Security News > 2023 > July > Microsoft whips up unrest after revealing Azure AD name change

Service plan display names will change on October 1: Azure AD Free is to become Microsoft Entra ID Free, Azure AD Premium P1 or P2 will move to Microsoft Entra ID P1 or P2, and Azure AD External Identities will switch to Microsoft Entra External ID. Feature naming will also be overhauled.

Azure AD Conditional Access, for example, will become Microsoft Entra Conditional Access, Azure AD MFA will change to Microsoft Entra MFA, and Azure AD single sign-on will move to Microsoft Entra single sign-on.

A separate but related blog from Microsoft states: "We'd like your help spreading the word about the name change and implementing it in your own experiences. If you're a content creator, author of internal documentation for IT or identity security admins, developer of Azure AD-enabled apps, independent software vendor, or Microsoft partner, we hope you use the naming guidance outlined in the following section to make the name change in your content and product experiences by the end of 2023.".

A source close to Microsoft's developer community told us they suspected a "Monetization aspect" is related to the name change as Azure AD was initially free until premium versions were introduced, though all four tiers of the service plans remain and Microsoft insists prices will not be altered.

Azure AD is well known and often crops up in terminology such as Azure AD Join for configuring a PC to a specific Azure AD directory.

"Yet, we believe this change will create a path to deliver a simpler way to protect every identity and secure every access point as we'll continue to expand Microsoft Entra portfolio. Ultimately, all Microsoft customers would need to remember is that anything they need for securing access is Microsoft Entra."

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/07/12/azure_ad_name_change/