Which protocol is utilized by Microsoft Entra ID for authorization?

The correct choice is B, SAML, which stands for Security Assertion Markup Language. SAML is an open standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between parties, specifically between an identity provider and a service provider. In the context of Microsoft Entra ID (formerly known as Azure Active Directory), SAML is used to facilitate Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities, allowing users to authenticate once and gain access to multiple applications without needing to re-enter their credentials.

SAML works by allowing users to authenticate with an identity provider (in this case, Microsoft Entra ID), which then provides a signed assertion to the service provider (the application the user is trying to access). This assertion carries the necessary information about the user’s identity and attributes, granting the user access based on their validated identity.

While other protocols listed, such as TCP/IP, FTP, and SMTP, serve distinct functions in network communication and data transfer, they are not specifically designed for authorization. TCP/IP is a set of networking protocols used for communication over the internet, FTP is used for transferring files, and SMTP is used for sending emails. Therefore, they do not apply to the context of authorization mechanisms that are inherent to identity management systems like Microsoft Entra ID.