Benefits of Modern Authentication

Modern authentication is an umbrella term for a combination of authentication and authorization methods. It indicates that software has implemented support for the Azure Active Directory Authentication Library (ADAL), 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 protocols, which are open standards controlled by the OpenID Foundation.

Modern authentication enables more Microsoft applications to take advantage of technologies that can enhance security, including the following:

• Multifactor authentication requires a user to provide additional proof of identity (such as a code sent to the user’s registered mobile phone)
• Certificate-based (password-free) authentication, which can reduce user friction in scenarios like e-mail access on a mobile device
• Conditional access enables administrators to set additional rules or conditions that must be passed