A step-by-step guide on how to Configure Azure AD Tenant

Managing Azure AD tenant’s identity and access management settings is an important part of configuring the tenant’s Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). Azure AD is a cloud-based directory that stores user identities and access policies for cloud policies for various cloud applications and services.

1. Configure the Domain Name  

After creating your Azure AD tenant, you will need to configure the domain name. This involves adding your domain name and verifying ownership. To configure the domain name,   

1. From the Azure portal, click on “Azure Active Directory” in the left-hand menu.
2. Select the “Custom domains” tab within the Azure Active Directory service.
3. Click on the “Add domain” button.
4. Enter your preferred domain name in the “Name” field and click on “Add domain“.
5. For verifying the ownership of the domain, follow the instructions provided.
6. Choose the verification method that works best for you, such as adding a TXT record to your DNS settings or uploading an HTML file to your website.
7. Once the verification process is complete, your domain name will be added to your Azure AD tenant and ready for use.

2. Configure the Default Security Settings  

Configuring the default security settings for your Azure AD tenant is an important step in ensuring the security of your organization’s data and resources. This involves setting up multi-factor authentication, conditional access, and security policies. To configure the default security settings,  

1. Select the “Security” tab within the Azure Active Directory service.
2. Configure multi-factor authentication by clicking on “MFA” and selecting the users or groups that require MFA, then choose the verification method.
3. Configure conditional access by clicking on “Conditional Access” and creating policies based on conditions like user location, device type, and access requests.
4. Configure security policies by clicking on “Policies” and selecting the settings you want to apply, such as password policies and security baselines.
5. Review the security settings you have configured and adjust as necessary to ensure the security of your organization’s data and resources.

3. Create Users and Groups  

Creating users and groups in your Azure AD tenant is essential for managing access to resources. To create users and groups,   

1. Select the “Users” tab within the Azure Active Directory service.
2. Click on “New user” to create a new user.
3. Fill in the required information for the new user, such as name, username, and password.
4. Assign roles and permissions to the user by clicking on “Assignments” and selecting the appropriate role.
5. Click on “Create” to create the new user.
6. To create a group, select the “Groups” tab in the Azure Active Directory service.
7. Click on “New group” to create a new group.
8. Fill in the required information for the new group, such as name and description.
9. Add members to the group by clicking on “Members” and selecting the users you want to add.
10. Manage access to resources by assigning permissions to the group, either through direct assignment or by adding the group to a role.
11. Click on “Create” to create the new group.
12. Review the users and groups you have created and adjust as necessary to manage access to resources effectively.

4. Configuring access policies  

Access policies are an important part of Azure Active Directory configuration that helps organizations manage cloud applications and services. In Azure Active Directory, Conditional Access can be used to configure access policies. With this feature, administrators can create policies based on factors such as user location, device type, and risk level. All users in an organization can be subject to policies, or they can be assigned to specific users or groups.

1. Click on the “Security” tab and select “Conditional Access” from the left-hand menu.
2. Click on the “New policy” button to create a new access policy.
3. Choose the applications or services that the policy will apply to. This can be done by selecting specific applications or by choosing “All cloud apps“.
4. Set the conditions for the policy. For instance, you can configure the policy to require multi-factor authentication for users who are accessing the applications from outside the corporate network.
5. Set the actions that should be taken when the conditions are met. This can include requiring users to complete a specific authentication method or blocking access entirely.
6. Review and test the policy. Before enforcing the policy, it’s important to review it and test it to ensure that it’s working as intended.
7. Assign the policy to users or groups. Once the policy has been reviewed and tested, it can be assigned to specific users or groups. This can be done by selecting the policy and choosing “Assignments.”

In summary, configuring the Azure AD tenant is a critical part of the process that can help organizations improve their security posture, streamline their identity and access management processes, and increase their users productivity as well.