Understanding Azure AD Joined vs Azure Registered: What's the Difference?

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) offers different ways to connect devices to the directory service, each serving specific scenarios. The main differences between Azure AD Joined and Azure AD Registered are related to the types of devices, the level of integration with Azure AD, and the intended use cases.

1. Azure AD Joined

• Device Type: Primarily used for corporate-owned devices.

• Integration Level: The device is fully integrated with Azure AD, which means it is joined to the organization's Azure AD and can be centrally managed by IT administrators.

• User Experience: Users can log in to the device using their Azure AD credentials (e.g., their work email and password).

• Use Case: Typically used for devices that are owned by the organization, such as company laptops or desktops. It allows for single sign-on (SSO) across cloud and on-premises resources, device management through tools like Intune, and the enforcement of policies (e.g., password policies, device compliance).

• Access: The device has access to both cloud resources (Azure AD) and on-premises resources (if hybrid joined).

  
  

2. Azure AD Registered

• Device Type: Primarily used for personal devices or BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) scenarios.

• Integration Level: The device is not joined to Azure AD but is registered with it. This means that while the device can be recognized and managed to a certain extent, it remains part of a personal environment.

• User Experience: Users log in to the device with their personal credentials (e.g., local account or personal Microsoft account), but they can also use their Azure AD credentials to access corporate resources.

• Use Case: Designed for personal devices where users need to access work resources, such as emails, apps, or files, but the device is not fully managed by the organization. This is common in BYOD environments where employees use their own phones, tablets, or laptops.

• Access: The device can access Azure AD resources, such as Office 365 or other SaaS applications, but typically does not have access to on-premises resources unless additional configurations are made.

  
  

Summary

• Azure AD Joined: For corporate-owned devices, full integration with Azure AD, allowing centralized management and access to both cloud and on-premises resources.

• Azure AD Registered: For personal or BYOD devices, lighter integration with Azure AD, primarily for accessing corporate resources while maintaining the device's personal nature.

  
  

These options provide flexibility for organizations to support a wide range of devices and user scenarios, from fully managed corporate devices to personal devices used for work.