Managing external users is one of the most tedious—but also critical—challenges in a Microsoft Business Premium environment. With authentication , authorization , and password security covered in earlier posts, we're now prepared to dive into identity and access management (IAM) specifically for external and guest users. Collaboration beyond organizational boundaries presents unique security challenges, particularly in balancing streamlined access and robust security practic

In Part 02 , we explored authentication , the process of verifying user identities—ensuring users are who they claim to be. Today we’ll build on that by diving into authorization—the process of determining what  authenticated users are allowed. While authentication is a foundational element of any organization’s identity and access management strategy, secure identity verification alone isn’t sufficient. Authorization completes the picture by assigning the correct permissions

In the first part of this series , we laid the foundation for securing Microsoft Business Premium environments, covering the core security principles and configurations. Now, we shift our focus to authentication—the frontline of identity protection. Authentication is at the heart of securing any environment, and with evolving threats like phishing, credential stuffing, and AiTM attacks, ensuring robust authentication is non-negotiable. A compromised identity can grant an atta