In its 2024 Digital Defense Report, Microsoft revealed that over 600 million identity attacks occur daily. And the impact is being keenly felt; within the last year, a staggering 90 per cent of organisations experienced at least one identity-related security incident.
While multi-factor authentication (MFA) can successfully mitigate many password-based attacks, the persistence of predictable human behaviours—such as weak passwords, password reuse, and susceptibility to phishing—and evolving sophisticated threats continues to leave identity attacks at the forefront of security teams’ minds. With 99 per cent of identity threats linked to password vulnerabilities, comprehensive identity security and access management is essential for organisations to fortify their cyber defences.
As of December 2024, Microsoft has been named a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Access Management for the eighth consecutive year, positioned highest on the Ability to Execute axis.
Microsoft Leads Access Management for Eighth Consecutive Year
At the heart of this continued success is Microsoft Entra, a unified Identity and Access Management (IAM) platform designed to protect identities and secure access to applications and resources across multi-cloud and hybrid environments. By simplifying IAM for security professionals and embedding customer feedback in its development, Microsoft Entra exemplifies a user-centric, cutting-edge solution for identity protection.
Microsoft Entra enables organisations to implement adaptive identity and network access controls for secure access from any location, while protecting a wide range of identities (including employees, contractors and partners), across devices, applications, and workloads.
At a glance, Microsoft Entra’s Key Capabilities include:
Unified Identity Management
Microsoft Entra ID centralises identity management, enabling organisations to oversee all identities and application access from a single platform. This unified solution enhances visibility and control for security teams while streamlining the management of user access across both cloud-based and on-premises environments.
App Integrations and Single Sign-On (SSO)
Microsoft Entra ID provides businesses access to the extensive Microsoft Entra app gallery, featuring a wealth of popular applications such as Salesforce, Zoom, and Workday. With integrated Single Sign-On (SSO), users can seamlessly access multiple apps using a single set of credentials, eliminating the need to remember multiple passwords and reducing the security risks linked to password reuse.
Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Effectively managing administrative privileges is essential for robust security. Microsoft Entra ID offers Privileged Identity Management (PIM), which enforces controlled access to critical operations by granting administrative rights only when required. This Just-In-Time (JIT) approach minimises the risks associated with over-privileged accounts, strengthening organisations’ overall security posture.
End-User Self-Service
Microsoft Entra ID enables users to take control of their own identities, handling tasks like password resets and managing app access independently. This self-service capability reduces IT bottlenecks, decreases reliance on helpdesk support, and ensures employees can swiftly access the tools they need to remain productive.
The Future of Microsoft Entra
Microsoft’s continuous innovation and user-centric approach ensures that Entra remains at the forefront of IAM technology. By integrating AI, automation, and decentralised identity capabilities, Microsoft is setting new standards for protecting identities and access.
Developments include:
Passkeys for Passwordless Authentication
Microsoft Entra ID supports device-bound passkeys stored on FIDO2 security keys or in the Microsoft Authenticator app. These passkeys eliminate the need for traditional usernames and passwords, streamlining user authentication while improving security. Future investments include support for both synced and device-bound passkeys, enabling enterprises to transition seamlessly to passwordless environments.
AI-Powered Security with Microsoft Security Copilot
Embedded within Entra, the Microsoft Security Copilot leverages real-time machine learning to:
- Identify identity risks.
- Automate complex IAM tasks.
- Detect gaps in access policies.
- Generate workflows and troubleshoot efficiently.
By providing actionable insights and enhancing administrator capabilities, Microsoft Security Copilot empowers organisations to reduce resource strain and respond to threats faster.
Decentralised Identity Solutions
Microsoft is spearheading efforts to develop a decentralised identity framework, enabling individuals to control their digital identities without reliance on centralised authorities. Through solutions like Face Check with Microsoft Entra Verified ID, organisations can securely verify identities at scale using Azure AI-powered facial matching.
Threatscape’s complimentary Microsoft Entra ID Advisory Service helps you to understand the identity threats that our Microsoft experts see lodged against organisations every day, and the associated security protections available within your Microsoft 365 licence.
During your no-obligation consultation with one of our consultants, you’ll gain insight and recommendations on how Entra ID and other capabilities within Microsoft 365 help defend cloud identities against a wealth of threats.
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Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Access Management, 2 December 2024, By Brian Guthrie, Nathan Harris, Abhyuday Data, Josh Murphy.
