Enhance Your Security with the
New Microsoft Entra Suite
Microsoft Entra has introduced a new tier of capabilities within its identity management and security tools. This new tier focuses on enhancing advanced access management, security, and identity to support Zero Trust principles, while also addressing integration gaps that pose risks for businesses. I speculate that it is likely that an E7 tier licensing bundle will be available soon to accommodate the ongoing expansion and flexibility of the Microsoft 365 Productivity, Security, and Compliance platform.
In this blog post, I’ll briefly touch on what each of these new capabilities are and the benefits of each in simple terms.
Core Capabilities of the Microsoft Entra Suite
- Private Access – Works with your conditional access policy to provide secure access to on-premises applications. This is done by an agent on the endpoint device in coordination with a connector on the private network that allows on-demand secure access with outbound connections only.
- Internet Access – Prevents access to unsafe content through Microsoft and admin-specified web content filtering rules. This extends your conditional access policies to internet content with things like device location, behavior patterns, and other conditional access policies to continuously evaluate the security threat.
- ID Protection – Builds upon traditional Entra ID controls, such as multi-factor authentication, leveraging signals from endpoint management for device compliance, and other risk-based controls. ID Protection extends that with ML-based adaptive controls and user risk assessments to develop usage trends that continuously analyze risk for anomalies.
- ID Governance – Supports identity and user lifecycle management with automation capabilities to ensure you implement least privilege access to individuals by managing their employment lifecycle from onboarding and job changes to offboarding.
- Face Check with Verified ID – Leverages facial biometrics to ensure the person presenting a government-issued ID is who they say they are.
How Are These Features Beneficial to My Business?
- Private Access – Flexible access from private/public and known/unknown networks without legacy VPNs.
- Internet Access – Secure web gateway capabilities allow for conditional access settings to internet sites, ensuring that users can only access to approved sites when on trusted devices and locations.
- ID Protection – Advanced machine learning provides insight into real-time threats that allow for rapid response.
- ID Governance – Automated workflows integrated with HR platforms, device lifecycle, etc. to assign users permissions to applications based on their employee attributes with automated revocation of access during offboarding.
- Face Check with Verified ID – Enhanced capability to identify people are who they say they are locally or remotely without compromising their personal information and meet compliance standards.
How Does Entra Suite Vary from Entra ID (Plan 1 and Plan 2)?
Entra ID Plan 1 and Plan 2 are included in Microsoft 365 bundles and available separately. Entra Suite, only offered as a standalone product, costs $12 per user per month and requires a Microsoft P1 license. Discounts are offered for users with Entra ID P2.
Choosing the Right Microsoft 365 Packages and Solutions For Your Business
As you’ve heard me say in prior blog posts, “It depends” is the honest answer anyone should give you at the start of the conversation. Building on our Microsoft 365 E5 post, including Entra Suite must be evaluated based on the needs of the business, current solutions in place, and ability to implement new technology once procured. It should be part of a planning and roadmap exercise to ensure the successful implementation of zero trust across the full Microsoft security platform and any third-party solutions you have in place.
Don’t Leave Incentives on the Table
There are incentives in the form of discounts, implementation support, educational workshops, and concierge guidance available for businesses of all sizes. Include those in your planning and ensure you get the maximum value out of your planned investments.
The Microsoft 365 Productivity, Security & Compliance Roadmap
The Microsoft 365 Roadmap is an active workshop designed to support a business looking to understand how an investment in Microsoft 365 solutions can increase productivity, security, and management time for their end users. It’s perfect for those looking to get the right fit for their Microsoft licensing, while also ensuring they get the greatest return on capabilities procured.
The outcomes of the Microsoft 365 Roadmap are:
- Microsoft 365 licensing plan
- Productivity, security, and compliance solution GAP analysis
- Microsoft 365 solution implementation plans and budgets
Where does Entra Suite fit my business?
- Third-party solution overlap and consolidation guidance
- 3 year total cost of ownership (TCO)
- Available Microsoft and licensing provider incentives
Timing:
The ideal time to execute a Microsoft 365 Productivity, Security, & Compliance Roadmap is 30-180 days prior to Microsoft renewal or a planned licensing change. Microsoft incentives may be available for qualified customers. With a time commitment of 20 hours across 2-3 weeks, you can efficiently and effectively plan the right fit for your business.
We Can Help!
If you have any questions about the new Entra Suite or are looking for assistance with enhancing advanced access management, security, and identity, please reach out to info@eGroup-us.com or complete the form below.
Looking to learn more? Check out our recent Halloween webinar, Nightmare on Cyber Street: Protecting Devices and Identities, where we covered the details of the new Entra Suite and Intune Suite.
Interested in Learning More about the New Entra or Intune Suites?
Contact our team today to learn more about the new Entra Suite or to Sign Up for a Microsoft 365 Productivity, Security, & Compliance Roadmap!
