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Systems & Data Center · Intermediate

Pass-Through Authentication (PTA)

A hybrid sign-in method in which Microsoft Entra ID forwards password validation to lightweight on-premises agents that check against AD DS.

Definition

PTA keeps password validation on-premises and enforces on-premises account states such as lockout and logon hours immediately. It requires reachable agents, so multiple agents are recommended for high availability.

Example

A regulated company chooses PTA so passwords are validated only against on-premises domain controllers.

Exam tip

Choose PTA when on-premises policies must be enforced at sign-in without deploying AD FS.

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