Custom Azure AD integration development
Appfront implements Azure AD, now Microsoft Entra ID, as the central identity provider for organisations within the Microsoft ecosystem. From SSO to Microsoft 365, Teams and SaaS apps, through to Conditional Access, hybrid identity, B2B collaboration and custom apps built on Microsoft Graph. We handle the full implementation so your staff can work securely and your IT team stays in control, without unnecessarily complex tenant management.
What is an Azure AD / Microsoft Entra integration?
Azure AD, officially renamed Microsoft Entra ID in 2023, is Microsoft's cloud identity platform and the identity layer beneath Microsoft 365, Azure, Teams, Intune and hundreds of other SaaS apps. For organisations with a Microsoft 365 or Azure subscription, Entra is often already included in the licence; the real value lies in making the most of it and integrating it with on-premises systems and your own applications.
In practice, an Azure AD integration means: setting up SSO to your SaaS apps via SAML or OIDC, configuring Conditional Access policies that control access based on user, device and risk, connecting your on-premises Active Directory via Azure AD Connect (or Entra Connect Cloud Sync), configuring B2B collaboration for partner guest users, and registering your own apps so users can sign in via MSAL.
Appfront implements in line with the official Microsoft Entra documentation and the OWASP ASVS security standard. We tailor tenant configuration, Conditional Access policies and app registrations to your organisation, so you get an identity layer that fits your Microsoft 365 environment and security policy.
Microsoft 365 and Azure-native identity
Deeply integrated with Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, Intune and Azure. One sign-in for the entire Microsoft ecosystem plus your external SaaS apps, with full visibility via Microsoft Graph.
Hybrid identity
Synchronise on-premises Active Directory users with the cloud in near real time via Entra Connect. Ideal for organisations moving to the cloud step by step or staying hybrid permanently. Password hash sync, pass-through authentication or federation: we decide together with you what suits best.
Conditional Access
Grant access based on who, where, with what and how securely. Combine user, location, device compliance (via Intune), application and risk score in a single policy. Zero trust without placing undue burden on users.
Our Azure AD implementation process
We follow a proven methodology that removes uncertainty early and delivers a stable identity layer. From an initial analysis of your Microsoft 365 tenant, on-premises AD, Conditional Access requirements and application landscape, through to go-live and ongoing management, every step is focused on an implementation your IT team can understand and trust.
We map out which M365 and external apps need integrating, whether on-premises AD needs to be synchronised, which Conditional Access policies make sense, and whether Intune integration plays a role.
We design the integration architecture, choose the right authentication and draw up an error-handling strategy.
Implementation with automated tests, structured logging and monitoring. You see working builds along the way.
Controlled go-live with data validation and a safety net, followed by ongoing management and further development.
What an Azure AD integration concretely delivers
Every Azure AD implementation is tailored to your tenant, Microsoft landscape and compliance requirements. Below are the capabilities we most often deliver for organisations using Entra as their central identity layer.
SSO to Microsoft 365 and SaaS
SSO to M365, Teams, SharePoint and hundreds of pre-integrated SaaS apps from the Azure AD app gallery. Custom SAML or OIDC integrations for industry-specific systems. For legacy web apps without federation support, we set up Azure AD Application Proxy.
Azure AD Connect and hybrid sync
Synchronise on-premises Active Directory users and groups with Entra ID via Entra Connect (formerly Azure AD Connect) or the newer Cloud Sync agent. Password hash sync, pass-through authentication or federation, depending on your security policy.
Conditional Access and Intune
Granular Conditional Access based on user, location, risk score, application and device compliance via Intune. Zero-trust policies, session controls via Defender for Cloud Apps and risk-based sign-in via Identity Protection.
B2B guest collaboration
Collaborate securely with external partners via Entra B2B and Cross-Tenant Access Settings. Guest users from partner tenants receive scoped access to your Teams channels, SharePoint sites or specific apps, without extra accounts or passwords.
Microsoft Graph integration
Custom apps that pull data from M365 via Microsoft Graph: calendars, Teams chats, SharePoint documents, mail, contacts or Intune device information. With scoped permissions and Conditional Access applied to the app itself, so your integration is secured just as tightly as the rest of your landscape.
Custom apps via MSAL
Custom web apps, mobile apps or APIs that use Entra for sign-in via MSAL (Microsoft Authentication Library) for .NET, JavaScript, Python, iOS or Android. App registrations, scopes and token validation configured correctly according to the Microsoft identity platform.
Typical use cases in practice
An Azure AD implementation looks very different depending on the type of organisation. We frequently see a number of recurring patterns, and for each of them we have a working setup.
Microsoft 365-centric organisations
Businesses that already use M365, Teams, SharePoint and Intune extensively get the most out of Entra. Conditional Access with device compliance via Intune, SSO to additional SaaS apps, and a single identity layer for the entire ecosystem. See also our enterprise software development.
Hybrid cloud and on-premises migration
Organisations that still run on-premises Active Directory and are moving to the cloud step by step. Entra Connect synchronises users, groups and (optionally) password hashes to the cloud; access to legacy apps is arranged via Azure AD Application Proxy, without a VPN.
B2B partner collaboration
Collaborate with customers, suppliers or partners without issuing new accounts. Via Entra B2B and Cross-Tenant Access, partners invite each other's employees and grant scoped access to Teams, SharePoint or specific apps, under the same Conditional Access policies as regular users.
Customer apps via External ID
Microsoft Entra External ID (formerly Azure AD B2C) as the identity platform for consumer-facing apps. Social login (Google, Apple, Facebook), custom branded sign-in flows and progressive profiling, all within the same Microsoft security framework your workforce already uses.
Technology we use
We build Azure AD integrations with the Microsoft identity platform, Graph and MSAL libraries, alongside infrastructure-as-code patterns so that tenants remain reproducible and reviewable. The precise choice depends on your existing M365 environment and compliance requirements, so that your own IT team can manage or further develop the implementation.
For organisations using HelloID with a system that has no standard connector, see our page on a HelloID integration.
Why choose Appfront for your Azure AD implementation?
Appfront has extensive experience building API integrations for a wide range of organisations in the Netherlands. We always start with a thorough analysis of your existing systems and processes. An integration should not only work technically, but also add practical value to the way you work.
For every integration, we write clear documentation and make sure your own team, or any future supplier, can understand and manage it. No black box, just transparent code and clear agreements on monitoring, alerting and maintenance.
You work with a dedicated point of contact who understands both the technical and the functional side. This keeps communication short, prevents misunderstandings and speeds up decisions when choices need to be made during development.
See also our wider services around API integrations, middleware, custom software development and web app development.
- Experience with Azure AD / Entra tenants and app registrations
- Specialists in Conditional Access, Intune integration and hybrid identity
- Experienced with Microsoft Graph and MSAL for custom apps
- Secure by default: least privilege, PIM, Identity Protection
- Structured error handling and retry mechanisms
- Comprehensive logging and monitoring from day one
- Clear documentation your team can read and manage
- A fixed point of contact, no account managers passed around
- Ongoing maintenance and proactive further development
- A way of working aligned with your existing IT landscape
Security and privacy in Azure AD implementations
An identity layer inherently handles personal data and is often the first target for malicious actors. Appfront builds according to Microsoft security best practices and the OWASP ASVS. This includes layered Conditional Access policies, Privileged Identity Management (PIM) with just-in-time admin access, Identity Protection for risk-based sign-in, limited API scopes per app, and regular access reviews.
Microsoft Entra is itself certified to ISO 27001, SOC 2 and FedRAMP. We document the data flows, Conditional Access policies and app registrations so that your record of processing activities is complete and you can demonstrably comply with the GDPR. We export sign-in and audit logs to Microsoft Sentinel or your own SIEM for continuous monitoring.
More on our security approach: information security policy and CVD policy.
- GDPR-compliant data processing and data minimisation
- Encryption in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest
- Role-based access and least-privilege principles
- Audit logs with traceable data flows
- Automatic retries and dead-letter queues
- Monitoring and alerting for anomalies
- Secrets management in line with best practice
- Documentation for your record of processing activities
Frequently asked questions about Azure AD integrations
Answers to the questions we most often receive about Azure AD / Microsoft Entra implementations.
An Azure AD integration means implementing Microsoft Entra ID (the new name for Azure Active Directory) as your central identity provider. Entra provides SSO to Microsoft 365, Azure and third-party SaaS apps, Conditional Access policies, MFA, hybrid identity with on-premises Active Directory, B2B guest collaboration and API authorisation for your own apps via the Microsoft identity platform. An integration typically covers tenant configuration, application registrations, Conditional Access and, where relevant, synchronisation with on-prem AD via Azure AD Connect.
Azure AD is the natural choice for organisations already using Microsoft 365 or Azure, as the licence is often already in place and the integration with M365, Teams, SharePoint and Windows is deep and native. Entra is also strong in hybrid scenarios with on-premises Active Directory. For organisations that want to move away from the Microsoft stack, or that are looking for a vendor-neutral identity platform, we sometimes recommend Okta or Auth0 instead.
A basic setup with SSO to 5 to 10 SaaS apps and Conditional Access policies can go live within a few weeks. A full rollout with hybrid identity (Azure AD Connect), Intune integration for device trust, Identity Governance (entitlement management, access reviews), B2B collaboration policies and custom apps on Microsoft Graph generally takes longer. Following an intake meeting, we provide a realistic estimate.
We work with the Microsoft identity platform, the Microsoft Graph API and MSAL libraries for .NET, JavaScript, Python, iOS and Android. For synchronisation with on-prem we deploy Azure AD Connect (Cloud Sync) or Entra Connect. We set up configuration in a reproducible way using the Terraform azuread provider, Microsoft Graph PowerShell and Azure CLI. For B2C / External ID we use custom policies where standard user flows fall short.
Costs are determined by the complexity of the data flows, the number of systems to connect, the required synchronisation frequency and the amount of custom business logic. Ongoing management, monitoring and support also affect the total investment. We always provide a clear quote following a no-obligation analysis of your situation.
Yes. Microsoft Entra is itself certified to ISO 27001, SOC 2 and FedRAMP, and Appfront builds according to the OWASP ASVS and Microsoft security best practices. This includes differentiated Conditional Access based on risk, location and device compliance, Privileged Identity Management for admins with just-in-time access, risk-based sign-in via Identity Protection, and limited API scopes per app. We document the data flows so that your record of processing activities remains complete and you can demonstrably comply with the GDPR.
Yes. Appfront regularly takes over existing Azure AD / Entra tenants, even if they were originally set up by another party or an internal IT department. We review the tenant configuration, Conditional Access policies, app registrations, Intune integration and licence structure, document the current setup, and propose improvements. From that point on, we can handle changes, extensions and monitoring.
Azure AD / Microsoft Entra is a good fit for organisations already using Microsoft 365 or Azure, particularly where M365, Teams, SharePoint, Intune and Windows play a major role in the workplace. Typical use cases include central SSO for an M365 tenant alongside SaaS apps, Conditional Access with device compliance, hybrid identity with on-premises AD, B2B collaboration with partner organisations, and custom apps that use Microsoft Graph to access M365 data.
Ready to have Azure AD implemented?
Tell us which apps, on-premises systems and Conditional Access requirements you have. We're happy to help with tenant design, hybrid identity, Intune integration and custom apps on Microsoft Graph. A no-obligation first conversation will give you a clear picture of the possibilities within half an hour.