Microsoft Entra vs Azure AD – What Changed?

In July 2023, Microsoft announced that Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) would be renamed Microsoft Entra ID. The change created confusion among administrators who wondered whether this was a new product or simply a rebranding.

In this guide, we explain:

• The difference between Microsoft Entra ID and Azure AD
• What actually changed
• What stayed the same for administrators

Microsoft Entra vs Azure AD

Microsoft Entra ID is the new name for Azure Active Directory.

Microsoft renamed Azure AD to Microsoft Entra ID as part of the Microsoft Entra identity product family.

However:

• The core functionality remains the same
• Existing configurations continue to work
• Only the name and branding changed

Why Microsoft Renamed Azure AD

Microsoft introduced the Microsoft Entra product family to unify its identity and access management solutions.

The Entra family includes:

• Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD)
• Microsoft Entra Permissions Management
• Microsoft Entra Verified ID
• Microsoft Entra ID Governance

The goal was to create a single identity security platform.

What Changed After Azure AD Became Microsoft Entra ID

Area	Change
Product Name	Azure Active Directory → Microsoft Entra ID
Admin Portal	Azure AD portal renamed to Entra admin center
Branding	Updated across Microsoft documentation
Product Family	Now part of the Microsoft Entra identity platform

What Did NOT Change

Administrators will notice that most functionality remains unchanged.

Feature	Status
Users and Groups	No change
Conditional Access	No change
MFA	No change
Roles and Permissions	No change
APIs and PowerShell	No change

Your existing Azure AD tenant automatically became Microsoft Entra ID. No migration was required.

Azure AD Portal vs Entra Admin Center

Previously administrators used:

portal.azure.com

Now the dedicated identity portal is:

entra.microsoft.com

The Microsoft Entra Admin Center provides a focused interface for managing:

• Users
• Groups
• Roles
• Applications
• Authentication policies

Why the Change Matters for Administrators

Even though the functionality remains the same, administrators should be aware of the new terminology because:

• Microsoft documentation now uses Microsoft Entra ID
• Certification exams reference Entra terminology
• The Entra admin center is becoming the primary management portal

Common Questions About the Rename

• Is Azure AD being discontinued?
  No. Azure AD was renamed, not replaced.
• Do administrators need to migrate to Entra ID?
  No migration is required. Existing Azure AD tenants automatically became Microsoft Entra ID.
• Do PowerShell modules or APIs change?
  Most cmdlets, APIs, and integrations remain the same.

Conclusion

Microsoft Entra ID is simply the new name for Azure Active Directory. While the branding has changed, the core identity and access management capabilities remain the same, allowing administrators to continue managing users, applications, and security policies without disruption.