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Systems & Data Center · Advanced

Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS)

A Windows Server role providing claims-based single sign-on to external applications using SAML, WS-Federation and OpenID Connect.

Definition

AD FS issues security tokens based on AD authentication so users can access partner and cloud applications without separate credentials. Microsoft now recommends moving application authentication to Microsoft Entra ID where possible.

Example

An AD FS relying party trust lets employees sign in to a SaaS app with their domain credentials.

Exam tip

For Microsoft 365, migrating from AD FS federation to Entra ID cloud authentication (PHS or PTA) is the current recommendation.

Related terms