Modernizing IAM with Entra ID
🗓️ Published: June 30, 2025
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✍️ Author: Ajaz Ahmed
Explore how I implemented Access Packages, JIT access, and automated reviews to reduce manual overhead by 80%.
The Challenge
Our IAM approach previously relied on manual onboarding, inconsistent access policies for external users, and repetitive access requests that drained both productivity and security assurance. Audit-readiness was a challenge due to unclear access ownership and a lack of automation.
The Solution: Entra ID in Action
1. Access Packages for Role-Based Access
Using Entra's Entitlement Management, I created Access Packages mapped to job roles. These packages handled group membership, resource permissions, and lifecycle expiration. Users could request access via self-service portals with manager approvals, improving agility and reducing IT dependency.
2. Just-in-Time (JIT) Access via PIM
With Privileged Identity Management, we moved from persistent access to JIT elevation. Roles like Global Administrator were only activated when needed, with MFA, justification, and approval workflows in place. Every action was audited, improving both visibility and compliance.
3. Automated Access Reviews
Recurring access reviews were automated for high-risk roles and guest users. Entra ID routed reviews to the right owners and took remediation actions based on responses. This helped us maintain least privilege and reduced the manual review burden by 80%.
Outcomes
- Reduced manual IAM operations by 80%
- Strengthened security posture with JIT and access expiration
- Improved end-user experience via self-service and automation
- Enhanced audit readiness with clear access trails
💡 Final Thoughts
Entra ID has helped us redefine IAM from a reactive, manual process into a proactive, automated framework. Whether you're just starting or modernizing an existing stack, leveraging features like Access Packages, PIM, and access reviews can help you align with Zero Trust principles while delivering real operational gains.
