Overview#

Microsoft Account (MSA) (which was previously known as:

• Microsoft Passport
• .NET Passport
• Microsoft Passport Network
• Windows Live ID
• Microsoft Account Identity

is a Marketing term for Single Sign On Profile Microsoft Digital Identity for Microsoft users to log into Microsoft

• websites (like Outlook.com)
• devices running on one of Microsoft's current Operating Systems (e.g. Windows 10 computers and tablets, Windows Phones, and Xbox consoles)
• Microsoft application software (including Visual Studio).

Microsoft Account uses Windows Client Authentication Architecture using, currently, Windows Hello and the Windows Credential Provider to perform Authentication

Microsoft Account appears to be a Federated Identity from a Microsoft Identity Provider (IDP)

Managed Microsoft Account #

Some Microsoft Account are managed at least to some degree by Microsoft Windows and/or Microsoft Active Directory:

• standalone Managed Service Account (sMSA)
• group Managed Service Account (gMSA)
• WORKSTATION_TRUST_ACCOUNT
• INTERDOMAIN_TRUST_ACCOUNT

More Information#

There might be more information for this subject on one of the following:

• Active Directory Account Lockout
• Active Directory Locked Accounts
• Digital Identity
• MSA
• Primary Refresh Token
• Windows Client Authentication Architecture