Most things can be managed through Azure Active Directory, which functions as a security and reporting hub for all Microsoft solutions. This is especially helpful when checking logs or accessing various features within Microsoft. By going directly to Azure Active Directory, I can easily search and utilize any Microsoft feature. It serves as the main entry point for accessing Microsoft solutions. The single pane of glass, when it comes to administration, is really good and helpful. For example, if there are any cases where I need to check something about user devices, logs, or access management—such as revoking access, giving access, or creating groups—all of these tasks are easily accessible. As an IT infrastructure manager, I mainly work in the cloud, so the Azure Active Directory is my go-to resource. Having the Azure portal open most of the time makes it convenient for me to access the Azure Active Directory directly. Instead of navigating through Office.com and its admin panel, I can have a comprehensive view from Azure Active Directory, which serves as the main pilot for my tasks. This seamless integration is essential because it eliminates the need to switch between different portals. Whether I'm dealing with infrastructure-related matters or user management, I have one centralized portal where I can efficiently switch between tasks. It simplifies my work and enhances my productivity. Regarding security and access control, I also find Azure Active Directory very valuable since I handle security matters. If there are any security logs or incidents, I can easily manage and address them using Azure Active Directory. This capability further streamlines my responsibilities and ensures a smooth workflow. Initially, there was limited control. However, when we examine the recent features available in Active Directory, for instance, controlling access to company resources from personal devices due to COVID, we find an increased need for such control. Active Directory offers a way to manage this type of access effectively. One of the features that I particularly appreciate is controlled access, which allows us to apply security controls based on whether the device is part of the company directory or not. By combining this feature with cloud app security, we gain even more control over user access at the device level. Using these features, we can decide whether users are allowed to download content on their laptops or restrict access to specific mobile devices. If it's a company device, full access is granted; otherwise, access is limited. This kind of bundled approach is very convenient for security personnel responsible for the company's security, providing a one-stop shop for managing access controls. Moreover, this system allows granular control over individual users as well. For example, higher-level executives like the CEO may require different policies compared to regular users. We can easily create open policies for certain users, granting them unrestricted access to personal devices. Overall, the conditional access module of Active Directory offers a comprehensive and effective solution for managing access controls and security measures within the company. Traditionally, we used to make a good device compliant by simply adding it to the domain and then applying GPOs from it. However, after Azure Active Directory, there is an additional level of authentication, which occurs with Azure AD joined devices. When a device is Azure AD joined, we can blindly trust it because only company devices can join Azure AD. Nevertheless, there are still potential issues and loopholes that may arise. For example, even if it is a company-managed device, there is a chance that it was mistakenly added by an administrator and later given to an unauthorized person, granting them access to company resources. To address these concerns, we use conditional access policies. With these policies, we can verify multiple steps: Is it an Azure AD joined device? Is it a hybrid joined device? Is it located in the correct area? Is the user associated with the device authorized to access company resources? Based on these checks, we determine which applications the user should have access to. This multi-layered security approach is crucial and is known as zero trust security. We need to authorize users at each level, and this is made possible through the implementation of conditional access policies. This module showcases the beauty and effectiveness of this approach. Azure Active Directory has helped save time for our IT administrators. It significantly reduces the time required for management tasks. I no longer need to log in to the ADA server or manually disable accounts. Checking the logs is now a simple process. Accessing the Active Directory is easy from anywhere, whether it's through email or from home—it doesn't matter. Azure Active Directory has had a significant impact on the employee user experience within our organization. One feature that stands out is the password reset process. Previously, whenever I needed to reset an employee's password, I had to go to the ADA server and reset it from there. This process used to take around 15 to 20 minutes, especially if the password had expired or any other issues arose. Additionally, if I wasn't at my computer, I would have to spend at least an hour sitting in front of it to provide access or reset the password and then share the new credentials with the employee. Moreover, the passwords I generated were temporary, which meant employees had to reset them again. However, with the introduction of the password reset portal in Azure Active Directory, our workload has been significantly reduced. This portal allows us to provide users with an option to reset their passwords securely without compromising account security. It has proven to be one of the best features I've experienced in Azure Active Directory.
