Updated: July 23, 2020 (June 25, 2018)

Understanding Modern Authentication

Wes Miller analyzes and writes about Microsoft’s security, identity management, and systems management technologies. Before joining Directions on Microsoft, Wes... more

Modern authentication, an updated authentication implementation available in all recent Office software, enables some new security features.
Some Microsoft hosted services will require modern authentication in the near future.
Some software today will not work with those updated services and will need to be replaced.

Modern authentication is a Microsoft term for a new approach to authentication originally developed for Office 365 and other Microsoft-hosted services. It is available in all recent Office applications on popular client platforms and in Office servers for cloud, on-premises, or hybrid scenarios.

What Is Modern Authentication?

At its heart, modern authentication just means that software has implemented support for the Azure Active Directory Authentication Library (ADAL), currently at version 1.0. ADAL in turn is a set of libraries that enable authentication through Azure Active Directory (AAD) and Windows Server Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). ADAL uses OpenID Connect and OAuth 2.0, which are open standards controlled by the OpenID Foundation.

Atlas Members have full access

Get access to this and thousands of other unbiased analyses, roadmaps, decision kits, infographics, reference guides, and more, all included with membership. Comprehensive access to the most in-depth and unbiased expertise for Microsoft enterprise decision-making is waiting.

Membership Options

Already have an account? Login Now