SailPoint → Microsoft Entra ID Governance migration playbook
Migrate IGA workloads from SailPoint to Entra ID Governance — driven by Microsoft ecosystem consolidation + license economics.
TL;DR
For Microsoft-heavy enterprises, Entra ID Governance now covers many IGA scenarios. Migrations from SailPoint typically when IGA scope is mostly M365 + Azure-resident identities. Timeline 9-15 months.
SailPoint
Microsoft Entra ID Governance
Typical timeline
9-15 months for mid-large enterprise
Why teams move
- Microsoft ecosystem consolidation — M365 + Azure + Entra ID Governance
- License economics — Entra ID P2 / Entra ID Governance bundled
- IGA scope is mostly Microsoft-resident
- SailPoint operational burden reduction
The migration in 4 phases.
1. Phase 1 — Discovery
6-8 weeks
- SailPoint config inventory
- Source/target apps in scope
- Entra ID Governance fit assessment
2. Phase 2 — Entra ID Governance setup
8-10 weeks
- Access reviews configured
- Entitlement management catalog
- Lifecycle workflows
3. Phase 3 — Migration
6-9 months
- Sources + roles + certifications transitioned
4. Phase 4 — SailPoint decommission
1-2 months
- SailPoint retired or scope-reduced
What lives where.
| Capability | Source (SailPoint) | Target (Microsoft) |
|---|---|---|
| IGA platform | SailPoint ISC | Entra ID Governance |
| Access certifications | SailPoint certifications | Entra Access Reviews |
| Entitlement management | SailPoint roles + entitlements | Entra Entitlement Management catalogs |
| Lifecycle workflows | SailPoint lifecycle | Entra Lifecycle Workflows |
| SoD | SailPoint SoD policies | Entra Access Reviews + Conditional Access (limited) |
What moves, what doesn’t.
Identity sources
AD Connect / Entra Cloud Sync from HRIS / AD. No direct SailPoint user migration.
Access reviews
Keep SailPoint history accessible for audit lookback; new cycles in Entra.
Connectors
Entra ID Governance connector library is smaller than SailPoint. Verify each in-scope app is covered.
The 7-step cutover.
- 01Coexistence window — both platforms running access reviews
- 02New cycles start in Entra
- 03Apps in Entra ID Governance scope migrate first
- 04SailPoint retained for non-Entra apps OR fully decommissioned
What teams find out the hard way.
Coverage gaps
Entra ID Governance is strong for Microsoft-resident identity but weaker for legacy / non-Microsoft apps. Verify each in-scope app is covered.
SoD modeling
SailPoint SoD is mature; Entra equivalent is via Access Reviews + Conditional Access. Different model — may not 1:1 translate.
Role mining
SailPoint role mining engine doesn't exist in Entra. Plan role-model rebuild.
Questions we get on this migration.
Is Entra ID Governance feature-complete vs SailPoint?
Not for non-Microsoft scope. Best fit when 80%+ of in-scope identity is Microsoft-resident.
We’ve led this migration. More than once.
Engagement starts with a 90-minute discovery call — we tell you what we’d actually do, with timeline + risk register. No commitment.