{"id":46884,"date":"2020-07-16T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-16T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/?p=46884"},"modified":"2024-02-02T13:32:42","modified_gmt":"2024-02-02T18:32:42","slug":"mac-system-login-microsoft-365-password","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/blog\/mac-system-login-microsoft-365-password","title":{"rendered":"Logging into a Mac System with a Microsoft 365 Password"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Ideally, users can enter the same credentials to access all their IT resources, including their workstations and email accounts. This approach is more simple for them \u2014 they only have to remember one secure password \u2014 and more secure from IT\u2019s perspective because administrators can centrally manage and revoke access across their environment. You can consider adding multi-factor authentication to this identity where possible to make it even more secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In heterogeneous environments, this approach includes the ability for a user to log into their Mac\u00ae<\/sup> system with the same password they use to access their Microsoft 365\u2122 resources. Here, we examine solutions IT admins can deploy to ensure credentials are synchronized across their environments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In environments with Microsoft 365, and thereby Azure Active Directory\u00ae<\/sup>, admins don’t automatically have the tools they need to synchronize Microsoft identities with and manage Mac machines. They might leave Mac machines unmanaged or maintain separate directories for resources outside Azure AD. However, IT security best practice research indicates users should have one digital identity<\/a> to access the tools they need to get their jobs done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Users\u2019 machines serve as the gateway through which they access most other resources, so the machines and the credentials used to access them should be centrally managed and monitored. Although users can access productivity suites via their cell phones, they are more likely to use their laptops for most tasks, including editing and file sharing, so it\u2019s crucial that their laptops and productivity logins are synchronized. Admins have various solutions they can use to manage Mac machines (and Windows\u00ae<\/sup> and Linux\u00ae<\/sup>, if needed).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re using Azure AD\/Microsoft 365, you\u2019ll need to select additional Microsoft solutions or a third-party tool to synchronize those identities with Mac machines. You might be able to leverage Apple Business Manager<\/a> with Azure AD to create authentication for Macs from AAD, but you still will lack control over the identity, as well as the system itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, before selecting a focused MDM or a targeted federation service, it\u2019s worth considering whether a more holistic solution could meet other IT needs as well. As you examine the total cost of Azure Active Directory<\/a>, you might find that you have needs that an MDM won\u2019t fill, including management of Linux machines, LDAP for authentication to servers and legacy applications, and RADIUS for authentication to networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, you can examine a comprehensive cloud directory service, which can either serve as your core identity provider or as the bridge between AD\/Azure AD and all non-Microsoft resources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A cloud directory service can integrate with your Microsoft 365 directory, manage your Mac (as well as Windows and Linux) machines, and synchronize credentials among them.<\/p>\n\n\n\nUsing Microsoft Credentials for Systems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Integrate Microsoft 365 & Mac<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Using the Cloud for Unified Identities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n