Starting with [!INCLUDE [sssql22-md](../../includes/sssql22-md.md)], Azure Arc enabled SQL Servers can utilize Microsoft Entra ID for authentication, bringing a modern centralized identity and access management solution to SQL Server. Microsoft Entra authentication provides greatly enhanced security over traditional username and password-based authentication, which is **not recommended**. For more information about the risks and challenges passwords pose, refer to ["What’s the solution to the growing problem of passwords?](https://news.microsoft.com/features/whats-solution-growing-problem-passwords-says-microsoft/) Microsoft Entra authentication removes the need for self-managed secrets entirely when communicating with Azure resources, through managed identity authentication. For user-based authentication, Microsoft Entra ID supports enhanced security measures including multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and modern identity practices.