LDAP authentication with Microsoft Entra ID - Microsoft Entra (2024)

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Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is an application protocol for working with various directory services. Directory services, such as Active Directory, store user and account information, and security information like passwords. The service then allows the information to be shared with other devices on the network. Enterprise applications such as email, customer relationship managers (CRMs), and Human Resources (HR) software can use LDAP to authenticate, access, and find information.

Microsoft Entra ID supports this pattern via Microsoft Entra Domain Services (AD DS). It allows organizations that are adopting a cloud-first strategy to modernize their environment by moving off their on-premises LDAP resources to the cloud. The immediate benefits will be:

Use when

There is a need to for an application or service to use LDAP authentication.

LDAP authentication with Microsoft Entra ID - Microsoft Entra (1)

Components of system

  • User: Accesses LDAP-dependent applications via a browser.

  • Web Browser: The interface that the user interacts with to access the external URL of the application.

  • Virtual Network: A private network in Azure through which the legacy application can consume LDAP services.

  • Legacy applications: Applications or server workloads that require LDAP deployed either in a virtual network in Azure, or which have visibility to AD DS instance IPs via networking routes.

  • Microsoft Entra ID: Synchronizes identity information from organization's on-premises directory via Microsoft Entra Connect.

  • Microsoft Entra Domain Services (AD DS): Performs a one-way synchronization from Microsoft Entra ID to provide access to a central set of users, groups, and credentials. The AD DS instance is assigned to a virtual network. Applications, services, and VMs in Azure that connect to the virtual network assigned to AD DS can use common AD DS features such as LDAP, domain join, group policy, Kerberos, and NTLM authentication.

    Note

    In environments where the organization cannot synchronize password hashes, or users sign-in using smart cards, we recommend that you use a resource forest in AD DS.

  • Microsoft Entra Connect: A tool for synchronizing on-premises identity information to Microsoft Entra ID. The deployment wizard and guided experiences help you configure prerequisites and components required for the connection, including sync and sign on from Active Directory to Microsoft Entra ID.

  • Active Directory: Directory service that stores on-premises identity information such as user and account information, and security information like passwords.

Implement LDAP authentication with Microsoft Entra ID

LDAP authentication with Microsoft Entra ID - Microsoft Entra (2024)

FAQs

Does entra id support LDAP? ›

Enterprise applications such as email, customer relationship managers (CRMs), and Human Resources (HR) software can use LDAP to authenticate, access, and find information. Microsoft Entra ID supports this pattern via Microsoft Entra Domain Services (AD DS).

What is LDAP authentication Microsoft? ›

The Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is a directory service protocol that runs on a layer above the TCP/IP stack. It provides a mechanism used to connect to, search, and modify Internet directories. The LDAP directory service is based on a client-server model.

How do I know if LDAP authentication is working? ›

Procedure
  1. Click System > System Security.
  2. Click Test LDAP authentication settings.
  3. Test the LDAP user name search filter. ...
  4. Test the LDAP group name search filter. ...
  5. Test the LDAP membership (user name) to make sure that the query syntax is correct and that LDAP user group role inheritance works properly.

How do I connect to Microsoft LDAP? ›

Select Start > Run, type ldp.exe, and then select OK. Select Connection > Connect. In Server and in Port, type the server name and the non-SSL/TLS port of your directory server, and then select OK. For an Active Directory Domain Controller, the applicable port is 389.

How do I authenticate LDAP? ›

LDAP authentication typically works as follows:
  1. The user provides their credentials (username and password) to the system.
  2. The system sends a bind request to the LDAP server, containing the user's credentials.
  3. The LDAP server checks the user's credentials against the data stored in its directory.
Apr 24, 2023

What is the difference between SAML and LDAP? ›

The difference between SAML and LDAP is that SAML is designed for cloud-based connections using only an IdP and SP to communicate user data. LDAP, however, is typically used for accessing on-premises resources by installing a client on the user's device to connect with a directory service.

What is LDAP in simple words? ›

Lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) is a protocol that helps users find data about organizations, persons, and more.

What is needed for LDAP authentication? ›

LDAP authentication follows a client-server model. The client, typically an application or service, initiates the authentication process by sending a request to the LDAP server. The proposal includes the user's credentials. The LDAP server receives the request and verifies the provided credentials against its database.

What is LDAP for dummies? ›

Lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) is a protocol that makes it possible for applications to query user information rapidly.

How do I troubleshoot LDAP authentication issues? ›

  1. Step 1: Verify the Server Authentication certificate. ...
  2. Step 2: Verify the Client Authentication certificate. ...
  3. Step 3: Check for multiple SSL certificates. ...
  4. Step 4: Verify the LDAPS connection on the server. ...
  5. Step 5: Enable Schannel logging.
Feb 19, 2024

How do I find my LDAP user ID? ›

Viewing LDAP users in the device user list. Click the User tab. On the navigation tree, select Device User View > All Device Users.

How do I check my LDAP status? ›

Test the LDAP configuration
  1. Log in to the Linux shell using SSH.
  2. Issue the LDAP testing command, supplying the information for the LDAP server you configured, as in this example: ...
  3. Supply the LDAP password when prompted.
  4. If the connection works, you can see a confirmation message.

What is Microsoft Entra domain services? ›

Microsoft Entra Domain Services (formerly Azure Active Directory Domain Services), part of Microsoft Entra, enables you to use managed domain services—such as Windows Domain Join, group policy, LDAP, and Kerberos authentication—without having to deploy, manage, or patch domain controllers.

How do I check my LDAP authentication on Windows? ›

Open the Command Prompt: Press the Windows key, type "Command Prompt," and select the Command Prompt application from the search results. Run the LDAP query command: In the Command Prompt window, enter the following command and press Enter “nslookup -type=SRV _ldap. _tcp.

How do I enable LDAP on Windows server? ›

Step by step guide to setup LDAPS on Windows Server
  1. Install Certificate Authority, Create and Export the certificate. 1.1: Install "Active Directory Certificate Services" role through Server Manager roles. ...
  2. Configure LDAPS on the client side server. ...
  3. Test Connection.

Which authentication does LDAP support? ›

LDAP also functions as an identity and access management (IAM) solution that targets user authentication, including support for Kerberos and single sign-on (SSO), Simple Authentication Security Layer (SASL), and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

Does Azure Active Directory support LDAP? ›

Does Azure AD Support LDAP? Azure AD cannot support LDAP directly; it can only do so through a connector or sync. As Microsoft puts it, “Azure AD doesn't support the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) protocol or Secure LDAP directly.

Does NIS use LDAP? ›

All NIS information is stored in the LDAP directory to provide a single repository for network information.

Does aad support LDAP? ›

Azure Active Directory supports standard authentication and authorization protocols such as LDAPS, SAML 2.0 and OAUTH 2.0. To interact with your Azure Active Directory Domain Services (Azure AD DS) managed domain, the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is mostly used.

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