Secure Your Remote Workers with Microsoft Entra Internet Access
Have you had employees check email or access sensitive company data from public Wi-Fi networks? All the while, they are completely unaware a hacker could be silently capturing every word.
Unfortunately, it still happens regularly despite a plethora of evidence that public Wi-Fi should be avoided at all costs, because it lacks proper encryption and security methods.
Years ago, it was simpler for your IT staff or managed service provider (MSP) to secure your data because everyone worked in the office behind a firewall you controlled.
Now that remote work has increased exponentially in the last half-decade, it’s been a challenge to ensure those employees working outside of the office have similar protections to those inside the office.
But there is a tool that will change the way your remote employees access your cloud apps, whether they are frequent travelers constantly exposed to questionable Wi-Fi or work-from-home employees who rarely come into the office.
It’s called Entra Internet Access.
What is Microsoft Entra Internet Access?
Entra Internet Access is Microsoft’s solution for helping remote employees securely connect to cloud applications and the internet.
You can think of it like a VPN, but it’s not an exact replacement. While VPNs were designed to protect connections to internal servers, Entra secures access to cloud tools like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Dropbox or Salesforce.
VPNs encrypt your online data, but they don’t protect your employees from malicious websites and other threats like Entra does.
Instead of relying on whatever network they happen to be on, such as home Wi-Fi, hotel internet or a public hotspot, Entra ensures their connection is private and protected. It is especially useful for organizations that depend on cloud-based apps and need a consistent way to enforce security, no matter where employees are working from.
If you still use on-premises servers, Microsoft also offers Entra Private Access. This allows remote employees to access on-premises applications securely, but we’ll discuss Entra Private Access in a later blog.
Just like a VPN, Entra Internet Access must be installed on each device. However, it’s an easy process that your IT staff or MSP can complete remotely.
Who Needs Entra Internet Access?
Entra Internet Access is especially useful for three common types of employees we see in small and midsized businesses:
“Remote employees can be just as protected as those who work in the office. If you have employees who spend most of their time outside of the office, we can discuss ways to keep your data safe.”
- Work-from-home Employees
These employees rely on their home internet, which may or may not be secure. Entra helps keep their traffic safe and filtered, as if they were still in the office. - Frequent Travelers
These users often work from airports, hotels and other public Wi-Fi networks. They are some of the most exposed users in your organization and often handle sensitive data. Entra gives them a reliable layer of protection no matter where they connect from. - Cloud-only Businesses
If your company has moved to Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or other cloud platforms, most of your daily tools are no longer behind your office firewall. That increases flexibility but also creates security gaps. Entra helps close that gap by securing how users connect to the cloud, even when they are outside your office network.
Regaining Control with Entra Internet Access
Entra gives you a reliable way to control how and when company data is accessed. You can prohibit employees from accessing tools like email, Teams or SharePoint until they are connected to Entra. Additionally, it’s possible to completely block internet access altogether until they have enabled Entra.
It also gives you the option to block certain categories of websites, such as social media or gambling, like you would normally control with your office firewall.
Nothing changes about how your employees work, as Entra runs quietly in the background while creating a secure connection. You get the assurance that company data stays protected without depending on employees to make judgment calls about network safety.
Ultimately, it gives you a straightforward way to ensure safe access to your cloud apps, no matter where your employees are working from.
How Much Does Entra Internet Access Cost?
Entra is $5 per user, per month, but it’s paid yearly, so you’d pay $60 per user on your renewal date.
There is no minimum license requirement, so you don’t necessarily have to get a license for every employee. Just the ones who travel or work remotely the most.
Protect Your Data with Entra Internet Access
Remote employees can be just as protected as those who work in the office. If you have employees who spend most of their time outside of the office, we can discuss ways to keep your data safe.
Don’t wait until a data breach or cyberattack to improve your organization’s security posture. Contact us today to schedule a consultation, and let’s secure your business before the next threat hits.
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