Active Directory Vs Azure Active Directory
Active Directory (AD) and Azure Active Directory (AAD) are both identity management solutions from Microsoft, but they serve different purposes. In this blog post, we’ll explore the differences between AD and AAD and when you might want to use one over the other.
Active Directory (AD)
Active Directory is a service provided by Microsoft that is used to manage users, computers, and other resources in a Windows-based network. It was first introduced in Windows 2000 and has since evolved into the core identity management solution for most organizations that use Windows based systems.
AD is a domain based directory service, which means that it is designed to work within a single organization’s network. AD stores user and computer account information, authentication and authorization data, and security policies. It also provides services such as Group Policy, which allows administrators to configure and enforce policies for users and computers in the domain.
AD is typically deployed on premises and requires a domain controller to operate. Domain controllers are servers that store and manage AD data and provide authentication and authorization services to users and computers in the domain.
Azure Active Directory (AAD)
Azure Active Directory is a cloud based identity management solution that is used to manage users and groups, control access to cloud based applications, and integrate with other cloud based services. It is a multi tenant directory service, which means that it can be used by multiple organizations at the same time.
AAD provides many of the same features as AD, such as user and group management, authentication and authorization, and security policies. However, AAD is designed to work with cloud based applications and services, and it does not require a domain controller.
AAD is often used in conjunction with other cloud based services, such as Office 365, Azure, and other SaaS applications. AAD provides a single sign on (SSO) experience for users, which means that users only need to log in once to access all of the cloud based applications and services that they have access to.
When to use AD vs AAD
AD is still the go to solution for managing identity and access in on premises Windows based networks. If you are running a Windows based network and you need to manage users, computers, and other resources within your organization, then AD is the right choice.
AAD is best suited for organizations that are using cloud based services and applications. If you are using Office 365 or other cloud based services and you need to manage users and control access to those services, then AAD is the right choice.
It is also possible to use both AD and AAD in a hybrid environment. In this scenario, AD is used to manage on premises resources, while AAD is used to manage cloud based resources. This allows organizations to maintain a consistent identity and access management strategy across their on premises and cloud based environments.
Active Directory and Azure Active Directory are both powerful identity management solutions, but they serve different purposes. AD is designed for on-premises Windows-based networks, while AAD is designed for cloud based services and applications. Depending on your organization’s needs, you may choose to use one or the other, or a combination of both in a hybrid environment.
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I do want to enforce Identity protection for risky users and risky sign In . We didn’t enable password write back and we have only on onpremise to Azure Ad sync and not from Azure Ad to On Premise. How can I fix the situation ? any Idea please do share.
If you want to enforce identity protection for risky users and risky sign-ins, there are several steps you can take, even if you don’t have password writeback enabled and only have one-way synchronization from on-premises Active Directory (AD) to Azure AD. Here’s what you can do:
Enable Azure AD Identity Protection: Azure AD Identity Protection provides risk-based conditional access policies and detects suspicious activities for user accounts. It can help protect against risky sign-ins. You can enable it by following the Azure AD Identity Protection documentation.
Enable Azure AD Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implementing multi-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security for user sign-ins. Even if an attacker manages to obtain a user’s password, they would still need the second factor (such as a mobile app notification, text message, or hardware token) to complete the sign-in. Enable Azure AD MFA for your users to enhance security.
Utilize Azure AD Conditional Access: Conditional Access allows you to define policies that control access to your cloud applications based on certain conditions, such as user risk level, location, and device. You can create policies that enforce additional security measures for risky users or sign-ins, such as requiring MFA or blocking access altogether.
Implement Azure AD Identity Secure Score: Azure AD Identity Secure Score provides insights into the security posture of your organization’s identity infrastructure. It offers recommendations for improving security and reducing risk. Review your organization’s secure score and implement the recommended actions to enhance identity protection.
Consider Azure AD Privileged Identity Management (PIM): Azure AD PIM helps you manage and control privileged access to Azure AD and other Microsoft Online Services. By implementing PIM, you can minimize the risk of unauthorized access and enforce just-in-time (JIT) access for privileged roles.
Regularly review and monitor sign-in and user risk reports: Azure AD provides various reports that allow you to monitor and investigate risky sign-ins and user accounts. Regularly review these reports and take appropriate actions based on the identified risks.
Educate users about security best practices: User awareness and education play a crucial role in maintaining security. Regularly communicate with your users about security best practices, such as the importance of strong passwords, avoiding suspicious emails or links, and reporting any suspicious activities.
While these steps can help enhance identity protection for your organization, it’s always recommended to regularly review and update your security measures based on the evolving threat landscape and best practices provided by Microsoft.