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# How to create a free tier EntraID tenant to use for SecureRDP

### Overview

TruGrid SecureRDP requires a Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) tenant for identity and access management. If your organization does not already have an Entra ID tenant through a Microsoft 365 or Azure subscription, you can create one at no cost using a free Azure account.

| The free tier includes core identity features such as user and group management, single sign-on, and self-service password change for cloud users - everything needed to get started with SecureRDP.

### Prerequisites
* A valid Microsoft account (Outlook, Hotmail, or Live) or a GitHub account. If you do not have one, you can create a Microsoft account at [https://account.microsoft.com](https://account.microsoft.com/).
* A valid credit or debit card for identity verification. A temporary $1 USD authorization hold is placed during signup and reversed after verification. You will not be charged.
* A phone number for SMS or call verification.

### Steps

###### 1. Start the Azure Free Account Signup
Navigate to [https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/free](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/free) and select **Start free**.

###### 2. Sign In
Sign in with your existing Microsoft account or GitHub account. If you are creating a new Microsoft account for this purpose, complete the account creation flow first, then return to the signup page.

###### 3. Complete Identity Verification
Provide your phone number and credit/debit card details when prompted. This is for verification only - no charges are applied. The $1 temporary hold is reversed automatically.

###### 4. Accept the Agreement and Create the Account
Review the subscription agreement, offer details, and privacy statement. Select **Sign up** to complete the process.
Once signup completes, you are redirected to the Azure portal. Your new Azure account automatically includes a default Entra ID tenant associated with your billing account.

###### 5. Access Your Entra ID Tenant
You can manage your new tenant in either location:
* **Azure portal**: Navigate to [https://portal.azure.com](https://portal.azure.com/) > **Microsoft Entra ID**
* **Entra admin center**: Navigate to [https://entra.microsoft.com](https://entra.microsoft.com/)
| Your tenant's default domain follows the format youraccount.onmicrosoft.com. You can find this under Microsoft Entra ID > Overview.
### 6. Create Users

Before configuring SecureRDP, create user accounts in your new tenant:
1. In the Entra admin center, navigate to **Users > All users**
2. Select **New user > Create new user**
3. Provide a username, display name, and initial password
4. Select **Create**

Repeat for each user who will access SecureRDP.

###### What's Included in the Free Tier

| Feature | Included |
| ---- |
| User and group management | Yes |
| Single sign-on (SSO) | Yes |
| Self-service password change (cloud users) | Yes |
| Basic security reports | Yes |
| Object limit | 50,000 |
| Conditional Access | No (requires P1) |
| Self-service password reset | No (requires P1) |
| MFA (Security Defaults) | Yes |

For a full feature comparison, see [Microsoft Entra ID plans and pricing](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/business/microsoft-entra-pricing).
### Important Notes
* The Azure free account includes $200 USD in credit for the first 30 days and 12 months of select free services. The Entra ID Free tier itself has no expiration and remains available even after the trial credit is consumed.
* Only paid customers can create additional tenants from the Entra admin center. If you need a second tenant, you must sign up with a separate Azure free account.
* As part of Microsoft's Secure Future Initiative, a **Microsoft Entra ID Free** subscription object is automatically attached to your billing account. This provides tenant ownership tracking and administrative recovery. It appears in your billing inventory at no cost and cannot be cancelled.

### Next Steps
Once your Entra ID tenant is ready, proceed to the following articles to configure SecureRDP:
* [Getting Started with SecureRDP](https://help.trugrid.com/en/article/how-to-configure-trugrid-securerdp-to-authenticate-against-azure-ad-zob3zm/)
* [Installing the TruGrid Connector](https://help.trugrid.com/en/article/trugrid-desktop-connector-for-windows-setup-1rgzxud/)