Active Directory Domain Services manages local Windows domains. Microsoft Entra ID is a cloud identity service for applications, Microsoft 365 and modern accesses.
In brief….Entra ID is not a simple Active Directory hosted in the cloud. Many organizations use hybrid architecture during their transition.
Solution A….
Active Directory
Active Directory is based on domain controllers and protocols such as LDAP, Kerberos and DNS.
Key points…
- Traditional domain joint
- GPO and local resource authentication
- Works in a controlled enterprise network
Solution B….
Enter ID
Entra ID manages cloud identities, the modern authentication and access to SaaS applications.
Key points…
- Microsoft 365 integration
- MFA and conditional access under licences
- Entra ID joint and management with Intune according to architecture
Comparative table….
| Criterion…. | Active Directory | Enter ID |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Local infrastructure or IaaS | Microsoft cloud service |
| Protocols | LDAP, Kerberos, NTLM | OAuth, OpenID Connect, SAML |
| Post management | Area and GPO | Cloud and Intune |
| Applications | Local Windows Resources | Cloud and SaaS applications |
Choose Active Directory if…
You have applications, file servers or policies depending on a traditional Windows domain.
Choose Entra ID if…
You use Microsoft 365 cloud applications and want to manage identities and devices without relying exclusively on local network.
Key takeaways
Entra ID is not a simple Active Directory hosted in the cloud. Many organizations use hybrid architecture during their transition.
Deepening the two notions….
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