API-driven inbound provisioning in Microsoft Entra ID

What is it?

In the complex landscape of identity management, Microsoft are leading the charge with Entra ID and a new feature called “API-driven inbound provisioning”. The recently released Azure feature allows organisations to sync identity data from any system of record to Microsoft Entra ID and then leverage inbound provisioning to create on-premises AD identities without the need to provision into AD as a source of truth directory.

Currently in public preview, it allows businesses to use an automation tool of their choice to send identity data to Microsoft Entra ID using a simple and standardised SCIM-based API interface which is consumed by Azure AD to perform identity provisioning, de-provisioning and attribute updates.

The Microsoft Entra provisioning service processes the data according to the scoping rules, attribute mappings, and transformation functions that you configure in the Microsoft Entra admin center. You can also use Lifecycle Workflows to automate joiner-mover-leaver business processes based on the identity data.

API-driven inbound provisioning enables several scenarios, including:

• Importing HR data extracts from flat files, CSV files, or SQL staging tables using PowerShell scripts or Azure Logic Apps.
• Building direct integration with HR apps or student information systems that can send data to Microsoft Entra ID as soon as a transaction is complete or as end-of-day bulk update.
• Creation of custom HR connectors to meet different integration requirements around data flow from systems of record to Microsoft Entra ID.

How can my business benefit from it?

Many organisations today are looking for ways to achieve their business cloud strategies by moving away from legacy on-premises identity lifecycle management (ILM) solutions. Legacy ILM solutions are often complex, costly and inflexible. They can also hinder the adoption of cloud-based applications and services. Moreover, they can expose the organisation to security risks, as they rely on outdated authentication methods and lack advanced protection capabilities.

Microsoft Entra ID is a modern identity solution that can help businesses transition from legacy ILM to a modern cloud-based identity and access management (IAM) model. It provides a single identity system for all your cloud and on-premises apps, enabling your business to streamline and secure access to resources with features such as:

• Passwordless authentication: This feature allows you to eliminate passwords and replace them with more secure and convenient authentication methods, such as Windows Hello, Microsoft Authenticator app, FIDO2 security keys, or SMS and email one-time passcodes. Passwordless authentication reduces the risk of phishing, credential theft, and password spray attacks, and improves the user experience and productivity.
• Conditional Access: This feature allows you to enforce granular and adaptive access policies based on the context of the user, device, app, location, network, and risk level. You can use Conditional Access to implement a zero trust approach to security, and ensure that only the right users have the right access to the right resources at the right time.
• Identity Protection: This feature allows you to detect and respond to identity-based threats using machine learning and behavioural analytics. You can use Identity Protection to monitor and protect your user accounts, privileged accounts, and guest accounts from compromised credentials, malicious sign-ins, and risky actions. You can also use Identity Protection to automate remediation actions, such as blocking access, requiring multi-factor authentication, or resetting passwords.

What does it all mean?

Microsoft are fast becoming a leader in the identity lifecycle management (ILM) space. Rapid feature development and release into the ecosystem mean that businesses leveraging Microsoft Entra ID can stay at the forefront of technology and significantly simplify identity management by leveraging the raft of capabilities within the ecosystem.

In addition to the many compelling reasons to leverage Entra ID as a standalone product, it also has tight integration with the Microsoft 365 suite of applications and services as a turnkey solution, ready for businesses to consume.

I don’t understand all of the tech jargon, explain it to me in a diagram!

Check out this diagram which depicts the “API-driven inbound provisioning” workflow at a high level.