Microsoft Entra ID Management Permissions provide granular control over access to resources within Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) and extend this control to manage permissions in multi-cloud environments like AWS and Google Cloud. The new Entra ID management permissions are part of Microsoft’s focus on enabling a Zero Trust approach, allowing administrators to govern identities and access seamlessly across different cloud platforms.
This guide explains the concept, usage, creation, configuration, and management of Microsoft Entra ID permissions, including specific steps for integrating with AWS and Google Cloud.
Overview of Microsoft Entra ID Management Permissions
Microsoft Entra ID offers different levels of management permissions to control access based on roles, allowing organizations to implement the principle of least privilege. By defining specific permissions for users, groups, and roles, administrators can limit access to only the resources necessary for each user’s role.
Key Components
- Roles: Microsoft Entra ID includes predefined roles with permissions aligned to typical IT tasks (e.g., Global Administrator, Application Administrator, User Administrator).
- Custom Roles: Admins can create custom roles with specific permissions tailored to unique organizational needs, especially useful in multi-cloud environments.
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Entra ID’s RBAC model lets administrators assign permissions to roles, then assign roles to users or groups to control access.
- Privileged Identity Management (PIM): Enables just-in-time access for privileged roles and enforces time-bound and approval-based access, reducing risks associated with standing access.
Usage and Working Examples of Microsoft Entra ID Management Permissions
Example 1: Granting Limited Administrative Access
Scenario: A financial organization needs to allow certain IT team members access to manage Entra ID users but doesn’t want them to have full admin privileges.
- Assign the User Administrator Role: Assign the IT team members the “User Administrator” role, which allows them to manage user accounts, reset passwords, and assign licenses without providing broader permissions.
- Monitor Access: Use Entra ID’s audit logs to track any changes made by these administrators to ensure compliance and accountability.
Example 2: Custom Role for Multi-Cloud Access Management
Scenario: A tech company has resources in AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure, and needs a custom role to allow specific IT team members to manage identity and access across all clouds without granting excessive privileges.
- Create a Custom Role: Define a custom role in Microsoft Entra ID with permissions to access identity-related services and manage access in integrated cloud environments.
- Assign the Custom Role: Assign this role to specific IT administrators who need multi-cloud access management, allowing them to perform identity-related tasks across AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure.
- Enable PIM for the Role: Use Privileged Identity Management (PIM) to make the role eligible for time-limited access, granting permissions only when needed.
Microsoft Entra ID Management Permissions in Multi-Cloud Environments
Microsoft Entra ID can manage permissions and identities not only within Azure but also extends its capabilities to AWS and Google Cloud, providing a centralized way to control access across environments.
AWS Integration with Microsoft Entra ID
Entra ID allows you to manage AWS permissions by integrating AWS accounts, roles, and access policies with Entra ID’s identity and access management tools.
Step-by-Step Setup
- Connect AWS with Entra ID:
- In the Microsoft Entra ID portal, navigate to External Identities > Identity Providers and choose Amazon Web Services (AWS).
- Register your AWS account and establish a trust relationship by configuring SAML-based Single Sign-On (SSO) and permissions mapping between Entra ID and AWS IAM roles.
- Configure AWS Permissions:
- Use AWS IAM to create roles for specific permissions, like “S3 Access” or “EC2 Management.”
- Link these AWS roles to Entra ID groups, where you can assign the corresponding Entra ID users to these groups.
- Assign Entra ID Permissions:
- Assign permissions to Entra ID users based on their assigned AWS roles. For example, if a user in Entra ID is assigned to a group with “S3 Access,” they can manage S3 buckets in AWS.
- Implement Privileged Access with PIM:
- Configure PIM in Entra ID to make these roles eligible, meaning users can activate them temporarily with just-in-time access when necessary.
- Manage and Monitor Access:
- Use Entra ID’s audit logs and AWS CloudTrail to monitor user access and changes in AWS, ensuring that all actions are tracked for compliance.
Usage Example
An IT admin needs temporary access to AWS EC2 instances. By assigning them an Entra ID role linked to an AWS IAM role for EC2 management, the admin can activate their role in PIM for a defined time window to perform tasks on EC2 instances, after which access is automatically revoked.
Google Cloud Integration with Microsoft Entra ID
For Google Cloud, Microsoft Entra ID enables similar management of identity and access, allowing Google Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM) roles to be mapped to Entra ID groups and users.
Step-by-Step Setup
- Connect Google Cloud with Entra ID:
- In the Entra ID portal, navigate to External Identities > Identity Providers and choose Google Cloud.
- Configure SAML-based SSO by creating a SAML app in Google Cloud and linking it with Entra ID, establishing a federated trust between Google Cloud and Entra ID.
- Set Up Google Cloud IAM Roles:
- In Google Cloud IAM, create roles specific to user tasks, like “Storage Viewer” or “Compute Admin,” and assign permissions to these roles as needed.
- Link these Google Cloud roles with Entra ID groups.
- Assign Permissions in Entra ID:
- Create Entra ID groups that correspond to Google Cloud IAM roles and add the necessary users.
- When a user is added to an Entra ID group, they automatically receive the equivalent Google Cloud IAM permissions.
- Use PIM for Just-in-Time Access:
- Enable PIM in Entra ID to configure eligible roles for just-in-time access to Google Cloud IAM roles. Users can request access to Google Cloud roles only when they need it, reducing standing permissions.
- Manage and Monitor Access:
- Use Entra ID’s monitoring tools to track access requests, activations, and changes in permissions, and view Google Cloud audit logs for additional security tracking.
Usage Example
A data analyst requires temporary access to a Google Cloud BigQuery dataset. With an Entra ID role mapped to a Google Cloud IAM “BigQuery Viewer” role, the analyst can activate this permission through PIM and perform their tasks. Once done, their access automatically expires.
Creation, Configuration, and Management in Microsoft Entra ID Portal
Step 1: Creating and Configuring Roles in Microsoft Entra ID
- Access the Entra ID Portal:
- Go to https://entra.microsoft.com and navigate to Roles and administrators.
- Create a Custom Role (if needed):
- If a predefined role doesn’t suit your needs, select + New custom role.
- Define the role name, description, and specific permissions. For example, you might create a “Multi-Cloud Admin” role with access to AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure resources.
- Assign Roles to Users or Groups:
- Go to Users and Groups in Entra ID, select a user or group, and assign them the predefined or custom roles you’ve created.
- Enable Privileged Identity Management (PIM):
- Under PIM > Roles, configure any sensitive roles (e.g., “Global Admin”) as eligible to ensure that users only activate roles when needed.
Step 2: Configuring External Identity Integration
- Set Up SSO for AWS and Google Cloud:
- For each provider (AWS and Google Cloud), set up SAML-based SSO under External Identities in Entra ID.
- Configure identity provider settings in AWS IAM and Google Cloud IAM to establish the SAML connection.
- Map Entra ID Roles to AWS and Google Cloud Roles:
- In each cloud provider’s IAM settings, create roles with permissions and link them to corresponding Entra ID groups.
- Test Access Permissions:
- Ensure that users in Entra ID can successfully access AWS or Google Cloud based on their Entra ID group memberships.
Step 3: Managing Access in Entra ID
- Monitoring Activity:
- Use Audit Logs in Entra ID to track role activations, permission changes, and access to cloud resources.
- Cross-reference Entra ID logs with AWS CloudTrail or Google Cloud audit logs for thorough access auditing.
- Managing Role Requests with PIM:
- Under PIM, configure alerting for role activation, requiring users to justify access requests for roles like “Multi-Cloud Admin.”
- Periodic Access Reviews:
- Set up Access Reviews in Entra ID to regularly audit access levels to AWS and Google Cloud. Review results help you enforce least privilege by removing users who no longer need specific permissions.
Licensing for Microsoft Entra ID Management Permissions
The features and functionalities available in Microsoft Entra ID vary based on the chosen licensing model:
- Microsoft Entra ID Free:
- Basic user and group management with limited security features.
- Suitable for small organizations without complex multi-cloud requirements.
- Microsoft Entra ID Premium P1:
- Includes Conditional Access
, multi-factor authentication, and device-based access management.
- Provides basic identity governance features like dynamic groups and basic reporting.
- Suitable for medium to large organizations with multi-cloud environments.
- Microsoft Entra ID Premium P2:
- Advanced identity protection features like Privileged Identity Management (PIM) and Identity Protection.
- Enables access reviews, just-in-time access, and enhanced monitoring for complex environments.
- Ideal for large organizations with rigorous compliance and security needs, such as multi-cloud environments with extensive access governance.
Note: Microsoft 365 E5 includes Entra ID Premium P2, providing advanced features across Microsoft’s security and compliance solutions.
Summary
The Microsoft Entra ID Management Permissions enable comprehensive, centralized identity and access management for multi-cloud environments. By using Microsoft Entra ID, organizations can set and enforce access policies across Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud, applying principles like least privilege and just-in-time access.
Key features include:
- Custom Roles and RBAC for tailored permissions across various cloud environments.
- Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for managing sensitive roles with temporary, approval-based access.
- External Identity Integrations with AWS and Google Cloud for seamless SSO and role mapping.
Microsoft Entra ID helps organizations efficiently govern identities, manage permissions across cloud environments, and implement robust security policies. With the right licensing model, it offers flexibility and scalability to meet complex multi-cloud identity management needs.
