Public Preview: Secure, Modern Access to Azure Files on macOS with MS Entra ID

Azure Files now supports [access from macOS using Entra ID authentication](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/AzureStorageBlog/secure-modern-access-to-azure-files-on-macos-with-ms-entra-id/4524077) (Public Preview), enabling secure, identity-based access to file shares for cross-platform teams. This expands support for modern workflows, allowing users on macOS to seamlessly access and collaborate on shared data alongside Windows environments. Key benefits include: * **Enhanced security posture:**Password-less access from macOS using Entra ID - no credential prompts or storage account keys—enforced by Conditional Access, MFA, and AES-256 encryption * **Reduced operational overhead:**Eliminate key management; access is provisioned and governed through Entra ID groups * **No Active Directory dependency:**Enable full access to Azure Files using cloud identities - no domain controllers required * **True identity-based access model:**Kerberos authentication with Azure RBAC and NTFS ACLs for precise, layered access control * **Accelerated AI workflows:**Seamless access to large datasets from macOS to support faster experimentation and development Reach out to [azurefiles@microsoft.com](mailto:azurefiles@microsoft.com) with questions. [Learn more](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/identity-kerberos-authentication-macos?source=docs).