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Entra.Chat

Entra.Chat

Written by: Merill Fernando
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 Entra Chat is a weekly podcast hosted by Merill Fernando and delivers practical insights for Microsoft administrators and security professionals through conversations with identity experts who've been in the trenches. Episodes feature seasoned Entra practitioners sharing real-world deployment experiences and Microsoft Entra team members who build the features you use daily. Get the inside track on best practices, implementation strategies, and upcoming capabilities directly from those who design and deploy Microsoft identity solutions. Join us for actionable takeaways you can apply immediately in your Microsoft 365, Azure, and Entra environments. --- Entra.Chat, its content and opinions are my (Merill Fernando) own and do not reflect the views of my employer (Microsoft). All postings are provided “AS IS” with no warranties and is not supported by the author. All trademarks and copyrights belong to their owners and are used for identification only.

entra.newsMerill & Joshua Fernando Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Entra Agent Registry: The Corporate Yellow Pages for AI Agents

    Entra Agent Registry: The Corporate Yellow Pages for AI Agents
    Jan 16 2026
    Service principals worked for static apps, but AI agents are different—they make autonomous decisions using LLMs and require a new approach to identity and security.In this episode of Entra Chat, Padma Parthasarathy, Product Manager for Microsoft Entra Agent Registry, explains why Microsoft created Entra Agent Registry and Agent ID, and how they provide identity, governance, and security for AI agents.We cover agent collections, discovery policies, integration with identity protection, and how custom security attributes automate AI agent governance at scale. You’ll also see how agents discover other agents by skills, how global and quarantine collections control visibility, and why these capabilities are critical for enterprise AI security.This is a must-watch (listen) for identity, security, and platform architects preparing for AI at scale.Subscribe with your favorite podcast player or watch on YouTube 👇About PadmaWith close to 20 years of experience in Identity, Security, and enterprise platforms, Padma Prasad Parthasarathy currently leads product and architecture for Security for AI and Agent Identity at Microsoft. He has built and scaled IAM and Zero Trust solutions across some of the world’s largest organizations, bridging deep technical expertise with real-world product impact.LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/padmaprasadp/🔗 Related Links* What is the Microsoft Entra Agent Registry? - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/agent-id/identity-platform/what-is-agent-registry📗 Chapters00:00 Intro 02:14 The Rise of Digital Workers 07:13 Static Apps vs. AI Agents 12:43 Introducing Entra Agent Registry 17:28 Agent ID vs. Registry 24:08 How Agents Collaborate 30:29 Emerging Agent Standards 35:24 Understanding Agent Collections 42:05 Managing Risky Agents 46:01 Automating Agent SecurityPodcast Apps🎙️ Entra.Chat - https://entra.chat🎧 Apple Podcast → https://entra.chat/apple📺 YouTube → https://entra.chat/youtube📺 Spotify → https://entra.chat/spotify🎧 Overcast → https://entra.chat/overcast🎧 Pocketcast → https://entra.chat/pocketcast🎧 Others → https://entra.chat/rssMerill’s socials📺 YouTube → youtube.com/@merillx👔 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/merill🐤 Twitter → twitter.com/merill🕺 TikTok → tiktok.com/@merillf🦋 Bluesky → bsky.app/profile/merill.net🐘 Mastodon → infosec.exchange/@merill🧵 Threads → threads.net/@merillf🤖 GitHub → github.com/merill Get full access to Entra.News - Your weekly dose of Microsoft Entra at entra.news/subscribe
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    51 mins
  • Global Secure Access Explained: Real-World Rollouts, Mistakes, and Best Practices

    Global Secure Access Explained: Real-World Rollouts, Mistakes, and Best Practices
    Jan 10 2026

    In this episode, I’m joined by Christopher Brumm from glueckkanja to discuss real-world experiences deploying Microsoft Entra Global Secure Access (GSA).We go beyond the docs to talk about actual customer rollouts, scaling challenges, retiring VPNs, and what teams often underestimate when moving to Zero Trust Network Access.

    Subscribe with your favorite podcast player or watch on YouTube 👇

    About Christopher Brumm

    Christopher Brumm is a Cyber Security Architect at glueckkanja AG in Germany. With more than 15 years of experience in IT security, Chris brings deep expertise and hands-on knowledge across the Microsoft Security portfolio and beyond. His career journey spans from network and data center technologies to Active Directory and Entra ID, with a strong focus on identity security.

    As a Microsoft MVP and CISSP, Chris is an active voice in the security community, regularly speaking at events and sharing insights through blog posts on identity and security topics. His latest passion is Global Secure Access, where identity, security, and networking converge to deliver a holistic Zero Trust approach.

    * LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherbrumm

    🔗 Related Links

    * Blog - https://chris-brumm.com

    📗 Chapters

    04:46 Proof of Concept vs Pilot

    12:19 Deployment Strategy: The Blue Pill Approach

    16:03 Solving Performance with Intelligent Local Access

    17:49 Navigating Networking Challenges

    25:14 The Hardest Part: Shutting Down Legacy VPNs

    27:38 Handling External Access and BYOD

    32:15 B2B Features and Tenant Switching

    46:05 Why You Need the Microsoft 365 Profile

    50:49 The Ultimate Admin Workstation Security

    Podcast Apps

    🎙️ Entra.Chat - https://entra.chat

    🎧 Apple Podcast → https://entra.chat/apple

    📺 YouTube → https://entra.chat/youtube

    📺 Spotify → https://entra.chat/spotify

    🎧 Overcast → https://entra.chat/overcast

    🎧 Pocketcast → https://entra.chat/pocketcast

    🎧 Others → https://entra.chat/rss

    Merill’s socials

    📺 YouTube → youtube.com/@merillx

    👔 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/merill

    🐤 Twitter → twitter.com/merill

    🕺 TikTok → tiktok.com/@merillf

    🦋 Bluesky → bsky.app/profile/merill.net

    🐘 Mastodon → infosec.exchange/@merill

    🧵 Threads → threads.net/@merillf

    🤖 GitHub → github.com/merill



    Get full access to Entra.News - Your weekly dose of Microsoft Entra at entra.news/subscribe
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • Cybersecurity First Principles: Lessons from a 20-Year Microsoft MVP

    Cybersecurity First Principles: Lessons from a 20-Year Microsoft MVP
    Jan 4 2026
    Nicolas Blank, Founder of NBConsult and a 20-year Microsoft MVP, joins the show to dismantle the complexity around Zero Trust.Most Zero Trust conversations fail because they start with technology. Nicolas flips the script by using powerful everyday analogies (locking your car, protecting your newborn) to land the three core principles with executives.Essential watching for anyone implementing Zero Trust, securing Microsoft 365/Entra ID, or needing leadership support in 2026.Subscribe with your favorite podcast player or watch on YouTube 👇About Nicholas BlankNicolas is the founder, as well an architect, author and speaker focused on Office 365 and Azure at NBConsult in South Africa, England and Hong Kong. Nicolas is a Microsoft Certified Master, Dual Microsoft MVP - Microsoft Office Apps and Services, Microsoft Azure since March 2007.​Nicolas has co-authored the Microsoft Zero Trust Adoption Framework https://aka.ms/zero-trust-adopt, published by Microsoft; “Microsoft Exchange Server 2013: Design, Deploy and Deliver an Enterprise Messaging Solution”, published by Sybex and available on Amazon; as well as authoring “Azure Site Recovery: IaaS Migration and Disaster Recovery”, published by Pluralsight.Nicolas can be found on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolasblank/Or via his Company Website:​ https://www.nbconsult.co🔗 Related Links* Microsoft Zero Trust Workshop - https://aka.ms/ztworkshop* Zero Trust Adoption Framework - https://aka.ms/zero-trust-adopt* Microsoft Digital Defense Report - http://aka.ms/mddr📗 Chapters01:52 The Why Behind Zero Trust 04:17 The Baby Analogy: Explaining Least Privilege 07:41 Debunking Security Myths 11:43 Assume Breach vs Being Secure 15:28 Getting Stakeholder Buy-in 20:24 The Immune System Approach 21:45 Ruining Attacker ROI 25:50 The 96% Statistic You Can’t Ignore 33:24 Where to Start: Practical Tools 37:54 The Zero Trust Adoption FrameworkPodcast Apps🎙️ Entra.Chat - https://entra.chat🎧 Apple Podcast → https://entra.chat/apple📺 YouTube → https://entra.chat/youtube📺 Spotify → https://entra.chat/spotify🎧 Overcast → https://entra.chat/overcast🎧 Pocketcast → https://entra.chat/pocketcast🎧 Others → https://entra.chat/rssMerill’s socials📺 YouTube → youtube.com/@merillx👔 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/merill🐤 Twitter → twitter.com/merill🕺 TikTok → tiktok.com/@merillf🦋 Bluesky → bsky.app/profile/merill.net🐘 Mastodon → infosec.exchange/@merill🧵 Threads → threads.net/@merillf🤖 GitHub → github.com/merill Get full access to Entra.News - Your weekly dose of Microsoft Entra at entra.news/subscribe
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    44 mins
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