Microsoft Identity Manager (MIM) has long been a cornerstone of identity and access management for many organizations. It integrates seamlessly with on-premises systems like Active Directory, SAP, Oracle, and other LDAP and SQL platforms to ensure consistent user identities across multiple environments.
However, with Microsoft’s focus shifting toward cloud-first solutions like Entra ID, MIM’s mainstream support has ended and extended support will end in just a few years (2029). This article will help organizations determine their next steps. It explains the ramifications of MIM’s end of life and explores viable alternatives, including Microsoft Entra ID Governance and Netwrix GroupID.
The Evolution of Microsoft Identity Manager
MIM has its roots in a product developed by ZOOMIT Corporation in the late 1990s. Microsoft acquired ZOOMIT in 1999 and incorporated its technology into Microsoft Identity Integration Server (MIIS), a solution to synchronize identities across directories that was released in 2003.
MIIS was rebranded as Forefront Identity Manager (FIM) in 2010 and then as Microsoft Identity Manager (MIM) in 2015. MIM introduced automatic identity provisioning, group management, self-service capabilities and privileged access management. The most recent version, Service Pack 2, added significant updates, including group managed service accounts, enhanced synchronization and improved security features.
What Does End of Support Mean for MIM?
As Microsoft has shifted its focus toward cloud-first solutions like Entra ID, the company laid out a timeline for MIM end of life (EOL). Microsoft ended mainstream support for MIM in 2021, so all remaining customers are currently on extended support. That means Microsoft offers only security updates and paid support options — no more feature updates, design changes or non-security fixes.
Extended support will be available until January 2029, but once that deadline comes, there will be no further security updates or support from Microsoft. Any organization still relying on MIM face serious security, compliance and operational risks. Accordingly, it’s vital to begin planning your transition now.
What Are the Alternatives to MIM?
Here are the key options open to organizations that still rely on MIM:
- Supplement MIM with third-party services. Some organizations may choose to remain with MIM for the time being and rely on third-party support services to manage their identity needs. This approach may work for a while for those with minimal feature requirements, but it will not be a viable strategy for long.
- Transition completely to Entra ID Governance. For organizations ready to embrace a complete cloud strategy, Microsoft Entra ID Governance provides a robust alternative to MIM. It offers features such as identity lifecycle management, access lifecycle management, and privileged access lifecycle management. However, it does not provide a direct replacement for all MIM capabilities, as detailed below, so this migration option requires careful planning.
- Adopt a hybrid approach. Organizations that prefer a gradual transition can replace most MIM functionalities with Microsoft Entra ID Governance and leverage other tools to fill functionality gaps.
- Implement third-party solutions. Migrating to an alternative identity management vendor is a viable option, especially for organizations that require on-premises identity management, extensive customization or integrations with legacy systems.
What Are the Feature Gaps Between MIM and Entra ID Governance?
While both MIM and Entra ID Governance provide identity management, some features in MIM do not have direct counterparts in Entra ID Governance. Here’s a breakdown of the key feature gaps to keep in mind as you choose your transition strategy:
| Feature | MIM | Entra ID Governance |
| Custom workflow extensions | Offers highly customizable workflows using .NET extensions and PowerShell scripts | Does not support custom extensions, relying instead on predefined workflows with limited customization |
| Connector support | Supports a wide array of connectors for on-premises systems, including SQL, Oracle and LDAP | Focuses on cloud-native connectors, with limited support for legacy on-prem systems |
| Granular attribute flows | Provides detailed configurations for attribute synchronization across systems | Offers more limited attribute flow capabilities with less granularity |
| Identity synchronization | Supports complex scenarios, including multi-forest Active Directory environments | Provides less flexible synchronization, mainly utilizing Entra ID Connect to sync on-prem Active Directory with Entra ID |
| Password management | Features self-service password reset (SSPR) for on-prem systems and custom password policies | Manages passwords strictly for Entra ID accounts, with limited capabilities for on-prem systems |
| Custom attribute management | Allows the creation and synchronization of custom attributes across connected systems | Offers limited capabilities to manage custom attributes |
| Hybrid views of identities and groups that exist in multiple repositories, such as forests or cloud stores | Does not support hybrid views | Provides hybrid views |
| Cloud dynamic groups in which membership is automatically updated based on defined rules or filters | Supports on-premises dynamic groups only | Supports dynamic groups in the cloud, but membership visibility is limited. |
| Shadow membership | Enables users to have temporary membership in a privileged group in a separate AD forest to give them elevated permissions for a limited time only | Does not support shadow membership |
| Reporting and auditing | Provides extensive reporting capabilities via SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) | Offers built-in reporting with less depth and flexibility |
| Role-based access control (RBAC) customization | Supports custom role configurations and can leverage Dynamic Access Control (DAC) for attribute-based permissions (note that DAC is not consistently supported across all hybrid infrastructures) | Provides entitlement management and access reviews but does not fully support MIM’s hybrid query-based RBAC model, making transitions difficult for on-premises and non-Microsoft systems |
| Advanced group management | Features complex dynamic group management capabilities | Supports dynamic groups but offers fewer configuration options than MIM |
| Integration with legacy applications | Offers strong integration capabilities | Focuses on cloud applications, so additional work is needed for legacy integrations |
| Scalability | Designed to handle large volumes of identities and complex identity management tasks | Best suited for organizations with a cloud-first approach; may require adjustments for larger, more complex environments |
Considerations for Choosing an Identity Management Solution
Core Considerations
When choosing an alternative to Microsoft Identity Manager, be sure to consider the following key criteria:
- Integration capabilities — Ensure the solution can seamlessly integrate with your existing systems, such as Active Directory, HR systems and other enterprise applications. This helps maintain a cohesive identity management process.
- Automation and efficiency — Look for solutions that offer robust automation features for user provisioning, de-provisioning and group management. Automation reduces manual workload and minimizes errors, enhancing overall efficiency.
- Security and compliance — The solution should provide strong security features, including role-based access control, multifactor authentication and audit workflows. Compliance with applicable industry standards and regulations is also crucial.
- Scalability — Choose a solution that can scale easily as your organization grows. It should handle increasing numbers of users and devices without compromising performance.
- User experience — A user-friendly interface and self-service capabilities can reduce the burden on IT staff and empower users to manage their profiles and access requests.
- Vendor support — Consider the quality of customer support, training, documentation and other resources available from the vendor to ensure smooth implementation and ongoing management.
Security Considerations
Security must also be a top priority when transitioning from MIM to another identity management solution. Be sure to look for the following:
- Robust security features — Advanced security features like MFA significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
- Risk-based access policies — Conditional access policies, such as those in Entra ID, enable enforcement of stricter controls based on contextual factors that indicate higher risk. For example, requests to access regulated data or attempt to log on from unusual locations can trigger an MFA step.
- Compliance and governance — With regulatory requirements becoming increasingly stringent, organizations must ensure their identity management solutions support compliance.
- Data protection — Key features to look for include encryption of data both at rest and in transit, as well as continuous monitoring for threats.
Planning Your Transition
As you plan your migration strategy, be sure to keep these important strategies in mind:
- Assess MIM usage. Identify the MIM features your organization relies on most and map them to potential replacements.
- Prioritize security. Ensure any new solution adheres to modern security best practices, such as Zero Trust principles and passwordless authentication.
- Engage stakeholders. To align the transition plan with business objectives, be sure to involve IT, compliance teams and end users.
- Leverage expert support. Partnering with a vendor like Netwrix will streamline implementation and training.
How Netwrix Can Help
Netwrix GroupID offers a seamless and scalable alternative to Microsoft Identity Manager. It enables organizations to maintain on-premises identity management while providing the flexibility to transition to a hybrid or cloud environment in the future. Key benefits include the following:
- Enhanced visibility and control — Netwrix GroupID provides comprehensive reporting and auditing capabilities essential for compliance and governance, which are limited in MIM.
- Streamlined identity governance — Netwrix GroupID helps ensure that users have appropriate access rights without unnecessary privileges by enabling regular access reviews and robust entitlement management.
- Seamless integration — Netwrix GroupID integrates well with Active Directory, Entra ID, LDAP, Google Workspace and HR systems. As a result, organizations can ensure business continuity while preparing for future transitions.
- Support for hybrid environments — Netwrix GroupID supports modern hybrid environments with a mix of on-prem and cloud systems.
- Advanced group and identity management —Netwrix GroupID ensures your identity data is accurate, secure and up to date through capabilities like automated provisioning, dynamic group membership updates, synchronization across directories and periodic access reviews.
- Enhanced security and compliance —Netwrix GroupID enables precise access control by assigning permissions based on roles and responsibilities. Combined with MFA and attestation workflows, this helps mitigate risk and ensure compliance with standards like GDPR, HIPAA and PCI DSS.
- Self-service tools —Highly configurable self-service tools empower users to manage their profiles, access requests and passwords, reducing both user frustration and IT workload.
- Scalable and flexible architecture — Built to scale with your organization’s needs, Netwrix GroupID supports on-premises, cloud and hybrid setups while ensuring consistent performance and adaptability.
- Flexible licensing — Netwrix GroupID offers flexible, modular licensing. Select the features you need now, whether that’s comprehensive identity management or group lifecycle automation, knowing you have options to expand as you grow.
Conclusion
As Microsoft Identity Manager enters its final chapter, organizations must prepare for the future. Whether you choose a complete cloud transition, a hybrid approach or an alternative solution, planning is critical to ensuring a smooth transition and sustained security.
For MIM customers who value on-premises management with the flexibility to evolve, Netwrix GroupID offers a powerful option that will support their identity management needs today and into the future.
Ready to learn more? Discover how Netwrix GroupID can help your organization transition from MIM with confidence. [Schedule a Demo]
FAQ
What happens when MIM support ends in 2029?
Microsoft will no longer provide support or security updates for MIM after January 2029. Organizations still relying on MIM will face security, compliance and operational risks, so it’s essential to begin planning the transition to a supported identity management solution as soon as possible.
How do I ensure a seamless migration without disrupting business operations?
To ensure a seamless migration, organizations should develop a comprehensive migration plan that includes risk assessment, phased implementation and testing. Tools like Netwrix GroupID can facilitate a gradual transition while minimizing disruption to business operations.
Can Microsoft Entra ID Governance fully replace MIM?
No. While Microsoft Entra ID Governance offers robust cloud-based identity management with many advanced features, it does not fully replace MIM. Important gap areas include:
- Custom workflow extensions
- Connector support
- Granular attribute flows
- Identity synchronization
- Password management
- Custom attribute management
- Hybrid views
- Dynamic cloud groups
- Shadow membership
- Reporting
- Integration with legacy applications
