Harbor’s Guide: Protecting Entra ID

Entra ID: The Cornerstone of Your Digital Environment 

Recent conversations with customers have been around native tools, best practices and bundled products vs specific tools designed to backup and protect your Entra ID environment. In this blog post we are going to look at some of these points in more detail and hopefully share some of the learnings we have built from experience and working with our customers.  

Why Protecting Entra ID is Crucial 

Entra ID is essential to your organisation’s digital environment, acting as the gateway to your system. Without it, or if it is compromised, users will encounter significant challenges in accessing their accounts and systems, rendering the ability to recover from a cyber attack impossible. Therefore, securing Entra ID effectively is imperative. Despite its importance, many organisations do not fully understand Entra ID recovery or its vulnerability. Proper adoption and full deployment are essential to minimise risks. Additionally, securing Entra ID is cost-effective and easily accessible, as it can be accessed through a bundled format. 

The protection of Entra ID is critical due to its central role in managing user identities and access. Just like any other key component of Microsoft’s 365 ecosystem, the simplicity of Entra ID’s integration and usage is what makes it essential and a target for potential breaches. Protecting Entra ID is a shared responsibility; while Microsoft provides robust native tools, it doesn’t back up the environment and it’s up to individual organisations to ensure these tools are properly utilised and supplemented with additional security measures. For those seeking guidance on securing Entra ID, Harbor offers comprehensive support, guiding users through the entire process from start to finish. 

Native Tools vs. Individual Tools 

When securing Entra ID, organisations can choose between using native Microsoft tools or investing in third-party solutions like those from Druva. Native tools integrate seamlessly within the Microsoft ecosystem, offering ease of implementation and features like a 30-day recycle bin for item recovery. However, they might lack customisation and comprehensive protection against misconfigurations and deletions. Backup solutions remove the complexity from restoring a breached environment, effectively making restoration far easier and more granular. 

Druva’s solution offers advanced features, including automated data backup, ransomware protection, and detailed documentation of system states, enhancing overall security and recoverability. With Druva, everything is covered for you in one place. Ultimately, the choice depends on specific organisational needs and the desired level of customisation and security. For more details on these solutions, check Druva’s Entra ID worksheet and Microsoft Learn. 

We have seen some customers recently talk about individual tools from certain vendors that they are considering running in isolation to protect their EntraID Environment such as those from Quest. Whilst these tools are great, they have a very specific use case and come with a far higher cost point. This can be a challenge on its own as we talked about in our recent guide on protecting your data. 

On the other hand, backup tools, such as those recently launched by Druva, offer specialised features and capabilities tailored to protect Entra ID, whilst still providing excellent coverage across the traditional data protection landscape. These tools often provide enhanced security features, detailed analytics, and customisable settings that can address specific security concerns more effectively than generic tools. The other benefit to looking at a bundled tool from someone like Druva or Rubrik means your teams are likely already familiar with the dashboards and GUIs and will be better prepared in the case they need to recover something.

Framework Integration: Technology Specific or a Broader Technology Piece? 

When integrating a new security solution like Druva’s bolt-on, organisations must decide whether to tailor it specifically to their existing technology (e.g., as an addition to Druva’s existing infrastructure) or to adopt it as a broader technology piece that can integrate with various other systems. This decision will depend on the specific needs and existing setup of the organisation. 

Introducing Druva’s New Bolt-On Solution 

We’re excited to introduce Druva’s latest bolt-on solution, designed to strengthen the protection of Entra ID. This innovative addition seamlessly integrates with your existing security frameworks, enhancing your defences with extra layers of security and advanced features. To fully grasp how Druva can support your security needs, we encourage you to explore their detailed datasheets and technical documentation. 

Key Features and Specifications 

Here are the key features and specifications our customers find most compelling in Druva’s bolt-on solution: 

• Enhanced encryption and robust data protection measures 

• Advanced threat detection and response capabilities 

• Detailed monitoring and logging of activities 

• Customisable security policies and precise access controls 

Evaluation: Is It Any Good? 

Assessing the effectiveness of Druva’s Entra ID security solution involves evaluating its capability to address specific vulnerabilities and operational needs within an organisation. Key considerations include the comprehensiveness of its security features to ensure all critical aspects of protection are covered. Seamless integration with existing systems is essential for maintaining operational continuity and efficiency. The solution’s customisability and scalability are equally crucial, allowing organisations to adapt it to current and future security requirements effectively. 

Moreover, gathering feedback from both users and industry experts provides valuable insights into the solution’s real-world performance, reliability, and its ability to meet expectations in various scenarios. These factors collectively empower organisations to make informed decisions about adopting and integrating Druva’s Entra ID solution, ensuring robust digital security and safeguarding critical assets effectively. 

Conclusion 

Protecting Entra ID is essential for maintaining the security and functionality of your digital environment. While native tools provide a solid foundation, exploring specialised solutions like Druva’s bolt-on can offer enhanced protection tailored to your specific needs. By carefully evaluating these options and integrating them effectively, organisations can ensure robust security for their Entra ID and, consequently, their entire digital ecosystem. Although investing in individual solutions can offer a high level of protection, a balanced approach that leverages both native and specialised tools may be the most effective strategy.