Entra.Chat

Merill Fernando

Entra Chat is a weekly podcast hosted by Merill Fernando and delivers practical insights for Microsoft administrators and security professionals through conversations with identity experts who've been in the trenches. Episodes feature seasoned Entra practitioners sharing real-world deployment experiences and Microsoft Entra team members who build the features you use daily. Get the inside track on best practices, implementation strategies, and upcoming capabilities directly from those who design and deploy Microsoft identity solutions. Join us for actionable takeaways you can apply immediately in your Microsoft 365, Azure, and Entra environments. --- Entra.Chat, its content and opinions are my (Merill Fernando) own and do not reflect the views of my employer (Microsoft). All postings are provided “AS IS” with no warranties and is not supported by the author. All trademarks and copyrights belong to their owners and are used for identification only. entra.news

  1. 14 HR AGO

    Microsoft Is Auto-Enabling Passkeys in March 2026

    March 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most important months for Microsoft Entra ID administrators in recent memory. Microsoft is automatically enabling passkey profiles in Entra ID, and if you don’t configure them yourself, your tenant will be migrated with default settings. In this episode of Entra Chat, I sat down with Microsoft Security MVPs Daniel Bradley and Ewelina Paskowska to break down what this really means for Microsoft 365 administrators. But passkeys aren’t the only story this month. 1️⃣ Passkey Profiles Are Becoming the Default Starting March 2026: * Passkey profiles will be auto-enabled * Tenants that haven’t configured profiles will be migrated * Registration campaigns will shift from Authenticator-first to passkey-first This is a major shift toward phishing-resistant authentication. You’ll now be able to: * Separate hardware-backed vs synced passkeys * Apply granular group-based controls * Enforce stronger authentication for privileged users 2️⃣ Source of Authority Conversion Is Finally GA For years, admins used messy delete-and-restore hacks to convert synced users to cloud-only. Now it’s officially supported. You can convert individual users from on-premises authority to cloud-managed — without breaking hybrid entirely. Why this matters: * Easier M&A transitions * Full access to Entra ID Governance features * Cleaner lifecycle management * Reduced dependency on legacy infrastructure For hybrid environments moving toward cloud-first identity, this is huge. Sponsored by: If you are a systems administrator managing endpoints every day, you’ve probably postponed patching at least once — not because you forgot… But because you didn’t feel like gambling with uptime. Meanwhile, the backlog grows, vulnerabilities pile up, and patching stays stuck in manual mode. Action1  fixes that. Action1 is a cloud-native patch management platform for Windows, macOS, Linux, and third-party apps — all from one place, no VPN needed. Curious how easy it is to start? You can use it on your first 200 endpoints, for free, forever, with no functional limits. It’s not a disguised free trial. No credit card required, no hidden limits, no tricks. All you have to do is visit on.action1.com/entrachat and get started today. So, if you’re looking to automate patching at scale and get weeks— even months—of your time back, go to on.action1.com/entrachat and sign up for patching—that—just—works. 3️⃣ App Registration Deactivation (A Quietly Powerful Feature) Microsoft added the ability to deactivate app registrations. Instead of deleting an app (and losing configuration), you can now: * Immediately stop token issuance * Preserve metadata and permissions * Investigate safely * Re-enable without rebuilding For incident response scenarios — especially in multi-tenant or MSP environments — this is a big step forward. 4️⃣ Conditional Access Behavior Changes There’s also a change impacting tenants with Conditional Access policies targeting “All resources” but excluding certain apps. Previously, certain minimal-scope apps could bypass enforcement under specific conditions. That loophole is closing. Admins should: * Review message center notifications * Audit legacy apps * Validate MFA handling before rollout As always with identity changes: being proactive is critical. 5️⃣ Sync Security Hardening (Hard Match Protection) Microsoft is adding additional validation to protect against malicious hard matching scenarios in hybrid environments. This reduces the risk of identity takeover via manipulated on-prem objects. It’s automatic — but important to understand if you manage hybrid identity or MSP transitions. Watch the full episode for the deep technical breakdown and real-world implications. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player or watch on YouTube 👇 About Daniel Bradley Daniel is a Senior Solution Architect for CDW and Microsoft MVP in Identity & Graph API. He is a avid writer who enjoys investigating new features and building practical tools to share with the community through his blog. He also is one of the moderators for the r/entra subreddit. * Website: https://ourcloudnetwork.com * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielbradley2 * X: https://x.com/DanielatOCN About Ewelina Paczkowska Ewelina is a Solution Architect at Theatscape and a Microsoft Security MVP. She is a content creator and speaker who enjoys breaking down complex solutions into clear, practical guidance. Ewelina is also an organiser of the Microsoft 365 Security & Compliance user group and the creator behind Welka’s World, where she shares insights and real-world knowledge around Microsoft security and compliance. * Website: https://welkasworld.com * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ewelinapaczkowska * X: https://x.com/WelkasWorld 🔗 Related Links * MC1221452 - Microsoft Entra ID: Auto-enabling passkey profiles - https://mc.merill.net/message/MC1221452 * Ability to convert Source of Authority of synced on-prem AD users to cloud users is now available - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/hybrid/user-source-of-authority-overview * Service Principal creation audit logs for alerting & monitoring - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/monitoring-health/understand-service-principal-creation-with-new-audit-log-properties * Deactivate an app registration - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/enterprise-apps/deactivate-app-registration * MC1223829 - Upcoming Conditional Access change: Improved enforcement for policies with resource exclusions - https://mc.merill.net/message/MC1223829 * Microsoft Entra Connect security hardening to prevent user account takeover - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/fundamentals/whats-new#general-availability---microsoft-entra-connect-security-hardening-to-prevent-user-account-takeover 📗 Chapters 06:16 Converting Source of Authority to Cloud 15:37 Auto-Enabling Passkey Profiles 24:33 Deactivating App Registrations 31:56 Conditional Access for Excluded Apps 38:48 Sync Jacking Protection 41:45 Unified Tenant Configuration Management 46:31 Service Principal Creation Logs Podcast Apps 🎙️ Entra.Chat → https://entra.chat 🎧 Apple Podcast → https://entra.chat/apple 📺 YouTube → https://entra.chat/youtube 📺 Spotify → https://entra.chat/spotify 🎧 Overcast → https://entra.chat/overcast 🎧 Pocketcast → https://entra.chat/pocketcast 🎧 Others → https://entra.chat/rss Merill’s socials 📺 YouTube → youtube.com/@merillx 👔 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/merill 🐤 Twitter → twitter.com/merill 🕺 TikTok → tiktok.com/@merillf 🦋 Bluesky → bsky.app/profile/merill.net 🐘 Mastodon → infosec.exchange/@merill 🧵 Threads → threads.net/@merillf 🤖 GitHub → github.com/merill Get full access to Entra.News - Your weekly dose of Microsoft Entra at entra.news/subscribe

    52 min

  2. 7 FEB

    Automating Governance: The New Standard for Microsoft 365 Tenant Snapshots and Remediation

    Governance in Microsoft 365 has always been hard. Not because the tools didn’t exist, but because scale, complexity, and change made consistency almost impossible. As tenants grow, so do the challenges of configuration drift, manual admin changes, and inconsistent environments. For years, admins have relied on scripts, tribal knowledge, and community-led solutions like Microsoft 365 Desired State Configuration (M365DSC) to manage this “policy sprawl”. While M365DSC was a groundbreaking open-source effort, it often faced a steep learning curve and lacked official Microsoft support. Until now. In this episode of Entra Chat, we sit down with Nik Charlebois, Principal Program Manager at Microsoft and the original visionary behind M365DSC. Nik now leads the charge for one of the most significant platform shifts in Microsoft 365 administration: Tenant Configuration Management (TCM). Shadow IT and SaaS sprawl are outpacing IT teams It can feel impossible to tackle these app governance challenges:📦 Entra ID isn’t secure by default💥 SaaS adoption & sprawl isn’t slowing down⌨️ Citizen Development keeps rising (hello, Copilot Studio!)🗑️ Vendors often don’t remove apps after uninstall🔃 Offboarding is inconsistent or doesn’t happen at all🥔 App governance is passed around like a hot potato ENow AppGov Score shines a light on lurking risks, providing a free App Governance Benchmark Report for your Entra tenant. Reclaim control and protect against breach & disruptions. Free upgrade to Standard Tier for 7 days once you get your score. What is Tenant Configuration Management? TCM is Microsoft’s official “Config as Code” platform for M365. Built directly on top of the Microsoft Graph, it represents a new operating model for how tenants are governed. Key features discussed in this episode include: * Official Support: Moving beyond best-effort community maintenance to a fully supported Microsoft solution. * Simplified Experience: Transitioning from cryptic MOF files to human-readable JSON templates, significantly lowering the learning curve for admins. * Snapshot & Drift Detection: The ability to capture “snapshots” of your tenant’s current state and monitor for unauthorized changes. * Automatic Remediation: Automatically reverting detected configuration drifts back to your defined “gold standard” state. * Broad Coverage: Support for core workloads including Entra ID, Exchange, Intune, Purview, Defender, and Teams with more to come. This isn’t just a new feature; it’s the evolution of tenant governance into a native, API-driven platform. Tune in to hear Nik explain how TCM is bridging the gap between community innovation and official enterprise-grade management. Listen to the full episode now to learn how to start your journey with the TCM public preview! Subscribe with your favorite podcast player or watch on YouTube 👇 About Nik Charlebois Nik is a Principal Program Manager at Microsoft leading the Microsoft 365 configuration-as-code efforts. Ex-MVP, speaker, blogger, and author, he leads the configuration-as-code efforts for Microsoft 365. LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/nikcharlebois 🔗 Related Links * Nik’s Blog - https://nikcharlebois.com/ * Overview of the unified tenant configuration management APIs - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/unified-tenant-configuration-management-concept-overview 📗 Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:44 Origin of M365DSC 07:51 Introducing Tenant Config Management 09:24 Supported Workloads 11:15 Control Plane vs Data Plane 14:26 DSC vs TCM Architecture 15:22 Snapshots and Monitors 18:56 Managing Drift Across Environments 28:03 Licensing and Limits 32:48 Authentication and Permissions 37:53 Getting Started Podcast Apps 🎙️ Entra.Chat - https://entra.chat 🎧 Apple Podcast → https://entra.chat/apple 📺 YouTube → https://entra.chat/youtube 📺 Spotify → https://entra.chat/spotify 🎧 Overcast → https://entra.chat/overcast 🎧 Pocketcast → https://entra.chat/pocketcast 🎧 Others → https://entra.chat/rss Merill’s socials 📺 YouTube → youtube.com/@merillx 👔 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/merill 🐤 Twitter → twitter.com/merill 🕺 TikTok → tiktok.com/@merillf 🦋 Bluesky → bsky.app/profile/merill.net 🐘 Mastodon → infosec.exchange/@merill 🧵 Threads → threads.net/@merillf 🤖 GitHub → github.com/merill Get full access to Entra.News - Your weekly dose of Microsoft Entra at entra.news/subscribe

    47 min

  3. 31 JAN

    Mastering Microsoft Entra ID: Real-World Passkey Deployment Tips

    In this episode, we sit down with Eric Woodruff, Chief Identity Architect at Semperis, to discuss the reality of achieving a 100% phishing-resistant environment. Over the course of just three months, Eric led a 600-person organization through a complete rollout of passkeys, Windows Hello for Business, and Platform SSO. This conversation moves beyond the technical “knobs and dials” to explore why organizational change management and C-suite buy-in are the true foundations of a successful identity modernization project. Eric shares the creative strategies his team used to drive adoption, including a custom self-enrollment portal built with Power Platform that allowed early adopters to “dogfood” the technology. We dive into the “voluntold” phase of the rollout, where voluntary participation transitioned into mandatory policy, and how they used Power BI to track progress and identify “stragglers”. The episode also provides a transparent look at the technical hurdles encountered, from legacy application exclusions to troubleshooting older Android devices and niche browsers. Looking ahead, we discuss the critical importance of protecting against “downgrade attacks,” where sophisticated phishing attempts try to bypass modern security by tricking users into traditional password entries. Eric emphasizes that the final mile of this journey—removing passwords entirely—is as much about supporting your helpdesk and documenting processes as it is about the technology itself. Whether you are managing a cloud-only tenant or navigating complex hybrid scenarios, this episode offers a practical roadmap for the future of enterprise identity. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player or watch on YouTube 👇 About Eric Woodruff Throughout his 25-year career in the IT field, Eric has sought out and held a diverse range of roles. Currently the Chief Identity Architect for Semperis; Eric previously was a member of the Security Research and Product teams. Prior to Semperis, Eric worked as a Security and Identity Architect at Microsoft partners, spent time working at Microsoft as a Sr. Premier Field Engineer, and spent almost 15 years in the public sector, with 10 of them as a technical manager. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericonidentity/ 🔗 Related Links * Phishing-resistant passwordless authentication deployment in Microsoft Entra ID * Semperis Research Uncovers Ongoing Risk from nOAuth Vulnerability in Microsoft Entra ID, Affecting Enterprise SaaS Applications * ConsentFix: Analysing a browser-native ClickFix-style attack that hijacks OAuth consent grants * Meet Silver SAML: Golden SAML in the Cloud * Manage tokens for Zero Trust 📗 Chapters 02:50 Rolling Out Passkeys 06:47 Application and Device Issues 09:49 Identifying Password Users 12:15 Lessons Learned for 2026 15:14 Understanding Downgrade Attacks 20:10 The NoAuth Vulnerability 27:08 Silver SAML Explained 32:56 Managing Service Principals 38:15 The Consent Fix Attack Podcast Apps 🎙️ Entra.Chat - https://entra.chat 🎧 Apple Podcast → https://entra.chat/apple 📺 YouTube → https://entra.chat/youtube 📺 Spotify → https://entra.chat/spotify 🎧 Overcast → https://entra.chat/overcast 🎧 Pocketcast → https://entra.chat/pocketcast 🎧 Others → https://entra.chat/rss Merill’s socials 📺 YouTube → youtube.com/@merillx 👔 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/merill 🐤 Twitter → twitter.com/merill 🕺 TikTok → tiktok.com/@merillf 🦋 Bluesky → bsky.app/profile/merill.net 🐘 Mastodon → infosec.exchange/@merill 🧵 Threads → threads.net/@merillf 🤖 GitHub → github.com/merill Get full access to Entra.News - Your weekly dose of Microsoft Entra at entra.news/subscribe

    46 min

  4. 16 JAN

    Entra Agent Registry: The Corporate Yellow Pages for AI Agents

    Service principals worked for static apps, but AI agents are different—they make autonomous decisions using LLMs and require a new approach to identity and security. In this episode of Entra Chat, Padma Parthasarathy, Product Manager for Microsoft Entra Agent Registry, explains why Microsoft created Entra Agent Registry and Agent ID, and how they provide identity, governance, and security for AI agents. We cover agent collections, discovery policies, integration with identity protection, and how custom security attributes automate AI agent governance at scale. You’ll also see how agents discover other agents by skills, how global and quarantine collections control visibility, and why these capabilities are critical for enterprise AI security. This is a must-watch (listen) for identity, security, and platform architects preparing for AI at scale. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player or watch on YouTube 👇 About Padma With close to 20 years of experience in Identity, Security, and enterprise platforms, Padma Prasad Parthasarathy currently leads product and architecture for Security for AI and Agent Identity at Microsoft. He has built and scaled IAM and Zero Trust solutions across some of the world’s largest organizations, bridging deep technical expertise with real-world product impact. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/padmaprasadp/ 🔗 Related Links * What is the Microsoft Entra Agent Registry? - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/agent-id/identity-platform/what-is-agent-registry 📗 Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:14 The Rise of Digital Workers 07:13 Static Apps vs. AI Agents 12:43 Introducing Entra Agent Registry 17:28 Agent ID vs. Registry 24:08 How Agents Collaborate 30:29 Emerging Agent Standards 35:24 Understanding Agent Collections 42:05 Managing Risky Agents 46:01 Automating Agent Security Podcast Apps 🎙️ Entra.Chat - https://entra.chat 🎧 Apple Podcast → https://entra.chat/apple 📺 YouTube → https://entra.chat/youtube 📺 Spotify → https://entra.chat/spotify 🎧 Overcast → https://entra.chat/overcast 🎧 Pocketcast → https://entra.chat/pocketcast 🎧 Others → https://entra.chat/rss Merill’s socials 📺 YouTube → youtube.com/@merillx 👔 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/merill 🐤 Twitter → twitter.com/merill 🕺 TikTok → tiktok.com/@merillf 🦋 Bluesky → bsky.app/profile/merill.net 🐘 Mastodon → infosec.exchange/@merill 🧵 Threads → threads.net/@merillf 🤖 GitHub → github.com/merill Get full access to Entra.News - Your weekly dose of Microsoft Entra at entra.news/subscribe

    51 min

  5. 10 JAN

    Global Secure Access Explained: Real-World Rollouts, Mistakes, and Best Practices

    In this episode, I’m joined by Christopher Brumm from glueckkanja to discuss real-world experiences deploying Microsoft Entra Global Secure Access (GSA).We go beyond the docs to talk about actual customer rollouts, scaling challenges, retiring VPNs, and what teams often underestimate when moving to Zero Trust Network Access. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player or watch on YouTube 👇 About Christopher Brumm Christopher Brumm is a Cyber Security Architect at glueckkanja AG in Germany. With more than 15 years of experience in IT security, Chris brings deep expertise and hands-on knowledge across the Microsoft Security portfolio and beyond. His career journey spans from network and data center technologies to Active Directory and Entra ID, with a strong focus on identity security. As a Microsoft MVP and CISSP, Chris is an active voice in the security community, regularly speaking at events and sharing insights through blog posts on identity and security topics. His latest passion is Global Secure Access, where identity, security, and networking converge to deliver a holistic Zero Trust approach. * LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherbrumm 🔗 Related Links * Blog - https://chris-brumm.com 📗 Chapters 04:46 Proof of Concept vs Pilot 12:19 Deployment Strategy: The Blue Pill Approach 16:03 Solving Performance with Intelligent Local Access 17:49 Navigating Networking Challenges 25:14 The Hardest Part: Shutting Down Legacy VPNs 27:38 Handling External Access and BYOD 32:15 B2B Features and Tenant Switching 46:05 Why You Need the Microsoft 365 Profile 50:49 The Ultimate Admin Workstation Security Podcast Apps 🎙️ Entra.Chat - https://entra.chat 🎧 Apple Podcast → https://entra.chat/apple 📺 YouTube → https://entra.chat/youtube 📺 Spotify → https://entra.chat/spotify 🎧 Overcast → https://entra.chat/overcast 🎧 Pocketcast → https://entra.chat/pocketcast 🎧 Others → https://entra.chat/rss Merill’s socials 📺 YouTube → youtube.com/@merillx 👔 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/merill 🐤 Twitter → twitter.com/merill 🕺 TikTok → tiktok.com/@merillf 🦋 Bluesky → bsky.app/profile/merill.net 🐘 Mastodon → infosec.exchange/@merill 🧵 Threads → threads.net/@merillf 🤖 GitHub → github.com/merill Get full access to Entra.News - Your weekly dose of Microsoft Entra at entra.news/subscribe

    55 min

  6. 4 JAN

    Cybersecurity First Principles: Lessons from a 20-Year Microsoft MVP

    Nicolas Blank, Founder of NBConsult and a 20-year Microsoft MVP, joins the show to dismantle the complexity around Zero Trust.Most Zero Trust conversations fail because they start with technology. Nicolas flips the script by using powerful everyday analogies (locking your car, protecting your newborn) to land the three core principles with executives. Essential watching for anyone implementing Zero Trust, securing Microsoft 365/Entra ID, or needing leadership support in 2026. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player or watch on YouTube 👇 About Nicholas Blank Nicolas is the founder, as well an architect, author and speaker focused on Office 365 and Azure at NBConsult in South Africa, England and Hong Kong. Nicolas is a Microsoft Certified Master, Dual Microsoft MVP - Microsoft Office Apps and Services, Microsoft Azure since March 2007.​ Nicolas has co-authored the Microsoft Zero Trust Adoption Framework https://aka.ms/zero-trust-adopt, published by Microsoft; “Microsoft Exchange Server 2013: Design, Deploy and Deliver an Enterprise Messaging Solution”, published by Sybex and available on Amazon; as well as authoring “Azure Site Recovery: IaaS Migration and Disaster Recovery”, published by Pluralsight. Nicolas can be found on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolasblank/ Or via his Company Website:​ https://www.nbconsult.co 🔗 Related Links * Microsoft Zero Trust Workshop - https://aka.ms/ztworkshop * Zero Trust Adoption Framework - https://aka.ms/zero-trust-adopt * Microsoft Digital Defense Report - http://aka.ms/mddr 📗 Chapters 01:52 The Why Behind Zero Trust 04:17 The Baby Analogy: Explaining Least Privilege 07:41 Debunking Security Myths 11:43 Assume Breach vs Being Secure 15:28 Getting Stakeholder Buy-in 20:24 The Immune System Approach 21:45 Ruining Attacker ROI 25:50 The 96% Statistic You Can’t Ignore 33:24 Where to Start: Practical Tools 37:54 The Zero Trust Adoption Framework Podcast Apps 🎙️ Entra.Chat - https://entra.chat 🎧 Apple Podcast → https://entra.chat/apple 📺 YouTube → https://entra.chat/youtube 📺 Spotify → https://entra.chat/spotify 🎧 Overcast → https://entra.chat/overcast 🎧 Pocketcast → https://entra.chat/pocketcast 🎧 Others → https://entra.chat/rss Merill’s socials 📺 YouTube → youtube.com/@merillx 👔 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/merill 🐤 Twitter → twitter.com/merill 🕺 TikTok → tiktok.com/@merillf 🦋 Bluesky → bsky.app/profile/merill.net 🐘 Mastodon → infosec.exchange/@merill 🧵 Threads → threads.net/@merillf 🤖 GitHub → github.com/merill Get full access to Entra.News - Your weekly dose of Microsoft Entra at entra.news/subscribe

    44 min

  7. 28/12/2025

    Identity-Centric Network Security: Entra Global Secure Access Architecture & Benefits

    Is the traditional VPN dead? In the latest episode of Entra Chat, we dive deep Microsoft Entra Global Secure Access (GSA).Joined by Karen Simmel from the GSA product team and Thomas from the Entra CXE Architecture team, we explore how Microsoft is bridging the gap between identity and network security.The Shift from VPN to SASEThe "good old days" of spinning up firewalls and DMZs are fading. Traditional controls are often too coarse-grained and lack identity awareness. As Thomas explains, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for change when traditional VPN gateways physically couldn't handle the load of remote workforces.This has paved the way for SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) and SSE (Security Service Edge), which move security controls to the cloud at hyperscale.What is Global Secure Access?The team breaks down the confusing terminology to help you understand the core products:* Microsoft Entra Private Access: This is the ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) solution, replacing the classic VPN for accessing on-prem and private resources.* Microsoft Entra Internet Access: This acts as a Secure Web Gateway (SWG), protecting outbound access to SaaS apps and the internet with URL filtering and DLP controls.* Microsoft Entra Suite: A bundle that combines these network capabilities with Verified ID, Identity Governance, and Identity Protection for a comprehensive solution.The "Secret Sauce"Why choose Microsoft's solution? The differentiator is that GSA isn't just integrated with the Identity Provider (IdP)—it *is* part of the IdP.This deep integration allows for near real-time security. For example, if a user's device is compromised, the SOC team can revoke the token, and Entra can immediately terminate the network tunnel or prompt for step-up authentication. It brings the power of Conditional Access directly to network traffic.Better Performance, Better PrivacyContrary to the belief that security slows things down, GSA often improves performance. By leveraging Microsoft's massive global private fiber network, traffic is intelligently routed to the closest point of presence rather than being backhauled to a headquarters.From a privacy standpoint, admins have granular control. You decide what traffic is tunneled and inspected, ensuring you can meet compliance requirements (like those in the EU) without over-monitoring employee activity.Ready to Deploy?Deployment doesn't have to take months. Some customers are getting up and running with a Proof of Concept (PoC) in a single day. Whether you use the client-based agent or need client-less access for contractors, Microsoft provides detailed deployment plans to guide you. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player or watch on YouTube 👇 About the Guests Keren SemelKeren leads visibility and data insights for the Global Secure Access product group. Based in Tel Aviv, she brings deep experience from the SASE/SSE market to Microsoft. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keren-semel-4876383/Thomas Detzner Thomas is a lead architect in the Entra CxE team, specializing in Global Secure Access and Zero Trust. A former network engineer based near Munich, he helps organizations bridge the gap between traditional networking and modern identity security. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasdetzner/ 🔗 Related Links * Microsoft Global Secure Access Documentation - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/global-secure-access/ * Zero Trust Workshop - https://aka.ms/ztworkshop 📗 Chapters 00:00 Intro 05:17 The Limitations of Legacy VPNs 12:49 SASE vs SSE vs ZTNA Explained 21:26 The Identity-Network Secret Sauce 29:42 Unpacking Entra Suite 33:20 Microsoft’s Global Network Architecture 38:19 Client and Clientless Connectivity 41:26 Deployment and POC Process 45:31 Migrating from Zscaler to GSA 47:15 Privacy and Compliance Controls Podcast Apps 🎧 Apple Podcast → https://entra.chat/apple 📺 YouTube → https://entra.chat/youtube 📺 Spotify → https://entra.chat/spotify 🎧 Overcast → https://entra.chat/overcast 🎧 Pocketcast → https://entra.chat/pocketcast 🎧 Others → https://entra.chat/rss Merill’s socials 📺 YouTube → youtube.com/@merillx 👔 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/merill 🐤 Twitter → twitter.com/merill 🕺 TikTok → tiktok.com/@merillf 🦋 Bluesky → bsky.app/profile/merill.net 🐘 Mastodon → infosec.exchange/@merill 🧵 Threads → threads.net/@merillf 🤖 GitHub → github.com/merill Get full access to Entra.News - Your weekly dose of Microsoft Entra at entra.news/subscribe

    57 min

  8. 20/12/2025

    How to Kill SMS MFA in Entra ID Without a Single Script

    Louis Mastelinck, a Microsoft MVP and Security Consultant at Proximus NXT, joins me to discuss the critical journey of moving organizations away from SMS-based MFA. We deep dive into a practical strategy for migrating users to the Authenticator app, starting with “stopping the bleed” and managing user groups. We also explore a significant security blind spot regarding Email OTP for SharePoint guest access and how to resolve it. Finally, we debate the future of authentication with device-bound versus synced Passkeys and how to defend against downgrade attacks. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player or watch on YouTube 👇 About Louis Mastelinck Louis Mastelinck is a Security Consultant at Proximus NXT and a recognized Microsoft MVP based in Belgium. Specializing in Incident Response and the full Microsoft Security stack (including MDE, MDO, Sentinel, and Identity Management), he is dedicated to neutralizing threats and securing digital environments. A GCFA-certified professional, Louis is known for his deep technical expertise in areas like Conditional Access and authentication methods. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/louismastelinck/ 🔗 Related Links * Microsoft: Hang up on SMS - http://aka.ms/hangup 📗 Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:52 Props and PIM 01:41 The Dangers of SMS MFA 04:51 Strategy: Stopping the Bleed 10:06 Migrating Existing Users off SMS 19:20 Impact on Self-Service Password Reset 22:39 The SharePoint Email OTP Security Gap 25:13 Enabling Entra B2B Integration 34:28 Passkeys: Device-Bound vs Synced 44:40 Defending Against MFA Downgrade Attacks Podcast Apps 🎙️ Entra.Chat - https://entra.chat 🎧 Apple Podcast → https://entra.chat/apple 📺 YouTube → https://entra.chat/youtube 📺 Spotify → https://entra.chat/spotify 🎧 Overcast → https://entra.chat/overcast 🎧 Pocketcast → https://entra.chat/pocketcast 🎧 Others → https://entra.chat/rss Merill’s socials 📺 YouTube → youtube.com/@merillx 👔 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/merill 🐤 Twitter → twitter.com/merill 🕺 TikTok → tiktok.com/@merillf 🦋 Bluesky → bsky.app/profile/merill.net 🐘 Mastodon → infosec.exchange/@merill 🧵 Threads → threads.net/@merillf 🤖 GitHub → github.com/merill Get full access to Entra.News - Your weekly dose of Microsoft Entra at entra.news/subscribe

    52 min
See All (48)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Entra Chat is a weekly podcast hosted by Merill Fernando and delivers practical insights for Microsoft administrators and security professionals through conversations with identity experts who've been in the trenches. Episodes feature seasoned Entra practitioners sharing real-world deployment experiences and Microsoft Entra team members who build the features you use daily. Get the inside track on best practices, implementation strategies, and upcoming capabilities directly from those who design and deploy Microsoft identity solutions. Join us for actionable takeaways you can apply immediately in your Microsoft 365, Azure, and Entra environments. --- Entra.Chat, its content and opinions are my (Merill Fernando) own and do not reflect the views of my employer (Microsoft). All postings are provided “AS IS” with no warranties and is not supported by the author. All trademarks and copyrights belong to their owners and are used for identification only. entra.news

Information

  • Creator
    Merill Fernando
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Merill & Joshua Fernando
  • Show Website
    Entra.Chat

You Might Also Like