Published : 2 months ago, on 16/10/2024

Expanded partnership pioneers access to External Authentication Methods in Microsoft Entra ID with physical access cards as part of the HID Authentication Platform integration

London, October 15,2024 – HID®, a worldwide leader in trusted identity solutions, today announces a new integration with Microsoft Entra ID to enable employees to use their existing physical access cards as a multi-factor authentication (MFA) method to access resources such as Entra ID and Microsoft 365. This enables organizations to take the next step on their journey to passwordless by simplifying MFA deployment and enabling faster end-user adoption for Entra ID users.

The integration significantly expands options for organizations to tailor their MFA journey while meeting Microsoft’s mandatory MFA requirements and accelerating the path to phishing-resistant passwordless authentication.

“Deploying MFA is one of the most important steps to securing user identities, and the purpose of Microsoft Entra ID External Authentication Method (EAM) is to extend the purpose of Entra ID’s functionality by enabling organizations to use the third-party MFA solution of their choosing to establish quick, simple, and secure MFA,” said Eleanor Falla, Senior Product Manager for Microsoft Security. “HID’s integration offers flexibility through its many authenticator choices and offers the convenience of choosing from existing physical cards to access both facilities and digital resources as an MFA factor.”

A Microsoft Research study showed that MFA reduced the risk of security compromise by more than 99.2%. HID brings seamless, streamlined MFA deployment to Entra ID users through its HID Authentication Service powered by the HID Authentication Platform. The secure cloud platform enables organizations to meet Microsoft’s mandatory MFA requirements, whether they are in the early phase of their passwordless journey or they are ready to make the shift to a completely phishing-resistant, passwordless authentication path. Specifically developed for highly regulated industries where high assurance is crucial, the platform simplifies identity establishment, creation, management and use, and employs cryptography so data is secure.

“HID’s longstanding partnership with Microsoft has delivered increasingly valuable MFA innovations as we collaborate on driving a passwordless future,” said HID’s Sean Dyon, Director of Strategic Alliances at HID. “Our solutions meet enterprises wherever they are on what I call the ‘crawl, walk, run’ path to completely phishing-resistant passwordless authentication. We recognize the vital importance of effective change management and optimizing the user experienceat every point in this journey through extensive MFA options that fit a broad range of organizational needs.”

Key Benefits: Flexibility, Convenience & Security

1. Flexibility to Tailor Your MFA Journey

HID offers the industry’s broadest range of authentication methods and physical authenticators including hardware OTP tokens, security keys and smart cards equipped with FIDO technology (device-bound passkeys) as well as PKI/CBA, and physical access cards.

2. Convenience for Users and Administrators Alike

HID is the first vendor to offer the option of using physical access cards to access Microsoft Entra ID, unifying physical and digital access from doorways to desktops and cloud applications.

This means organizations don’t have to require users to have a company phone or to install anything on their personal phone.

3.Enhanced Security from a Trusted Leader

With HID, organizations can leverage over 20 years expertise in smart cards, digital certificates and lifecycle management to quickly deploy MFA per Microsoft requirements without compromising productivity.  

About HID

HID powers the trusted identities of the world’s people, places and things. We make it possible for people to transact safely, work productively and travel freely. Our trusted identity solutions give people convenient access to physical and digital places and connect things that can be identified, verified and tracked digitally. Millions of people around the world use HID’s products and services to navigate their everyday lives, and billions of things are connected through HID’s technology. We work with governments, educational institutions, hospitals, financial institutions, industrial businesses and some of the most innovative companies on the planet. 

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, HID has over 4,500 employees worldwide and operates international offices that support more than 100 countries. HID is an ASSA ABLOY Group brand. For more information, visit www.hidglobal.com.