{"id":92631,"date":"2021-01-27T10:00:59","date_gmt":"2021-01-27T18:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/security\/blog\/\/?p=92631"},"modified":"2025-06-24T06:28:51","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T13:28:51","slug":"the-state-of-apps-by-microsoft-identity-azure-ad-app-gallery-apps-that-made-the-most-impact-in-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/security\/blog\/2021\/01\/27\/the-state-of-apps-by-microsoft-identity-azure-ad-app-gallery-apps-that-made-the-most-impact-in-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"The state of apps by Microsoft identity: Azure AD app gallery apps that made the most impact in 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

2020 was an unprecedented year, to say the least. The COVID-19 global pandemic drastically changed how we work, learn, and collaborate. Organizations had to find new ways to connect and maintain productivity while providing secure access to critical apps and resources. Our own Microsoft services, like Teams, served as the lifeline for remote and hybrid work and learning during the pandemic\u2014growing rapidly from 44 million daily active users in March 2020<\/a> to 115 million daily active users this past October<\/a>. But we know that businesses need many tools and apps to succeed, and our commitment is to ensure that solutions work seamlessly and securely across platforms and extend to all clouds and apps<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, we analyzed enterprise cloud app usage and took a deeper look at how and what applications organizations are securing with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). In our analysis, we looked at organizations\u2019 application usage within our Azure AD app gallery<\/a>, excluding Microsoft applications such as Azure, Dynamics 365, Office 365, and Teams. Our Azure AD app gallery enables organizations to quickly secure and manage apps of all types and includes thousands of pre-integrated apps. We\u2019re seeing customers of all sizes integrate all their apps with Azure AD to give their workforce a more convenient and secure experience. Read on for insights into how app usage shifted in 2020 compared to the years prior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rise of security and collaboration apps to enable remote work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The challenges of 2020 forced leaders to rethink their priorities to ensure their teams can securely access apps from anywhere, anytime. The statistics reflect this. For example, the number of monthly active users of Azure AD app gallery apps has increased 109 percent year-over-year. And last year, when Microsoft surveyed<\/a> 800 business leaders about their views of the pandemic threat landscape, they listed “Providing secure remote access to resources, apps, and data” as their number one challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It’s no surprise, then, that apps and services that help ensure secure, remote access to on-premises, and cloud resources grew tremendously last year. Organizations have recognized that remote access to all apps including legacy, on-premises apps have become critically important in the new way of work. Security tools like Citrix ADC, Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access, and Zscaler Private Access, which help employees securely access any app regardless of location, have become business-critical, making them some of the fastest-growing applications in our app gallery this past year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to increasing investments in the security space, communication, and collaboration apps have been instrumental to ensure business continuity. We recognize that securing any app is a team effort, so we work closely with app providers of all types to integrate with Azure AD, even Microsoft competitors. Apps like Cisco Webex, Google Cloud \/ Google Workspace, Workplace from Facebook, and Zoom are some of the top apps Azure AD secures to help organizations maintain productivity while helping people feel more connected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve also continued to see a few apps consistently in our most popular apps list. Human Resource apps like SAP SuccessFactors and Workday and IT Service Management apps like ServiceNow continue to see widespread usage among our customers in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The top apps of 2020<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The global pandemic clearly had an impact on which apps were used the most. Companies shifting to remote work improved productivity with apps that strengthened communication, collaboration, and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the first time, security apps like Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access and Zscaler Private Access made their way to the top 15 apps by monthly active users. Other newcomers to the top 15 apps list include collaboration and communication apps; Workplace from Facebook and Zoom. Zoom not only made its 2020 debut within the top 15 on this list, it catapulted to number 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ServiceNow continues to lead in monthly active users for the third year in a row. Google Cloud \/ Google Workspace, SAP SuccessFactors, and Workday have maintained their leading ranks through the years, as organizations of all sizes need HR, IT Service Management, and general productivity applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Q1 2020 to Q2 2020, as the global pandemic hit, many of these top apps accelerated in usage to help provide secure remote access for users and to help manage their digital workflows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We also noticed some subtle differences when comparing the most popular apps by monthly active users with the most popular apps by the number of organizations. Popularity by the number of organizations looks at the apps most used among our customers. With organizations relying more heavily on video conferencing, Zoom made the jump from number 10 in 2018 to number 1 in 2020, pushing list leaders like Google Cloud \/ Google Workspace, and Salesforce from the top two spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to Zoom, KnowBe4 Security Awareness made its way to the top 5 apps in 2020. It rose from number 12 in 2018 to number 8 in 2019, increasing steadily in usage from the beginning of quarter two 2020 to the end of the year, stressing the importance of security training and awareness within the workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cisco Webex, DocuSign, Mimecast Personal Portal, and Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access made their first appearance on this list in 2020, reinforcing the shifts we\u2019ve seen throughout our analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike the security and collaboration apps that topped the list, apps like SAP Concur, a travel and expense management service, dropped off the top 15 list. Due to travel restrictions, those used to traveling regularly for work have swapped out face-to-face meetings for virtual calls from home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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