Azure Active Directory (AAD) Comprehensive Tutorial

Introduction to Azure Active Directory (AAD)

Azure Active Directory (AAD) is Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management service. It helps your employees sign in and access resources in:

• External resources, such as Microsoft 365, the Azure portal, and thousands of other SaaS applications.
• Internal resources, such as apps on your corporate network and intranet, along with any cloud apps developed by your own organization.

Setting Up Azure Active Directory

To set up Azure Active Directory, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to the Azure portal using a global administrator account.
2. Navigate to Azure Active Directory from the left-hand navigation pane.
3. Click on the Create a directory button.
4. Fill in the necessary details such as the organization name, domain name, and country/region.
5. Click Create to create the directory.

Managing Users in Azure Active Directory

Users can be managed in Azure AD in various ways:

Adding Users Manually

To add users manually:

1. Navigate to Azure Active Directory in the Azure portal.
2. Click on Users and then New user.
3. Fill in the required information such as name, user name, and password.
4. Click Create to add the user.

Adding Users in Bulk

To add users in bulk, you can use a CSV file:

Upload the CSV file in the Azure portal under Users > Bulk create.

Managing Groups in Azure Active Directory

Groups in Azure AD can be used to manage user permissions and access to resources. To create a group:

1. Navigate to Azure Active Directory in the Azure portal.
2. Click on Groups and then New group.
3. Select the group type, provide a name and description, and add members.
4. Click Create to create the group.

Configuring Enterprise Applications

Azure AD supports integration with thousands of SaaS applications. To configure an enterprise application:

1. Navigate to Azure Active Directory in the Azure portal.
2. Click on Enterprise applications and then New application.
3. Choose an application from the gallery or create your own custom app.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to configure the application.

Implementing Conditional Access

Conditional Access policies allow you to control access to your applications and resources based on conditions you specify. To create a conditional access policy:

1. Navigate to Azure Active Directory in the Azure portal.
2. Click on Security and then Conditional Access.
3. Click on New policy and provide a name for the policy.
4. Configure assignments including users, groups, and conditions.
5. Set the access controls to either grant or block access.
6. Click Create to save the policy.

Monitoring and Reporting

Azure AD provides several tools for monitoring and reporting:

• Sign-ins: View and analyze sign-in activity for your users.
• Audit logs: Track changes and activities within Azure AD.
• Risky sign-ins: Identify sign-ins that may pose a risk to your organization.

Conclusion

Azure Active Directory is a powerful tool for managing identities and access in the cloud. By following this tutorial, you will be able to set up and manage users, groups, and applications, as well as implement security measures such as conditional access policies.