Get Started with Azure Active Directory

Welcome to Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management service. This guide will help you get started with the core features and functionalities of Azure AD.

What is Azure Active Directory?

Azure AD is a comprehensive identity and access management solution that helps you:

• Manage users and groups.
• Secure access to cloud and on-premises applications.
• Enable single sign-on (SSO).
• Protect your organization with multi-factor authentication (MFA) and other security features.
• Provision and manage identities for your workforce and external users.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• An Azure subscription. If you don't have one, you can create a free account.
• Appropriate permissions to create and manage Azure resources.

Step 1: Create an Azure AD Tenant

A tenant is a dedicated instance of Azure AD that your organization owns and manages. If you already have an Azure subscription, you likely already have an Azure AD tenant associated with it.

1. Sign in to the Azure portal.
2. In the search bar, type "Azure Active Directory" and select it.
3. On the Azure Active Directory overview page, you will see your current tenant information.
4. If you need to create a new tenant, navigate to "Manage tenants" and click "Create".

Step 2: Understand Your First User Account

When you create an Azure AD tenant, you typically start with a global administrator account. This account is used to manage the tenant.

• Your initial domain name: Your tenant will have a primary domain name, often in the format yourtenantname.onmicrosoft.com.
• Global Administrator role: This role has unrestricted access to all aspects of the Azure AD tenant and associated resources. Use this role judiciously.

Step 3: Add Users and Groups

You can now start adding users and organizing them into groups.

Adding a User:

1. In your Azure AD tenant, navigate to "Users".
2. Click "New user" and choose "Create new user".
3. Fill in the required details: User name, Name, Password, and assign roles if necessary.
4. Click "Create".

Creating a Group:

1. In your Azure AD tenant, navigate to "Groups".
2. Click "New group".
3. Choose the group type (e.g., Security), give it a name, and assign a description.
4. Select a membership type (e.g., Assigned, Dynamic User, Dynamic Device).
5. Add members if you chose "Assigned".
6. Click "Create".

Step 4: Explore Application Integration

Azure AD allows you to integrate a vast number of pre-integrated applications (SaaS apps) and your own custom applications.

1. In your Azure AD tenant, navigate to "Enterprise applications".
2. Click "New application".
3. Browse the gallery for pre-integrated applications or choose to create your own.
4. Follow the instructions to configure the application for single sign-on and user provisioning.

Step 5: Secure Access with MFA

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a critical security measure. Azure AD offers robust MFA capabilities.

1. In your Azure AD tenant, navigate to "Security" > "MFA".
2. Configure your MFA settings, including which users and groups require MFA and what authentication methods are allowed.

Next Steps

Now that you have a basic understanding of Azure AD:

• Explore Azure AD Concepts in detail.
• Learn how to Manage Users effectively.
• Discover how to Manage Groups for better organization.
• Dive into Application Integration to secure your apps.
• Learn about advanced security features like Conditional Access and Identity Protection.

This guide is just the beginning. Azure AD is a powerful service with many capabilities to help you manage identities and secure your cloud resources.