-premises Active Directory deployments, providing a consistent and secure identity solution across both.

Microsoft Entra Connect synchronises identities between on-premises Active Directory and Entra ID, ensuring a unified view of users and groups. This integration allows organisations to extend the advanced security features of Entra ID, such as Conditional Access and Identity Protection, to on-premises applications.

Entra ID enables secure remote access to on-premises web applications without the need for a VPN through its Application Proxy feature. This ensures that even legacy applications benefit from the strong authentication and access controls provided by Entra ID.

Microsoft Entra ID is more than just an identity management solution; it’s a critical component of a modern cybersecurity strategy. By empowering organisations with strong authentication, intelligent threat detection, least-privilege enforcement, streamlined access, and seamless hybrid integration.

Entra ID significantly enhances overall cyber resilience and helps protect against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. For businesses looking to strengthen their security posture, leveraging the full capabilities of Entra ID is a strategic imperative.

To learn more about how Entra ID can be used to improve your cyber security download our Microsoft 365 security whitepaper here, visit our cyber security services or contact us.