In this article
01What changed
Microsoft’s updated documentation says Choose Your Own Telephony Provider became generally available on 30 October 2026 for Microsoft Entra ID workforce tenants in global Azure. It lets organisations use a supported telecom provider to deliver verification texts and calls, while Entra continues to handle authentication. Microsoft recommends phishing-resistant methods, such as passkeys, wherever possible.
Its retirement guidance sets 1 February 2027 for ending Microsoft-provided SMS and voice delivery for most users. Global Administrators and external users have a later date of 1 July 2027; internal guest users remain in the February group.
02Why it matters
Our practical interpretation: a small business relying on Entra sign-ins should give this transition a named owner. A provider-based arrangement also creates responsibilities for an Azure integration, a telecom account and ongoing operating costs. An IT supplier should explain how those responsibilities will be shared before a business commits to that route.
03What to do
CyberScan practical checklist: apply these steps to your own services and responsibilities.
- Ask your administrator which users still depend on SMS or voice, and record the applicable retirement date for each group.
- Evaluate a phishing-resistant sign-in method, including supported devices, staff registration and account recovery.
- Where a documented need for telephony remains, review provider coverage, fraud controls, Azure costs and support ownership.
- Pilot the selected approach with a small group, check successful sign-ins and recovery, and communicate the change before expanding it.
04Limits
Microsoft describes this option for Entra ID workforce tenants; its FAQ excludes Entra External ID and Azure AD B2C. The option supports SMS and voice verification, rather than SMS as the primary sign-in method. This briefing checks published documentation, not the configuration or eligibility of any individual tenant.
Sources & dates
Follow the original publications for the detailed scope and current advice. Checked .
- Frequently asked questions about Choose Your Own Telephony Provider (opens in a new tab)
Microsoft supplies a last-updated date; the original publication date is not stated on this page.
- Choose your own telephony provider for SMS and voice authentication (opens in a new tab)
Microsoft supplies a last-updated date; the original publication date is not stated on this page.
- Passkeys by default and retirement of Microsoft-provided SMS and voice authentication (opens in a new tab)
Microsoft supplies a last-updated date; the original publication date is not stated on this page.
Prepared with AI-assisted drafting and source checking. Practical actions are CyberScan’s interpretation of the cited material; the sources and stated limits should guide any change to a live service. Read our editorial approach.