Practical Graph: Nag Users to Upgrade to a Strong Authentication Method
Convincing people to use MFA is one challenge. Convincing them to use a stronger authentication method than SMS is another. This article explains how to use PowerShell to find people still using SMS for MFA and send email to ask them to upgrade their authentication method. https://practical365.com/upgrade-stronger-authentication-method-mfa/How to Use Bulk User Operations in Entra Admin Center
A new preview option in the Entra admin center supports the ability to update multiple Entra ID accounts. You can update properties, add managers and sponsors, update group membership, revoke account access, and so on. The only surprising thing about the new option is that it’s taken Microsoft so long to add it to the admin center. https://office365itpros.com/2025/02/12/update-multiple-entra-id-accounts/Use Protected Actions to Stop Attackers Hard-Deleting Entra ID Accounts
An article about the horrible devastation that an attacker can wreak inside a compromised Microsoft 365 tenant highlighted how protected actions can help by preventing attackers from being able to permanently remove user accounts unless they can pass additional authentication tests. Protected actions won’t stop attackers that have complete control over a tenant, but it might irritate them! https://office365itpros.com/2025/02/11/entra-id-protected-action/Maester: Microsoft Security Test Automation Framework
The Maester tool is a community initiative to create a tool to help tenant administrators improve the security of their Entra ID tenants. It’s still in its early stages, but even so Maester shows signs that it will be a valuable asset for administrators who want to learn more about securing their tenant against possible external compromise. https://office365itpros.com/2024/04/15/maester-tool-community/HVE GA Update?
Hello! I had submitted a question on HVE (Azure Communications and HVE - Microsoft Q&A) and would like an update on its planned GA. Has a specific date been set for HVE to exit public preview and become generally available to organizations? We are excited to use HVE but prefer to wait for GA and understand potential costs before deciding. Thank you for your time.Microsoft Introduces People Administrator Role
A new people administrator role is available in Entra ID. The new role allows holders to manage settings associated with people, like pronouns and custom properties for the Microsoft 365 user profile card. The people administrator role is a less privileged way to assign responsibilities for people actions and removes the need to assign more privileged roles like User administrator. Time for a role review! https://office365itpros.com/2025/02/06/people-administrator-role/Interpreting SignIn Audit Records for Service Principals
Entra ID retains audit log records for service principal signins for 30 days. The audit data can reveal some interesting insights such as the presence of unexpected service principals or access to an application from an external source, or even the use of an app secret by an application instead of a more secure method. It’s time to write some PowerShell to interpret the data. https://office365itpros.com/2025/02/05/service-principal-signins/Entra ID Introduces New Graph Permissions for User Accounts
A set of new granular Graph permissions for User account management is now available to handle common operations like changing account passwords or updating phone numbers. There’s no need to update existing code unless you want to use the principle of lease privilege, in which case you’ll replace the current permissions with the new permissions. My feeling is that relatively few will go update code, but I could be surprised. https://office365itpros.com/2025/02/04/graph-permissions-for-user-accounts/Update #8 Available for Automating Microsoft 365 with PowerShell
Monthly update #8 is now available for the Automating Microsoft 365 with PowerShell ebook. Subscribers can download the updated files from Gumroad.com. The Office 365 for IT Pros eBook includes Automating Microsoft 365 with PowerShell. Both books are updated monthly. Mastering the Microsoft Graph is a major focus of the PowerShell book, which should be helpful to anyone trying to upgrade scripts from the old AzureAD and MSOL modules. https://office365itpros.com/2025/01/27/automating-microsoft-365-ps8/
Visual interactive map to show people and their locations (and other details)
Hi all, I work for a major law firm in the US and work closely with many attorneys, from different offices. My team and I are trying to build an interactive map that will show the attorneys locations and which department they belong to. The purpose of this is well, 1. To optimize partners visits when traveling to other offices and 2. To keep a dynamic record of this information. And hoping this is something we can escalate to client level later. Has anyone worked on something similar before, if so, which apps within the 365 realm will be my best partners? I am betting on Power BI but curious to see if anyone has worked with something different. Thanks in advance.
