Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is Microsoft’s cloud-based identity and access management service. It is the core identity and access management solution that is an essential part of the Microsoft 365 suite of services and solutions. Connecting to Azure AD PowerShell is essential for managing your Azure Active Directory tenant, automating tasks, and querying data quickly and efficiently. We will take a step-by-step look at connecting to Azure AD using PowerShell, installing the necessary modules, and working with Azure AD PowerShell cmdlets.
What is PowerShell?
PowerShell is a “powerful” scripting language from Microsoft developed to have a very user-friendly “verb noun” construct to the PowerShell commands. With Powershell, you can easily perform very complex tasks with simple one-liner commands.
What’s more, PowerShell has evolved beyond a Windows-only tool. The PowerShell Core variant of PowerShell is cross-platform and can run on macOS, Linux, and Windows.
Additionally, most software vendors are creating PowerShell modules to work with their specific solutions, allowing admins to standardize the automation tools and PowerShell script solutions they use for scripting out their environments.
As this guide will show, Microsoft has also provided robust PowerShell modules and cmdlets to manage, configure, automate, and administer Microsoft 365 environments by establishing a PowerShell connection.
Install Microsoft Online PowerShell Module
Before connecting to Azure AD PowerShell, install the Microsoft Online PowerShell module. This module provides cmdlets for managing Azure Active Directory and its related services.
You can install the module from the PowerShell Gallery in your Windows PowerShell module shell (built into Windows Server and Windows clients) using the following install module cmdlet to install the msonline module:
Install-Module -Name MSOnlineHow to Connect to Azure Active Directory using PowerShell?
After installing the necessary module, you can connect to Azure Active Directory using the Connect-MsolService cmdlet. This cmdlet establishes a PowerShell session to your Azure AD tenant, allowing you to manage your organization’s resources using PowerShell.
Connect-MsolServiceInstall the Azure AD PowerShell Module
In addition to the Microsoft Online PowerShell module, you need to install the Azure AD PowerShell module. This module provides a comprehensive set of cmdlets for managing Azure Active Directory. You can install the AzureAD module, which adds the Azure Active Directory cmdlets using the following command:
Install-Module -Name AzureADYou will get a prompt to accept the untrusted repository.
Create a PSCredential Object
Before connecting to Azure AD using the Connect-AzureAD cmdlet, you need to create a PSCredential object. This object stores your Azure AD credentials, which are required for authentication. You can create a PSCredential object using the following commands:
$UserPrincipalName = "youradmin@example.com" $SecurePassword = ConvertTo-SecureString "your-password" -AsPlainText -Force $Credential = New-Object -TypeName System.Management.Automation.PSCredential -ArgumentList $UserPrincipalName, $SecurePasswordReplace youradmin@example.com with your Azure AD administrator’s User Principal Name (UPN) and your-password with the corresponding password.
Connect to Azure AD using Connect-AzureAD cmdlet
After creating the PSCredential object, you can use the Connect-AzureAD cmdlet to establish a connection to your Azure AD tenant. Pass the $Credential object as a parameter to the cmdlet, like this:
Connect-AzureAD -Credential $CredentialConnect with the Azure Active Directory PowerShell for Graph module
The Azure Active Directory PowerShell for Graph module is another module you can use to manage Azure AD resources. It is based on Microsoft Graph, which is a unified API endpoint for accessing Microsoft 365 services. Install the module using the following command:
Install-Module -Name AzureAD.Standard.PreviewAfter installing the module, you can connect to Azure AD using the Connect-AzureAD cmdlet, as described earlier.
Connect to Azure AD PowerShell with MFA
If you have Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enabled for your Azure AD administrator account, you need to authenticate using an app password or the Microsoft Authenticator app. To generate an app password, sign in to the Azure portal, go to your account settings, and create a new app password under “App passwords.”
Replace the password in the $SecurePassword variable with your app password and follow the steps described earlier to create a PSCredential object and connect to Azure AD using the `Connect-AzureAD
Connect with the Microsoft Azure Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell
The Microsoft Azure Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell is a legacy module that provides cmdlets for managing Azure AD resources. To install this module, run the following command:
Install-Module -Name MSOnline -AllowClobberAfter installing the module, you can connect to Azure AD using the Connect-MsolService cmdlet described earlier.
Before Connecting to Azure AD PowerShell
Before connecting to Azure AD PowerShell, ensure that you have the required administrator privileges for your Azure AD tenant, and that you have installed Windows PowerShell or PowerShell Core on your client operating system.
Additionally, install the latest version of the Microsoft Online Services Sign-In Assistant if you are using Windows PowerShell.
Start using cmdlets from Azure AD PowerShell Module
Once you have connected to Azure AD using one of the available modules, you can start using cmdlets to manage your Azure Active Directory tenant.
For example, you can create new user accounts, manage group memberships, and configure security settings.
New-AzureADUser -DisplayName "John Doe" -UserPrincipalName "johndoe@example.com" -PasswordProfile $PasswordProfile -MailNickname "johndoe"Use Azure AD Cmdlets
To perform common tasks in Azure AD, you can use cmdlets provided by the installed modules. Some examples of Azure AD cmdlets include:
Get-AzureADUser: Retrieves information about Azure AD user accounts.
New-AzureADGroup: Creates a new Azure AD group.
Add-AzureADGroupMember: Adds a user to an Azure AD group.
Remove-AzureADGroupMember: Removes a user from an Azure AD group.
Install the required software
Before connecting to Azure AD PowerShell, you need to install the required software, such as the Microsoft Online Services Sign-In Assistant and the necessary PowerShell modules. Follow the steps outlined earlier in this blog post to install the required software.
Connect to Azure AD for your Microsoft 365 subscription
To manage your Microsoft 365 subscription using PowerShell, you need to connect to the various services, such as Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Teams. Follow the steps outlined in the following sections to connect to each service.
Connect to AzureAD Service
To connect to the AzureAD service, use the Connect-AzureAD cmdlet from the AzureAD PowerShell module or the Connect-MsolService cmdlet from the Microsoft Online PowerShell module, as described earlier.
What is the Microsoft Graph module?
The Microsoft Graph module is a PowerShell module that provides cmdlets for managing Microsoft 365 services using the Microsoft Graph API. It is a unified API endpoint for accessing various Microsoft 365 services, such as Azure AD, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Teams.
Verify Your Connection
After connecting to Azure AD using one of the available modules, you can verify your connection by running cmdlets, such as Get-AzureADUser or Get-MsolUser. These cmdlets will return information about your Azure AD users, indicating that you have successfully connected to your tenant.
Connect to Security and Compliance Center
To connect to the Security and Compliance Center in Microsoft 365, install the ExchangeOnlineManagement module using the following command:
Install-Module -Name ExchangeOnlineManagement
After installing the module, use the Connect-IPPSSession cmdlet to establish a connection:
Connect-IPPSSession -Credential $CredentialHow can I connect to Exchange Online using PowerShell?
To connect to Exchange Online, install the ExchangeOnlineManagement module using the following command:
Install-Module -Name ExchangeOnlineManagementAfter installing the module, use the Connect-ExchangeOnline cmdlet to establish a connection:
Connect-ExchangeOnline -Credential $CredentialHow To Set an App Password for Microsoft 365 and PowerShell
To set an app password for Microsoft 365 and PowerShell, follow these steps:
Sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center.
Go to your account settings.
Click “Security & privacy” and “Additional security verification.”
Click on “Create and manage app passwords.”
Click on “Create,” provide a name for the app password, and click “Next.”
Copy the generated app password and use it in your PowerShell scripts as needed.
How can I connect to Microsoft Teams using PowerShell?
To connect to Microsoft Teams using PowerShell, install the MicrosoftTeams module using the following command:
Install-Module -Name MicrosoftTeams
After installing the module, use the Connect-MicrosoftTeams cmdlet to establish a connection:
Connect-MicrosoftTeams -Credential $CredentialConnect to SharePoint Online
To connect to SharePoint Online using the SharePoint Online management shell, install the SharePointPnPPowerShellOnline module using the following command:
Install-Module -Name SharePointPnPPowerShellOnline
After installing the module, use the Connect-PnPOnline cmdlet to establish a connection:
Connect-PnPOnline -Url "https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com" -Credential $CredentialReplace https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com with your SharePoint Online site URL.
How To Use MFA with Office 365 and PowerShell
If you have Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enabled for your Office 365 administrator account, you need to authenticate using an app password or the Microsoft Authenticator app when connecting to various services, such as Azure AD, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Teams. Follow the steps outlined earlier in this blog post to generate an app password and use it in your PowerShell scripts.
Review
Connecting to Azure AD PowerShell is essential for managing your organization’s Azure Active Directory tenant and automating tasks. Following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can install the required modules, authenticate using your Azure AD credentials, and work with various cmdlets to manage your tenant.
Remember to keep your PowerShell modules up-to-date and refer to the official documentation for the latest cmdlets and usage information. Additionally, consider using the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK to work with a unified API endpoint for managing multiple Microsoft 365 services.
By mastering the process of connecting to Azure AD PowerShell, you can improve the efficiency of your administration tasks, automate processes, and ensure the security and compliance of your organization’s resources. As you explore the various modules and cmdlets available, you’ll find that PowerShell is a powerful tool for managing your Azure Active Directory and other Microsoft cloud services.
Remember that using PowerShell to manage your Azure AD environment has certain responsibilities. Make sure to follow best practices for security, such as using secure credential handling methods, enabling MFA, and following the principle of least privilege when granting access to user accounts.
Finally, remember that the Azure AD PowerShell landscape is constantly evolving, with new modules and cmdlets being released regularly. Stay informed about updates and enhancements to ensure you use the most effective tools and techniques to manage your Azure Active Directory environment.
By following this step-by-step guide, you are now equipped with the knowledge and tools to connect effectively to Azure AD PowerShell. Happy scripting!
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