Is Entra ID P2 worth it over P1?
Entra ID P2 is worth it when Identity Protection risk-based Conditional Access, Privileged Identity Management for admin roles, access reviews, or Entitlement Management access packages are part of the operating model. Where those are not yet in scope, P1 covers the everyday Conditional Access, MFA, and self-service password reset needs.
The four things you buy P2 for
- Identity Protection — sign-in and user risk as Conditional Access conditions.
- Privileged Identity Management — just-in-time role activation, approvals, access reviews on privileged roles.
- Access reviews — periodic recertification of group and app membership.
- Entitlement Management — access packages, catalogs, lifecycle for internal and external access.
How to buy it
- Bundled in Microsoft 365 E5, Enterprise Mobility + Security E5, and the Entra Suite.
- As a per-user Entra ID P2 add-on on top of E3 or Business Premium — often cheaper than jumping to E5 if only P2 is needed.
- Entra ID Governance is a further per-user SKU that unlocks Lifecycle Workflows and advanced entitlement features beyond P2.
Read next
- Entra ID Privileged Identity Management— PIM turns standing admin access into just-in-time, approval-gated activation. The model, what it covers, role settings that work, and a rollout that sticks.
- PIM operational playbook— How to run Privileged Identity Management as a working process — onboarding, activation, approvals, and audit.
- Entra ID Governance explained— Entra ID Governance explained: access reviews, entitlement management, lifecycle workflows, separation of duties, P2 vs Suite licensing, and rollout order.