Automation

  • 8 min read

How Zluri Helps You Get More Out Of Azure AD

Team Zluri

15th August, 2023

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IT teams have been using and investing time in SSO tools like Azure AD for quite some time. These tools simplify the login process for employees across various apps and systems within the organization.

Now, there's an exciting possibility: the integration of Azure AD with Zluri. This integration can improve things, helping everyone get things done faster. Further, it has the potential to extract more value from Azure AD, leading to improved returns on your time and cost investments. Let’s explore how!

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is a cloud-based identity and access management service offered by Microsoft. It is pivotal in facilitating secure and efficient user authentication and authorization processes for various applications and resources within your organization. 

Despite the good things about this tool, you might not be using it to the fullest. Detecting unauthorized users, optimizing licenses, and handling onboarding and offboarding can consume substantial time for IT teams. Yet, the solution lies in simplifying these tasks through automation, and this is precisely where Zluri steps in. Zluri specializes in leveraging automation to make complex tasks easier. It's not just about refining tasks related to Azure AD–Zluri integration also helps you make the most of Azure AD. 

Connect Azure AD with Zluri to find out which apps your team uses, see how much they use them with usage patterns, and carefully examine how safe each app is. Also, you can easily add new users to Azure AD and automate the provisioning and deprovisioning process. 

Automate Routine Tasks in Azure AD & Make Most Out Of The Tool

Automation has revolutionized the way IT teams operate within Azure AD, enabling them to expedite routine tasks and extract optimal value from this powerful tool. Organizations can efficiently manage their digital ecosystems by automating mundane processes such as user provisioning, license management, and security updates. This automation not only enhances productivity but also minimizes the risk of errors that often accompany manual interventions.

1. Discover shadow IT: Identifying App Users & Usage 

Integrating Zluri and Azure AD is crucial in identifying app users and their usage patterns. Zluri seamlessly integrates with Azure AD, offering a comprehensive and meticulous security analysis for each application accessed via the Azure AD platform. Zluri gives you a comprehensive overview of which users are accessing various applications and how frequently they are doing so.

For example, if you manage various applications, such as communication tools, project management software, and specific industry applications, the integration between Zluri and Azure AD becomes your strategic ally. It seamlessly combines with Azure AD, allowing you to gain valuable insights into app users and their usage patterns. Zluri's security analysis for each application accessed through Azure AD offers a detailed perspective. This gives you a clear picture of who's using which applications and how often.

With this integration, Azure AD data flows into Zluri's system, enabling the discovery of shadow IT instances where users might be utilizing unauthorized applications. Zluri's specialized capabilities then provide a detailed analysis of app usage patterns, offering insights into which applications are being accessed and the frequency of their usage by different users. Thus, it aids your organization in identifying potential vulnerabilities, ensuring a heightened level of security for your digital ecosystem. 

Additionally, the integration supports workflow automation, enabling the creation of custom workflows and alerts triggered by Azure AD data, all without requiring coding expertise.

The Zluri-Azure AD integration empowers organizations to efficiently identify app users, assess their usage patterns, and maintain a secure and optimized application landscape. This partnership ensures that organizations can make informed decisions, streamline workflows, and enhance security by addressing potential shadow IT instances.

2. User Lifecycle Management: Provision & Deprovision Employees In A Single Click

Leverage the complete capabilities of our workflows by effortlessly incorporating actions such as adding users to Azure AD, user removal, and assigning licenses to new users through the seamless integration of Zluri with Azure AD. Achieve task automation with a single click, streamlining your processes for utmost efficiency.

• User Provisioning:  Picture yourself as an HR manager in a fast-growing company. As the company expands, handling employee onboarding and offboarding becomes a constant task. This is where Zluri's User Lifecycle Management excels. When a new employee comes on board, you can kickstart their onboarding via Zluri's user-friendly dashboard. 
  
  With just one click, Zluri seamlessly integrates the new user into Azure AD, setting up their account with the necessary credentials and access rights tailored to their role. Zluri also manages license allocation, making sure the new user is equipped with all essential tools, which might include licenses for Microsoft 365, Teams, and more.
  
  Simplify the process of creating new employee accounts by automating the setup of user accounts, assigning licenses, and configuring initial settings. This removes the need for manual work and guarantees a smooth onboarding process. 

  

  

  This feature streamlines the setup of new employee accounts. It uses automation to create user accounts, assign licenses for software and services, and configure initial settings. This removes the need for manual work and ensures that the process of bringing in new employees is smooth and efficient.

• Mid Lifecycle Changes: As employees go through changes in their roles or departments, their user accounts often need to be adjusted to reflect these changes. Automate changes to user accounts as employees progress within the organization, such as alterations to roles, transfers between departments, and updates to profiles. 

  

  

  This ensures that user access and permissions remain accurate amid shifts within the organization. This feature automates these modifications, ensuring that user access and permissions are accurately updated as organizational changes happen.

• Secure Deprovisioning: When an employee leaves the organization, their access to various applications and systems needs to be deactivated. The manual process of deactivating access to applications during an employee's departure can be intricate and time-intensive for IT teams. 

  

  

  Zluri's automation capabilities can simplify this process, reducing the risk of data breaches and instances of data loss. It automates the process of deactivating access, reducing the risk of data breaches and data loss incidents that can occur when access isn't properly managed during offboarding.
  
  For instance, consider an employee named Alex who resigns from their position. In a traditional scenario, the IT team would need to individually access and disable Alex's accounts across various platforms like email, project management tools, and CRM systems. This process consumes a significant amount of time and opens the door for potential errors, such as missing a critical system or failing to promptly revoke access.
  
  With a robust deprovisioning system in place, like the one provided by Zluri, this process becomes streamlined and secured. 

3. Updation Of Users’ Profile, Permission & Credentials

Ensuring that user profiles, permissions, and credentials remain accurate and up-to-date is essential for smooth operations within any organization. The process involves making necessary adjustments to user information, access levels, and login details.

IT teams can keep user profiles, permissions, and credentials up to date effortlessly with Zluri. This feature ensures that user information remains accurate and aligned with their roles and responsibilities within the organization.

Reset the Password for the User

Simplify the process of password recovery for user accounts. This functionality allows users to reset their passwords securely and conveniently, minimizing disruptions due to forgotten passwords.

Update Custom Role Permission

Tailor role permissions to match specific user needs. Update custom role permissions to ensure users have the appropriate access levels and permissions required for their tasks.

Update User Settings 

Adjust user settings to reflect changes in roles or preferences. This feature enables administrators to fine-tune user settings, ensuring optimal functionality and user experience. This feature lets you customize the permissions that users have based on their roles. So, you can make sure they only have access to what's needed for their tasks.

Update Usage Location Of User

Depending on where users are located, they might need access to specific regional services or need to follow certain regulations. This feature lets you adjust the location settings for users to ensure they get the right services and adhere to relevant rules.

This can be crucial for ensuring users have access to the appropriate regional services and comply with regulatory requirements.

4. License Management & Optimization

Enhance how you manage Azure AD licenses through automation. Zluri automates the complete process, from allocation and tracking to identifying and reclaiming licenses that aren't being used. It optimizes license utilization, keeps tabs on renewals, and ensures smart management of contracts and licenses. 

Additionally, Zluri helps you identify licenses that are not being used and can be given to others. It optimizes the way licenses are used, keeps track of when licenses need to be renewed, and ensures that contracts and licenses are well-managed.

Suppose your admin manages numerous software licenses; the challenge lies in efficiently managing and optimizing them. Zluri steps in with automation to make the task smooth. It covers everything–assigning, tracking, and even recovering unused licenses. The result? Efficient use of licenses, timely renewals, and effective management of agreements and licenses.

Furthermore, Zluri automates the creation of user reports. These reports provide detailed insights into how Azure AD is being used. This includes information about how licenses are being used, the activity of users, and more. This data-driven approach helps organizations make better decisions and continuously improve their usage of Azure AD.

Assign license 

Efficiently allocate licenses to users with ease. Streamline the process of enabling access to specific tools and resources by assigning licenses to the right individuals. This ensures that users have the necessary permissions to use relevant apps and services.

Remove Specific License From User

Flexibly manage licenses by revoking specific licenses from users as needed. If certain tools or services are no longer required for a user's role, you can effortlessly remove the associated license. This helps optimize license allocation and ensures resources are directed appropriately.

Re-Process License Of User

Sometimes, user roles change, or their needs evolve. In such cases, you can reprocess licenses for users, modifying their access according to their new requirements. This dynamic approach to license management ensures that users have access to the right tools throughout their evolving responsibilities within the organization.

5. Detailed Security Analysis Of Each Application

Gain in-depth insights into the security of each individual application within your digital landscape. Zluri seamlessly integrates with Azure AD, offering an intricate security analysis for every application accessed via Azure AD. This analysis delves into the risk-sensitive scope of application access and provides a comprehensive assessment of potential threats within your SaaS stack.

Zluri's capabilities extend beyond a surface-level view, allowing you to conduct a thorough analysis of the security measures implemented for every application in use.

Further, you can automate critical data management tasks, such as backups, file transfers, and adherence to retention policies. Zluri guarantees the secure backup of crucial Azure AD data, ensuring its effortless retrieval whenever necessary. This streamlined approach to data management safeguards your information while simplifying the maintenance process. 

For instance, if your IT admin manages a range of applications utilized within your organization. With Zluri's integration with Azure AD, you gain the ability to deeply understand the security of each of these applications within your digital landscape. For instance, let's say you're using multiple software tools for communication, project management, and data storage.

Zluri seamlessly works with Azure AD to provide you with a detailed security analysis for each of these applications. It enables a detailed analysis of access and data protection. Moreover, it automates critical data tasks like backups and ensures secure Azure AD data storage. Thus, Zluri boosts security, provides app insights, and simplifies data management.

Integrate Azure AD With Zluri With These Simple Steps

Here are the steps to ensure a smooth integration process and optimal utilization of Zluri's features:- 

Step 1: Choose Scopes for Optimal Use

Select scopes that suit your needs to make the most of Zluri's features, such as Discovery, Workflows, SAML, or License Management. These scopes define the range of data and functionalities accessible through the integration. If you prefer a simpler process, default scopes are available for a hassle-free experience.

Step 2: Establish Azure AD Connection (Authorize & Save Instance)

Integration with Azure AD requires authorization from an Azure AD administrator. You can authorize yourself if you possess Azure AD credentials. Alternatively, you can invite a team member to complete the authorization process.

After successfully establishing the connection, Zluri offers the option to save this connection instance. Moreover, if different departments within your organization require several integration instances, Zluri accommodates this by enabling the creation of extra instances, each customized to specific scopes aligned with your distinct IT needs.

Step 3: Authorization Roles

Integration with Azure AD requires authorization from an Azure AD user with the following roles:

• Global Administrator

• Global Reader

• Reports Reader

• Security Administrator

• Security Operator

• Security Reader’

  

  

Step 4: Enabling User Details Access

User Details Visibility for Microsoft Reports. For Microsoft reports, user details are concealed by default. To enable Zluri's access to this information, follow the manual setting adjustment process in your admin dashboard. Kindly follow the steps below to activate this feature.

Step 5: Visit the Admin Center

Head to the Admin Center.

Step 6: Access Org Settings

Within the admin centre, navigate to the Settings > Org Settings > Services page. Select "Reports."

Step 7: Adjust User Details Visibility

Uncheck the option "Display concealed user, group, and site names in all reports," then save your changes. This enables Zluri to access the concealed user details in your reports.

By meticulously following these steps, you guarantee a smooth linkage between Azure and Zluri and pave the way for streamlined workflows, elevated data security, and effective IT management. It simplifies administrative challenges and unlocks the full potential of Azure's capabilities.

Ready to experience it for yourself? today!

About the author

Team Zluri

Team Zluri