Last updated: 27 September 2026
Microsoft Entra is Microsoft’s family of identity and access products. Its core service, Microsoft Entra ID, was previously called Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). Microsoft renamed it in 2023, but it works the same way: it is the account system behind Microsoft 365, controlling who can sign in and what they can access.
What does Microsoft Entra ID do?
- Single sign-on: one work account for Microsoft 365 and thousands of other business apps.
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA): an extra check, such as the Microsoft Authenticator app, when people sign in.
- Conditional Access: rules that block or allow sign-ins based on the user, device, location or risk.
- Self-service password reset and management of users, groups and guest access.
Which licence do I need?
- Entra ID Free: included with every Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Entra ID P1: adds Conditional Access. Included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium and E3.
- Entra ID P2: adds risk-based protection and Privileged Identity Management. Included in Microsoft 365 E5 and available through the Microsoft Defender Suite add-on.
Other Entra products
The Entra family also includes Entra ID Governance (access reviews and lifecycle management), Entra External ID (customer and partner accounts) and Entra Private Access and Internet Access (secure remote access).
ABCOM configures Entra ID, MFA and Conditional Access as part of our managed IT and cyber security services.
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