Back To All Updates

Back To All Updates

May 28, 2025

Blog

Unlocking Best‑of‑Both‑Worlds: Okta + Microsoft Security for SaaS-Driven Enterprises

Unlocking Best‑of‑Both‑Worlds: Okta + Microsoft Security for SaaS-Driven Enterprises

Hey everyone,

Here’s a compelling idea: What if you could keep Okta as your SSO hub for hundreds of SaaS apps, yet still tap into Microsoft’s powerful security suite—like Conditional Access, Identity Protection, PIM, and Intune compliance? You don’t need to migrate everything into Microsoft Entra to get enterprise‑grade protection.


Why this matters

Many orgs using Okta for identity and SSO often overlook that they can leverage Entra ID’s security engine without moving their apps off Okta. With some smart configuration—using Microsoft as an External Identity Provider—you can:

  • Enforce device compliance via Intune

  • Apply Conditional Access based on risk and session context

  • Protect privileged accounts with PIM

  • Gain visibility and control via Identity Governance & Protection

All while keeping your Okta‑centric SaaS app stack intact. That’s powerful, low-impact security enhancement.

✅ How it works: Microsoft as External IdP for Okta

Microsoft recently announced OpenID Connect support for external identity providers (currently in public preview) . Okta also provides built‑in guidance to configure itself with Entra ID via OIDC.

Here’s the overview:

  1. Entra ID = Identity Authority

    • Users sign in via Azure AD.

    • Authentication is evaluated by Conditional Access + Identity Protection.

    • Intune checks device compliance during login.

  2. Okta = SSO Aggregator

    • Okta trusts Entra for authentication via OIDC.

    • User enters once at Azure login, then seamlessly SSO’s into SaaS apps via Okta.

  3. Security Policies Live in Entra

    • MFA, risk signals, device checks, session policies, PIM—handled by Microsoft.

    • Meanwhile, SaaS experience remains unchanged through Okta’s dashboards.


🔐 What Microsoft Security Brings to Your Okta Environment

Here’s what you unlock by bringing Entra into the authentication chain:

  • Conditional Access: Enforce MFA, block legacy sign‑ins, require compliant devices, evaluate risky behavior.

  • Intune Device Compliance: Automatically check whether login devices meet your compliance standards.

  • Identity Protection: Detect suspicious sign‑in patterns; block sign‑ins or require remediation based on risk levels.

  • Privileged Identity Management: Secure admin roles at Azure- and SaaS-app level; approve “just‑in‑time” elevation requests.

  • Identity Governance: Access reviews, entitlement management, attestation—all built in.

    No need to replicate these in Okta—let Microsoft do the heavy lifting.

🚀 Practical Steps: Setup in Three Moves

1. Enable OpenID Connect External IdP in Entra

Use Microsoft’s public preview to register Okta as an app within Entra, setting Okta’s OIDC endpoints and certificate trust .

2. Configure Okta to Use Azure as IdP

Follow Okta’s documentation to set Azure AD as an OIDC identity provider . Exchange client IDs, endpoints, configure claim mappings (e.g. email, name).

3. Secure Your Environment

Now, log in via Okta → you’re redirected to Azure AD → user is evaluated with CA + Intune → redirected back to Okta → seamless SSO into apps. Test MFA and device enforced sign-ins. Opera.


📌 Key Benefits Summary

 Benefit

Description

Seamless UX

One login endpoint—users see the familiar Okta portal, no new login.

Superior Security

Leverage Microsoft’s advanced policies without app migration.

Low‑impact, High‑value

No change to hundreds of SaaS apps; minimal architectural shift.

Incremental rollout

Pilot with select user or app groups before broader rollout.

Hybrid identity support

Useful in Microsoft-centric scenarios (Intune, M365, Teams, etc.).


🛠️ Best Practices for a Smooth Implementation

  • Pilot small: Start with an internal team or non-critical group. Validate flows end‑to‑end.

  • Sync user attributes: Make sure Azure AD and Okta have matching UPN/email to ensure claim trust.

  • Review Conditional Access carefully: Start with a “monitor” mode before strictly enforcing MFA or compliance—log and understand impact.

  • Communicate clearly: Let your users know: “You’ll still log in to Okta, but might be prompted with Microsoft MFA or device checks.”

  • Monitor and measure: Use Azure AD’s sign‑in logs and Intune admin reports to confirm coverage and compliance.

  • Expand smartly: Once confident, apply PIM for privileged roles, Identity Protection for risk detection, and Identity Governance for lifecycle controls.


🧠 Who is this ideal for?

  • Okta customers with established SaaS ecosystems who want extra security without mass migration.

  • Microsoft SaaS users (Office 365 suite, Teams, Intune-owned devices) who already benefit from AuthN/AuthZ in Microsoft’s ecosystem.

  • Security-first orgs looking to bridge identity platforms and enforce compliance controls across hybrid environments.


✅ Final Take

Leveraging Microsoft Entra as your external identity provider for Okta is a clever, pragmatic way to bolster identity security—without dismantling your Okta roadmap. You keep using Okta for day‑to‑day SaaS login, but now your authentication engines, policies, and enforcement run through Microsoft’s robust engine.

If you’re using Microsoft 365 apps, Intune, or have any inclination toward Conditional Access or PIM, this hybrid approach lets you have both speed and strength.


Thinking about giving this setup a spin?

Start small—bring a pilot group into this flow, and test end‑to‑end with MFA and device compliance policies. Happy to help if you need a checklist or artifacts to get started!


🔧 Further Resources