Organizations continuously look for ways to streamline their operations and improve their security stance. With the rise of cloud technologies, many are moving their identity management systems to Microsoft's Azure Active Directory (AD). For those currently using Okta and considering the transition, this guide outlines a step-by-step process of migrating from Okta to Azure AD.
Please note that the steps provided here are general guidelines and might need to be adjusted based on your specific context. Also, there might be new features or changes in the interfaces of these platforms post my knowledge cutoff in September 2021.
1. Preparation and Analysis
Before starting any migration, it's essential to know what you're working with. Catalog your current Okta setup thoroughly, including a full list of applications, policies, and identity configurations. This will give you an understanding of what needs to be migrated and may highlight areas for improvement during the transition.
2. Setup Azure AD
If you haven't already, your next step is to set up Azure AD. This process involves setting up a domain, creating a tenant, and performing other necessary administrative tasks. Microsoft provides detailed guides for setting up Azure AD, which can be a great help during this step.
3. User Migration
Migrating your users is often the most complex task. You have two main options:
Direct Migration: If users exist in an on-premises AD that was synced to Okta, they can be synced directly to Azure AD using Azure AD Connect.
Staged Migration: If users do not exist in an on-premises AD, a staged migration may be necessary. In this case, users are gradually created or imported into Azure AD.
4. Application Migration
Your organization likely has a variety of applications integrated with Okta. These will need to be migrated to Azure AD.
Federated Applications: Applications supporting federated single sign-on (SSO) will need to be reconfigured in Azure AD. This requires changes to each application's settings.
Password-Based Applications: For applications using password-based sign-on, you can either transition to a federated model or use Azure AD's password-based sign-on feature.
Ensure to test each application's SSO functionality after configuring it, prioritizing less critical applications for initial testing.
5. Policy Migration
All sign-on policies, multi-factor authentication (MFA) policies, or other security settings should be recreated in Azure AD. This ensures that the same security controls that were in place in Okta will continue to protect your users and resources in Azure AD.
6. Perform a Pilot Migration
A pilot migration allows you to test the migration process on a small scale. Choose a small group of users and a subset of applications for this phase. A successful pilot migration will increase your confidence in the migration process and help you identify any potential issues early on.
7. Full Migration
Once the pilot migration has been completed successfully, it's time to move to full migration. This process should be completed in stages, migrating groups of users and applications in each stage. By doing it this way, you can ensure a smoother transition and avoid overwhelming your IT team or disrupting your organization's operations.
8. Post Migration
After the migration, closely monitor the environment to confirm everything is working as expected. It's also a good idea to provide user training and support to ensure everyone knows how to use the new platform.
9. Decommission Okta
Finally, once you are confident that the Azure AD environment is functioning as expected, and all necessary components have been migrated, you can begin decommissioning Okta.
Remember, every organization's needs and configurations are unique, and your migration process might vary. It's highly recommended to develop a detailed migration plan, ideally with the assistance of Microsoft or a knowledgeable partner.
Migrating from Okta to Azure AD can be a complex process, but with careful planning and execution, it can provide improved security, functionality, and efficiency for your organization.