AZ-500 Microsoft Azure Security Technologies Exam

Configure App Identities and Permissions

Managing app registrations in Microsoft Entra is a critical task for securing cloud workloads. In Microsoft Entra, developers use app identities to represent applications, services, or automation tools. By creating these identities, workloads can authenticate against Azure resources without user intervention, enforcing least-privilege access. This process ensures that each app only has the permissions it needs to function.

To create an app registration, administrators set essential parameters like supported account types, redirect URIs, and client credentials. Choosing the correct supported account type determines who can authenticate to the app. Microsoft Entra offers several options:

• Single tenant for internal use within one directory
• Multi-tenant to allow users from any organization
• Personal Microsoft accounts for consumer scenarios
  Defining redirect URIs tells the identity platform where to send responses after authentication, ensuring secure token delivery.

Once an app is registered, you assign API permissions to specify what resources the app can access. Permissions can be delegated to act on behalf of a signed-in user or application-level where no user is present. Application roles allow fine-grained control over user access and can be exposed in custom scopes to let developers grant only the necessary operations. Admins must consent to high-privilege scopes to maintain security boundaries and prevent overexposure.

For stronger authentication, many organizations use certificate-based authentication instead of client secrets. Certificates provide long-lived credentials that are stored securely in a key vault or hardware security module. During registration, you upload the public key, and the app uses its private key to sign requests, proving its identity without exposing secrets. This method reduces the risk of secret leakage and improves overall credential management.

Finally, understanding permission scopes and token lifetimes is vital for a secure posture. Scopes limit the breadth of access granted in each token, enforcing the principle of least privilege. Token lifetimes determine how long access and refresh tokens remain valid, balancing usability and security. Properly configuring these settings helps mitigate risks from stolen or misused tokens.

Conclusion

Managing Microsoft Entra app registrations begins with carefully choosing registration parameters and client credentials. By selecting the right account types, defining redirect URIs, and securing credentials, apps can authenticate only authorized users and services. This foundation supports robust identity management across different application scenarios.

Next, assigning API permissions and defining application roles and scopes ensure that apps only access the data and operations they truly need. Delegated and application permissions must be reviewed regularly to maintain least-privilege access. Enforcing admin consent for sensitive scopes adds an important layer of security oversight.

Lastly, using certificate-based authentication and tuning token lifetimes keep credentials safe and balance user experience with risk management. Shorter tokens reduce exposure while proper lifetime settings avoid frequent sign-ins. Together, these practices form a comprehensive approach to securing app registrations in Azure.