Microsoft is starting to go public with Windows Azure Active Directory, which I believe will be one of the key things on the the road to Cloud Based IT Infrastructure.

I was told by a Microsoft employee a month ago that Windows Azure Active Directory would get many new interesting features and will be launched at TechEd US in June 2012. At that time the information was classified as NDA only but it seems that Microsoft is finally ready to go public with Windows Azure Active Directory.

Not long time ago, I think it was in January 2012 Microsoft had re-branded it’s former Azure Authentication Service as Azure Active Directory. I’m not sure if it was ready to be used according to Mary Jo Foley but this it’s going to be real. This version of Windows Azure Active Directory will enable SSO with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Windows Intune, but also with Azure applications. I’m sure we are going to see briges with other cloud based services such as SalesForce.com. Upcoming Azure Active Directory will also include federation capabilities to on-premises Active Directorys. But will Group Policies work? Well see.

I’m very excited about this Azure Active Directory. Over a year ago I saw that this will be happening some day and it will be essential on the road to cloud based IT infrastructure. I even wrote a nice Prezi about Active Directory as a Service.

Microsoft Official page can be found from the Azure site.