8 min read

·

May 14, 2025

When Microsoft announced they were rebranding Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) to Microsoft Entra ID, many IT professionals rolled their eyes.

“Great, another name change to confuse everyone,” was the common sentiment in many IT departments.

I’ll admit I was skeptical too.

But after working with Entra ID across dozens of organizations, from 50-person businesses to multinational enterprises with hundreds of thousands of identities, I’ve come to understand this wasn’t just a cosmetic rebrand.

It represented a fundamental shift in how Microsoft approaches identity management in our increasingly complex digital world.

This article explores what Entra ID actually is, how it differs from traditional Active Directory, and most importantly, why it matters for your organization’s security and productivity.

I’ll share practical insights from real-world implementations that go beyond the marketing materials.