Give Your Identity Strategy the Gift of a Year-End Review 

Think back to a year ago—how much has changed in your organization since then? New hires, role changes, remote work policies, new applications, evolving security threats… the pace of change is relentless. And yet, many organizations overlook one of the most critical systems that underpins all of this: their identity environment. 

At Sikich, we pride ourselves on having exceptional experts who deeply understand Microsoft Entra ID. Our team is highly certified, experienced, and passionate about helping organizations strengthen their identity posture. We’ve seen firsthand how a well-managed identity environment can transform security, productivity, and compliance, and how quickly things can unravel when it’s neglected. 

Your Microsoft Entra ID Might Be Outdated—Let’s Make Sure It’s Not 

Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) plays a vital role in helping your organization manage secure access to its digital environment. It quietly works behind the scenes to ensure the right people have the right access at the right time. Like any essential system, it benefits from regular attention. A yearly review isn’t just a best practice; it’s a thoughtful way to stay aligned with your evolving needs. 

This kind of review can make a meaningful difference for organizations across all industries. Whether you’re in healthcare, manufacturing, professional services, education, or retail, identity security touches every user, every system, and every interaction. Taking time to assess your setup helps reduce risk and ensures your access controls continue to support your business effectively. 

Security Enhancements Are Constantly Evolving 

Microsoft continuously rolls out new features and security capabilities in Entra ID. Over the past year alone, organizations have seen: 

• Conditional Access improvements (e.g., token protection, authentication strength policies) 
• Enhanced identity governance tools 
• Stronger MFA options and integrations 
• Privileged Identity Management (PIM) refinements 
• Risk-based access controls and Identity Protection updates 

Failing to adopt these features leaves your organization exposed to threats that modern tools are designed to mitigate. 

Your Organization Has Changed—So Should Your Identity Strategy 

Whether it’s mergers, remote work transitions, new SaaS applications, or role changes, your organization’s structure and needs evolve. These changes impact: 

• Group memberships and role assignments 
• Access policies and permissions 
• Guest user management 
• Application registrations and API permissions 

An annual review ensures your Entra ID setup reflects your current business reality and not last year’s. 

Compliance and Audit Readiness 

Regulatory requirements (like GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO 27001) often mandate periodic access reviews and identity governance. Microsoft Entra ID offers tools like: 

• Access reviews 
• Audit logs 
• Role-based access control (RBAC) 

Regular reviews help ensure your business is audit-ready and compliant with internal and external standards. 

Reducing Identity Risk and Technical Debt 

Over time, unused accounts, stale permissions, and misconfigured policies accumulate. These create: 

• Security vulnerabilities 
• Operational inefficiencies 
• Increased attack surface 

An annual cleanup helps eliminate technical debt and reduce identity-related risks. 

Maximizing ROI on Microsoft Licensing 

Many organizations underutilize features included in their Microsoft 365 or Entra ID P1/P2 licenses. An annual review helps you: 

• Discover unused capabilities 
• Align licensing with actual usage 
• Optimize costs and improve value 

Partnering with Experts Like Sikich to Strengthen Your Identity Posture 

While internal reviews are valuable, partnering with a trusted Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) can elevate your identity strategy to the next level. 

Sikich provides: 

• Deep expertise in Microsoft Entra ID and broader Microsoft security ecosystems 
• Proactive monitoring and threat detection 
• Tailored Conditional Access and Zero Trust strategies 
• Support for identity governance, access reviews, and compliance alignment 
• Ongoing advisory to keep pace with Microsoft’s rapid innovation 

By leveraging Sikich’s managed services, organizations gain peace of mind knowing their identity infrastructure is continuously optimized, secure, and aligned with best practices—without overburdening internal teams. 

What Should an Annual Entra ID Review Include? 

Here’s a checklist to guide your review: 

• Review Conditional Access policies 
• Audit MFA adoption and enforcement 
• Validate role assignments and group memberships 
• Clean up inactive users and guest accounts 
• Review application permissions and API access 
• Assess Identity Protection risk detections 
• Run access reviews for sensitive resources 
• Evaluate new features and roadmap updates 

Final Thoughts 

Your Microsoft Entra ID setup is the foundation of your identity security posture. Treating it as a living system—one that evolves with your organization and the threat landscape—is key to staying secure, compliant, and efficient. 

Make the annual review a standard part of your IT governance calendar and consider partnering with experts like Sikich to ensure your identity strategy is future-ready. 

Ready to take the next step? Contact Sikich today to schedule your Microsoft Entra ID assessment or learn more about our Managed Security Services. Let’s work together to build a more secure, agile, and resilient identity foundation for your organization.