Azure AD Entitlement Management, allows organizations to automate access requests, assignments, reviews, and expiration. In large organizations, when a user needs certain permissions or access to an application, it can be difficult to determine who should approve it.
For example, software that requires a license, such as Microsoft Visio or Microsoft Project, can be licensed only to employees deemed necessary in order to manage costs. It is also important to remove licenses from users who are no longer needed.
To manage these needs, we can create Access Packages with Azure AD Entitlement Management so that every user in our organization can easily request access. These packages simplify workflows by automatically distributing software to approved users through Endpoint Manager. Access Reviews are also used to remove access from users with outdated business needs.

What is Azure AD Entitlement Management?
Azure Active Directory Entitlement Management is an advanced management feature that automates access requests, assignments, audits, and expiration for organizations.
This feature includes the processes of granting, applying, revoking and managing access rights to users and groups. Through access packages, users can be granted access permissions to specific resources and these permissions can be managed according to user needs.
Entitlement Managementcomes with a built-in approval flow that allows organizations to clearly define who can access what, and when and how that access is evaluated. This makes governance processes more transparent, auditable, and easy to manage.
Azure AD Entitlement Management Requirements
Entitlement Management is a service available with the Azure AD Premium P365 license, which is offered as part of packages like Microsoft 5 E2. Microsoft’s licensing structure is often complex, and Entitlement Management is no exception.
Each user must have an Azure AD Premium P2 license to request or be a member of an access package. The licenses required to request and perform actions on access packages must be assigned regardless of whether users request these packages. While managing access reviews and creating access packages do not require a license directly, any user who will approve or review these actions will need a license.
Azure AD Entitlement Management Access Packages
Access Packages, Azure AD Entitlement Management can be defined as structures that enable users to request access to resources, especially groups, applications, teams or SharePoint sites.
These packages are ideal for situations that require time-limited or customized access to accomplish a specific task. For example, a consultant working on a project on a temporary basis will only have access to the necessary resources for as long as needed.
Organizations often use Access Packages to control areas that contain sensitive information or require limited access. This might include a SharePoint site with specific HR documents or proprietary information such as financial reports that only certain administrators can access.
Access Packages are managed through the Entitlement Management system, which includes policies that determine who can request a package, who can approve it, when access expires, etc. Access Packages are sets of rules that control who can take what actions on a particular group of resources, and these packages are organized into Catalogs. A Catalog can host multiple Access Packages, and an organization can have multiple Catalogs.
Access Packages can be requested by users or assigned to users by administrators. When an Access Package is assigned to a user, the user is granted access to resources based on the roles associated with the package. These assignments can take effect within 24 hours of the package being assigned or removed. If a package is retired or reaches its expiration date, the associated access is automatically revoked, preventing unnecessary access.
Azure AD Entitlement Management Catalog
Catalog, Azure AD Entitlement Management It is a structure used to organize resources and access packages within it. This structure contains specific groups of resources and acts as an access point for those who want to access them.
The role required to create a catalog is usually assigned to users with certain authorizations within the organization. These roles are usually Individuals with high-level administrative rights, such as Global Administrator, Identity Administrator, or User Administrator.
A catalog is initiated by the user who created it, and that user automatically becomes the first owner of the catalog. The catalog owner can add other owners to the catalog, allowing collaboration on the catalog. Policies, roles, and permissions can be defined within the catalog for specific resources and access packages.
Catalogs allow for more organized and controlled management of resources within an organization. These catalogs organize and manage which resources users can access, when, and how. Catalogs are particularly useful for organizations with large and complex structures because they allow for centralized and systematic management of access control to resources.
Azure AD Entitlement Management Access Reviews
Access Reviews is a mechanism used within Azure AD Entitlement Management to regularly review who has access to specific resources and remove unnecessary or incorrect access. This process is especially vital for organizations with data that requires confidentiality and security.
For example, there may be cases where an employee changes departments and still has access to sensitive data that was required for their previous role but not for their new position.

Organizations often delegate the management of certain products and services directly to the relevant departments or teams. This frees up the IT department to focus their time on more strategic tasks. Access Reviews automates these processes, empowering administrators and team leaders to independently manage the resources and access packages assigned to them.
Entitlement Management also stands out with its ability to delegate. It allows you to delegate permissions that are usually only available to general administrators and user managers to other administrators, which is suitable for larger and more complex organizations. This allows department or team leaders to manage their own access packages and policies.
This mechanism further democratizes access management within the organization and reduces the burden on administrators while making workflows more efficient.