Test automation is essential for ensuring software quality and speeding up release cycles. Many companies rely on Azure Active Directory (AD)—now Microsoft Entra ID—for their test automation needs. It provides solid authentication and authorization features. However, test automation leaders must grasp its pricing structure for better resource management and budget planning.
This blog will delve into the intricacies of AD Azure pricing strategies. We’ll explore various considerations and best practices tailored specifically for test automation leaders. This guide aims to empower test automation leaders with the knowledge needed to navigate the cost of Azure AD effectively. It maximizes the value of test automation initiatives by deciphering pricing tiers and optimizing usage and scaling strategies.
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Azure Active Directory Transforms into Microsoft Entra ID!
In case you haven’t heard, Azure Active Directory, also known as Microsoft Azure AD, has undergone a rebranding, and is now called Entra ID. But what impact does this have on you as an Azure customer? Fortunately, there’s no need to worry. Apart from getting used to the new name, there’s likely no additional action required on your part except for updating some documentation or training material.
Let’s dive into the world of Azure AD, now known as Microsoft Entra ID
Formerly Azure AD, Microsoft Entra ID is a robust identity and conditional access management solution provided by Microsoft. This service provides secure access to your organization’s assets across multiple platforms and clouds.
Whether you’re overseeing identities for employees, partners, or customers, Entra provides a unified, intuitive interface that streamlines identity and access rights management. Including this element in your business’s security infrastructure is crucial to ensure its safety.
The difference between Azure AD and Microsoft Entra is that the latter is improved. Entra ID adds new features like CIEM and decentralized identity. While Azure AD handles directory services, user and group management, and private and application access, Entra offers more advanced security and identity governance features for cloud and hybrid setups.
What is the Microsoft Entra ID’s new features?
The Microsoft Entra product line comprises three key segments:
Network access
Identity and access management
Emerging identity categories
NETWORK ACCESS
In contemporary IT, network access refers to the capability of users, devices, applications, and assets to connect to cloud-based services and infrastructure. Because the cloud is decentralized, managing and supervising network access is vital. Decentralization plays a critical role in ensuring data security, availability, and optimal performance.
The network access segment of Microsoft encompasses the following offerings:
Microsoft Entra Internet Access:
This solution safeguards access to all internet, SaaS, and M365 apps and resources using an identity-centric Secure Web Gateway. It includes features like:
Web filtering
Malware protection
Data loss prevention
Cloud app discovery
Cloud app control
Secure remote browser isolation, and more.
Microsoft Entra Private Access:
This service enhances access security to private applications and resources through identity centric Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). It offers features such as micro-segmentation, application proxy, integration with private link services, VPN replacement or augmentation, device posture assessment, and more.
IDENTITY AND ACCESS MANAGEMENT
Identity and Access Management (IAM) constitutes a set of policies and technologies that guarantee appropriate individuals access to suitable resources within an organization under the correct circumstances and for legitimate reasons. IAM primarily concerns defining and administrating user identities and their associated permissions.
The identity and access management section of the Microsoft Entra ID suite includes the following offerings:
Microsoft Entra ID:
This core product oversees user identities and regulates access to applications, data, and resources. Its features encompass multifactor authentication, conditional access, identity protection, privileged identity management, app registration, business-to-business (B2B) collaboration, business-to-consumer (B2C) identity management, and more.
Microsoft Entra ID Governance:
This product aids in safeguarding, monitoring, and auditing access to critical assets while maintaining employee productivity. It provides features like entitlement management, access reviews, terms of use, privileged access groups, and more.
Microsoft Entra External ID
is a solution designed to manage and protect external users such as customers and partners. It offers functionalities such as external identity self-service sign-up and sign-in, user flow creation, custom policies, social identity providers, password less authentication, and more.
EMERGENCY IDENTITY CATEGORIES
Your HR department typically conducts background checks to verify a new employee’s identity before onboarding them. This process ensures that the individual is indeed who they claim to be. Similarly, the new identity category segment of the Microsoft Entra suite serves a comparable function.
The new identity category within Microsoft Entra encompasses the following offerings:
Microsoft Entra Verified ID:
This product facilitates more secure interactions while upholding privacy standards through a leading global platform. It includes features such as issuing and verifying identity credentials based on open standards like Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VCs).
Microsoft Entra Permissions Management:
This product aids in managing identity permissions across multi-cloud infrastructures. Features include discovering permissions across clouds, optimizing permissions based on usage data, enforcing most minor privilege policies across clouds, detecting abnormal permissions behavior, and more.
Microsoft Entra Workload ID:
This product ensures the security of applications and services’ identities and access to cloud resources. It includes managing service principals and rotating secrets across clouds. Moreover, it enforces detailed policies for service-to-service communication and detects unusual service behavior, among other features.
How much does Azure AD cost?
Microsoft Entra ID – Free Tier
Included in Microsoft cloud services subscriptions like Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and others are the following features:
Authentication, single sign-on, and application access
Administration and hybrid identity
End-user self-service
Multifactor authentication and conditional access
Event logging and reporting
Identity governance
Microsoft Entra ID P1
(previously Azure AD Premium P1)
Pricing: $6 /user/month
Microsoft Entra ID P1 is offered as a standalone option or bundled with Microsoft 365 E3 for enterprise clients and Microsoft 365 Business Premium for small to medium businesses.
Features include:
Authentication, single sign-on, and application access
Administration and hybrid identity
End-user self-service
Multifactor authentication and conditional access
Event logging and reporting
Identity governance
Microsoft Entra ID P2
Microsoft Entra ID P2, previously known as Azure Active Directory P2, can be acquired independently or as part of Microsoft 365 E5 for enterprise customers.
Pricing: $9 user/month
Features include:
Authentication, single sign-on, and application access
Administration and hybrid identity
End-user self-service
Multifactor authentication and conditional access
Identity Protection
Event logging and reporting
Identity governance
Microsoft Entra ID Governance
Entra ID Governance comprises an advanced suite of identity governance features tailored for Microsoft Entra ID P1 and P2 user accounts. Special pricing is offered to Microsoft Entra P2 subscribers.
Pricing: $7 user/month
Features include:
End-user self-service
Identity Governance
Begin Your Microsoft Entra Journey Now
While most products and benefits will stay consistent, Azure AD’s rebranding aims to improve user experience by promoting integration with a straightforward naming convention.
Microsoft Entra ID remains a pivotal component in Microsoft 365 licensing arrangements, ensuring accessibility for all businesses utilizing Microsoft solutions for daily operations.
This change is noteworthy for businesses as service plan names will evolve. Rest assured; we’ll keep clients informed of any significant updates.
With over 30 years of experience, Advanced has been at the forefront of helping organizations embark on their digital transformation journey. As a Microsoft Gold Partner boasting multiple competencies and the prestigious Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop Advanced Specialization, we’re dedicated to ensuring you harness the full potential of Microsoft technology. Reach out to us today to discover more or kickstart your transformation journey.
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