Microsoft extends Entra ID to WSL, WinGet

Microsoft has added new security features to Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and the Windows Package Manager (WinGet), including integration with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Active Directory) for identity-based access control. The goal is to enable IT admins to more effectively manage the deployment and use of these tools in enterprises.

The improvements were announced at the Microsoft Ignite conference.

For WSL, Microsoft Entra ID integration is in private preview. Entra ID integration will provide a “zero trust” experience for users accessing enterprise resources from within a WSL distribution, providing better security around passing Entra tokens and an automatic connection for Linux processes to use underlying Windows authentication, Microsoft said. Further, Intune device compliance integration with WSL, now generally available, provides IT admins with an interface to control WSL distribution and version usage in enterprises through conditional access.

[ Related: Microsoft Ignite 2024 news and insights ]

WSL also will have a new distribution architecture to provide a more efficient way for enterprise developers, IT professionals, and users to set up and customize WSL distributions while complying with enterprise security policies. IT professionals can build custom distributions by bundling together necessary applications, binaries, and tools, and distribute them to users. WSL distributions now can be installed through configurable source locations, separate from Microsoft Store. These features are to be previewed in the coming months.

For WinGet, a command line tool that allows users to install Windows apps, Entra ID integration is available in public preview. The integration allows IT professionals to manage WinGet access so that only authorized users within an enterprise can install software onto their devices. Also, WinGet now allows enterprise customers to download line-of-business apps from any WinGet source using the WinGet Download command. WinGet Download is now generally available.