
Microsoft Entra ID Setup
Configuration of Microsoft Entra ID, formerly Azure Active Directory, as the identity foundation for Microsoft 365, Azure and your other business apps. For organisations tightening sign-in security or connecting on-premise Active Directory to the cloud.
- MFA and conditional access in place
- One sign-in for business apps
- Admin roles kept to a minimum
Microsoft Entra ID setup configures the identity service behind Microsoft 365 and Azure. It covers user and group structure, synchronisation with on-premise Active Directory, multi-factor authentication, conditional access, single sign-on to other applications and privileged access controls, so people sign in once, securely, and access is granted and removed in a controlled way.
Microsoft Entra ID SetupMicrosoft Entra ID Setup: what it involves
Identity is now the main way into company systems, and stolen passwords are a common starting point for attacks. Yet many directories still have stale accounts, synchronisation errors with on-premise Active Directory, legacy sign-in methods left enabled and too many permanent global administrators. Each business app may also have its own password, so staff reuse them and leavers keep access to tools nobody remembered to check.
We review your current directory and design the target state. Where you run on-premise Active Directory, we set up Entra Connect Sync or Cloud Sync and fix synchronisation issues first. We then roll out MFA with modern methods, block legacy authentication and build conditional access policies based on user, device, location and, where licensed, risk. Business apps are connected through single sign-on, and admin roles move to just-in-time access with Privileged Identity Management where your licences allow.
What we fix first
- 1Accounts that have not signed in for months
- 2Users without MFA, especially administrators
- 3Legacy authentication protocols still allowed
- 4More permanent global administrators than the business needs
- 5Synchronisation errors between Active Directory and Entra ID
Our Microsoft Entra ID Setup scope
Identity, MFA, conditional access and single sign-on built on Entra ID

Entra Connect Sync or Cloud Sync linking on-premise Active Directory.
Authenticator app or passkeys, with legacy sign-in blocked.
Access rules based on user, device, location and sign-in risk.
Business apps connected so staff sign in once.
Just-in-time admin access with Privileged Identity Management.
Regular checks that users and guests still need their access.
What you receive, and what shapes the cost
What you receive
- An identity design covering users, groups, admin roles and naming
- Directory synchronisation from Active Directory where needed
- MFA and conditional access policies tested with real users
- Single sign-on for agreed SaaS applications
- Privileged access settings and an access review process
What affects the cost
- Number of users and whether on-premise Active Directory exists
- How many applications need single sign-on
- Licence level available, which affects conditional access and identity protection
- Whether privileged identity management and access reviews are included
Microsoft Entra ID Setup: project phases
- 01Review
We assess current directories, admin accounts and how users sign in.
- 02Design
We agree group structure, sync approach, authentication methods and policies.
- 03Configure
We set up sync, MFA, conditional access and single sign-on in stages.
- 04Govern
We set up access reviews and train admins on day-to-day identity tasks.
Common Microsoft Entra ID Setup mistakes
Untested conditional access can lock out staff, so start in report-only mode.
Syncing every on-premise object brings clutter and old accounts, so filter what is synced.
Always-on admin roles increase risk, so use just-in-time elevation where licences allow.
Text codes are weaker than app-based methods, so promote authenticator apps or passkeys.
Microsoft Entra ID Setup terms explained
- Microsoft Entra ID
- Microsoft's cloud identity service, formerly called Azure Active Directory.
- Entra Connect
- A tool that synchronises users and groups from on-premise Active Directory to Entra ID.
- Single sign-on
- Signing in once to access several applications without separate passwords.
- Privileged Identity Management
- A feature that grants admin roles only when needed and for a limited time.

The difference you will notice
- 01Harder to break in
Sign-ins that rely on a password alone are blocked.
- 02Simpler sign-in
Single sign-on reduces passwords and helpdesk resets.
- 03Controlled admin access
Elevated rights granted only when needed, and logged.
Five steps from assessment to always-on support
- STEP 01Assess
We review your infrastructure, security posture, assets and support model, and agree priorities.
- STEP 02Design
A clear architecture and plan, with scope, timeline and a fixed quote before work starts.
- STEP 03Deploy
We supply, install, configure and migrate, then document everything we build.
- STEP 04Manage
Ongoing support, monitoring and maintenance under agreed SLAs.
- STEP 05Improve
Regular reviews, reports and recommendations as your business grows.
Microsoft Entra ID Setup in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
Local offices in Ras Al Khaimah and Riyadh, remote support around the clock and on-site visits where your project needs them.

Microsoft Entra ID Setup in the UAE
Shyphan AI Technology LLC, RAK Free Trade Zone, Ras Al KhaimahUAE groups with entities in mainland, free zones, DIFC or ADGM often need one identity platform with clear separation of access between companies. We design Entra ID groups and conditional access around that structure and keep sign-in and access records that support UAE PDPL accountability. We support the Emirates from our Ras Al Khaimah office, remotely around the clock and on site where needed.
- Data handled in line with the UAE Personal Data Protection Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021), and the separate DIFC and ADGM regimes where they apply.

Microsoft Entra ID Setup in Saudi Arabia
Shyphan AI Technologies LLC, Malaz, King Abdulaziz Road, RiyadhIn Saudi Arabia, strong identity controls support NCA Essential Cybersecurity Controls where they apply, and access to personal data must be justifiable under the Saudi PDPL. We set up Entra ID for organisations in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province, including sign-in rules suited to staff who travel between sites. Our Riyadh office leads this work in the Kingdom.
- Work aligned with the Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (SDAIA) and, for government and critical infrastructure, the NCA Essential Cybersecurity Controls.
Microsoft Entra ID Setup: common questions
Is Entra ID the same as Azure AD?
Yes. Microsoft renamed Azure Active Directory to Microsoft Entra ID. The service and its features continued under the new name.
Do we still need on-premise Active Directory?
Some organisations do for legacy apps and file servers. Others move fully to the cloud. We help you decide and plan the transition.
Which licence do we need for conditional access?
Conditional access needs Entra ID P1, included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium and E3. Risk-based policies and Privileged Identity Management need P2.
Can you connect non-Microsoft apps for single sign-on?
Yes. Many SaaS apps support SAML or OpenID Connect, and we configure them in Entra ID with user provisioning where available.
Can Entra ID control sign-ins for staff working outside Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Conditional access can allow, challenge or block sign-ins by location, device and risk, so travelling staff stay protected.
Do you set up passwordless sign-in?
Yes. We can enable the Microsoft Authenticator app, passkeys or Windows Hello for Business, depending on devices and licences.
Do you provide Microsoft Entra ID Setup in Dubai and Riyadh?
Yes. We deliver Microsoft Entra ID Setup across the UAE from our Ras Al Khaimah office and across Saudi Arabia from our Riyadh office, with remote support 24/7 and on-site visits in cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam where your project needs them.
Talk to us about Microsoft Entra ID Setup
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Cloud & Microsoft Solutions