Azure Active Directory (AAD) Tutorial

Introduction

Azure Active Directory (AAD) is a cloud-based identity and access management service provided by Microsoft Azure. It helps employees sign in and access resources such as Microsoft Office 365, the Azure portal, and thousands of other SaaS applications.

Benefits of Azure Active Directory

Azure AD offers several benefits:

• Single Sign-On (SSO) for easy access to multiple applications.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for enhanced security.
• Conditional Access policies for controlling access based on specific conditions.
• Integration with other Microsoft services and third-party applications.

Setting Up Azure Active Directory

To set up Azure AD, follow these steps:

1. Log in to the Azure portal.
2. Navigate to Azure Active Directory in the left-hand menu.
3. Click on Create a directory to set up a new directory.
4. Fill in the required details and click Create.

Creating Users and Groups

To manage access and identity, you need to create users and groups in Azure AD:

Creating a User

1. In the Azure portal, go to Azure Active Directory.
2. Click on Users and then New user.
3. Fill in the user details and click Create.

Creating a Group

1. In the Azure portal, go to Azure Active Directory.
2. Click on Groups and then New group.
3. Fill in the group details and click Create.

Assigning Roles

Roles in Azure AD help you manage permissions for different users and groups. To assign a role:

1. In the Azure portal, go to Azure Active Directory.
2. Click on Roles and administrators.
3. Select the role you want to assign.
4. Click on Add assignment, choose the user or group, and click Assign.

Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds a layer of security. To enable MFA:

1. In the Azure portal, go to Azure Active Directory.
2. Click on Security and then MFA.
3. Click on Additional cloud-based MFA settings.
4. Enable the desired settings and click Save.

Setting Up Conditional Access Policies

Conditional Access policies control access based on conditions. To set up a policy:

1. In the Azure portal, go to Azure Active Directory.
2. Click on Security and then Conditional Access.
3. Click on New policy and configure the conditions and access controls.
4. Click Create to save the policy.

Integrating Applications with Azure AD

Azure AD can be integrated with various applications for SSO. To integrate an application:

1. In the Azure portal, go to Azure Active Directory.
2. Click on Enterprise applications and then New application.
3. Select the application you want to integrate and follow the setup instructions.

Monitoring and Reporting

Azure AD provides monitoring and reporting features to keep track of activities. To access reports:

1. In the Azure portal, go to Azure Active Directory.
2. Click on Audit logs or Sign-ins under the Monitoring section.
3. Review the logs and generate reports as needed.

Conclusion

Azure Active Directory (AAD) is a powerful tool for managing identities and access in the cloud. By following this tutorial, you can set up, manage, and secure your Azure AD environment effectively.