The Microsoft Entra suite of identity and security products and capabilities received major announcements today. Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is becoming Microsoft Entra ID, and Security Service Edge is adding to the Microsoft Entra suite. Entra ID is introduced, and Azure Active Directory is consigned to history. Oh, and there is also Entra ID Protection, in case you missed that with the other updates.
It has been a long journey to get to Active Directory and Azure Active Directory. Even before Windows for Workgroups 3.1 was introduced in 1992, I was utilizing Microsoft Identity Services. Similar to when Microsoft unveiled Active Directory as the directory services replacement for Windows Domains, now is a good time to take stock of how far we’ve gone and how we still have to adjust to technology’s ongoing progress in order to fulfill our needs.