Automate Microsoft 365 Settings with Microsoft365DSC

What’s the first crucial step for every admins? Of course, configuring the Microsoft 365 tenant with accurate settings without any misassignment takes the spot!

Of course, manually configuring requires endless tab navigation, which is why we switched to PowerShell. But PowerShell didn’t leave us in peace! 😫Now, we’re struggling to install and get used to multiple modules just to fine-tune settings across different Microsoft 365 workloads.

Imagine a single, powerhouse module that effortlessly handles config deployments across all your workloads. Wake up – it’s no longer just a dream! 🚀Microsoft365DSC is the tool you’ve been waiting for, automatically deploying configurations like Conditional Access, mailbox permission, and more, across various services.

Now, let’s focus on the Microsoft365DSC tool and take a closer look at one of its standout features – “Automation.”

Microsoft 365DSC is an open-source tool that helps you manage and configure your entire Microsoft 365 setting in a configuration as code style. It is skillfully constructed atop the PowerShell Desired State Configuration framework, which provides a structured approach for defining and enforcing desired tenant configurations.

Here is why the Microsoft365DSC is a must-have tool for effective Microsoft 365 tenant configuration management.

• Automated Deployment of Microsoft 365 Tenant Settings: No more scouring through tabs! Once you create a DSC configuration, you can make changes to it whenever needed and can deploy them in your tenant automatically.
  
• Export Crucial M365 Security Settings: You can effortlessly export configurations from one tenant and sync the M365 settings to other tenants. It helps you maintain a baseline configuration for multiple Microsoft 365 environments!
  
• Generate Handy M365 Tenant Report: Microsoft365DSC facilitates comprehensive analysis of your tenant configuration with insightful Microsft365 reports.
  
• Monitor Microsoft 365 Configuration Changes: You can maintain a watchful eye against unintended alterations by monitoring M365 settings using Microsoft365DSC. This alerts you about any accidental or suspicious drifts and ensures swift identification of changes.
  
• Assess Microsoft 365 Tenant Settings: You can easily spot Microsoft 365 tenant changes by comparing tenant’s configuration against blueprints with Microsoft365DSC. During verification, admins can generate discrepancy reports to find missed items and take steps to refine your Microsoft 365 security practices.

This tool comprehensively addresses all major Microsoft 365 workloads. In clear, you can automate your Microsoft 365 configurations, settings, and policies across Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Security and Compliance, Power Platforms, Intune, and Planner. So, all you need to do is to set it up once and that’s it!

You can automate, extract, configure, monitor, restore, and backup your entire tenant configuration, settings, and policies from the comfort of your seat.

Here are some of the configurations you can set across different resources with M365DSC.

Workloads	Tasks
Entra ID	Configure Entra ID applications’ settings Manage Entra ID users’ properties Implement named location in Conditional Access Set Cross-tenant access settings Monitor Entra ID Conditional Access Export Authentication Methods policy setting and more.
Exchange Online	Configure Exchange Online shared mailbox settings Manage Exchange Online mailbox permission Implement EXO Safelink Policy Monitor Exchange Online distribution group settings and more.
Intune	Deploy Intune role assignments Configure Intune account protection policy Manage Intune device compliance policy settings and more.
Office 365	Export admins’ audit log configuration Assess Office 365 organization settings and more.
OneDrive	Configure OneDrive Settings
Power Platform	Manage Power Platform tenant settings Configure Power Platform tenant isolation settings and more.
Security and Compliance	Configure auto sensitivity label rule Manage compliance search setting Monitor DLP compliance policy changes and more.
SharePoint Online	Implement SPO Access Control Settings Deploy SharePoint Online site settings Audit SharePoint site settings and more.
Microsoft Teams	Monitor Teams channel policy changes Manage Teams user properties Implement Teams meeting policy and more.

Let’s get into the steps to install and use the Microsoft365DSC tool to automate tenant configuration. But hold on! You need to refer to some prerequisites first!

Here are some of the prerequisites you need to know before deploying the Microsoft365DSC tool.

1. You should have PowerShell version 5.1 or 7.3+. To check the PowerShell version, you can use the “$PSVersionTable” cmdlet.

2. It would be better to use a Windows terminal to get the best experience of Microsoft365DSC cmdlets.

3. As the Microsoft365DSC tool supports authenticating via user credentials and service principles, you should have valid credentials like password, tenant ID, and app ID with the necessary permissions.

To install the Microsoft365DSC module, run the cmdlet in PowerShell.

Note: Make sure to run the command in the PowerShell Window with administrative rights, otherwise it will not work! Also, it will take two to three minutes to get installed. So, wait until that. ⌛

After installing Microsoft365DSC, don’t forget a crucial step: download its missing dependencies. 💯Unlike many modules, it won’t grab them automatically. Run the below cmdlet after installation, and you’ll be good to go!

That’s it, all the dependencies for the module are installed now. Now, let’s get into our main part “how to auto deploy Microsoft 365 tenant configurations with Microsoft365DSC tool”.

To start automating tenant configurations, it’s crucial to have a solid understanding of PowerShell Desired State Configurations (DSC). Because Microsoft365DSC operates in a configuration-as-code framework, requiring you to express your settings in PowerShell DSC syntax. This DSC code is then used by the tool to achieve effective automation of tenant configurations.

Important: You need to execute the cmdlet “Export-M365DSCConfiguration” with any parameters of the Microsoft365DSC tool. Executing it will generate two files, one in ps1 and psd1 formats (ConfigurationData.ps1). Subsequently, you should copy and paste the “ConfigurationData.psd1” file to your preferred location where you will store your written DSC code. This step is crucial for the seamless implementation of the configurations you have written.

Here is the overview on how to implement Automation of Microsoft 365 Settings with M365DSC

• Step 1: First, you need to create a code in DSC syntax in PowerShell ISE with the necessary configuration and save the file in .ps1 format.
• Step 2: Then, compile your PowerShell configuration to a MOF (Managed Format Object) file.
• Step 3: Finally, apply the MOF file to the target Microsoft 365 tenant.

To explain in detail, we have created a DSC configuration to update all user properties of a new employee within your tenant. Here’s the code.

Once done, you need to save the file as a .ps1 extension and mark down the location of the file. Now, let’s move to the next step.

If you want to configure properties for bulk users, you need to create a CSV file with the respective properties. Let’s see that in detail.

To illustrate, We’ve created a sample CSV file that demonstrates how to set properties like ‘City,’ ‘Department,’ ‘Country,’ and ‘Display Name’ for specific users. You can include additional properties as well based on requirements.

If you intend to update the same properties mentioned in the CSV, you can download the provided DSC code and store it in the respective location.

Download Script : Microsoft365DSC-BulkUpdateUserProperties.ps1

Here comes the most special part! Admins won’t need to manage separate scripts for each Microsoft 365 resource. Yeah, Microsoft365DSC makes it easier for admins to unify multiple Microsoft 365 services into a single powerful DSC code! 😎

• For instance, if you’ve already created a shared mailbox, you may need to configure or update its properties. And a similar situation may arise for meeting policy configuration to prevent users from engaging in malicious meeting activities. And with M365DSC, you can do both at a time!

If you’re looking to update the properties outlined below, simply download the provided DSC code and place it in the required location.

Download Script: Microsoft365DSC – BulkUpdateM365Settings.ps1

This code will help you update properties like,

• Alias name
• Annotations
• Allow users to join meeting
• Meeting Initiation permission
• Create breakout rooms
• Enable cart captions scheduling
• Set meeting schedule
• Cloud recording
• Allow for document collaboration
• Engagement report setting
• External participants’ request control
• IP audio permission
• IP video permission
• Meeting coach usage
• Meeting reactions
• Meeting registration
• Start ad-hoc meetings

Now, onto the next phase: transform your .ps1 file into a MOF file.

• This conversion is essential as the MOF file acts as a machine-readable version, intelligible to the Local Configuration Manager (LCM). Once converted, the tool seamlessly executes it across the relevant Microsoft 365 services.

So, to convert the .ps1 file to MOF file, run the below in PowerShell.

When you compile your configuration using Microsoft365DSC, it validates essential parameters and checks for typos. Upon successful compilation, a reassuring message confirms the creation of the MOF file!

The MOF file created during the process is stored in the same location as your configuration file. This file resides within a newly generated subfolder, and this subfolder is named after the configuration object you have specified.

Once done with the above step, you are now ready to implement the configuration for your tenant. To do it, execute the below PowerShell cmdlet.

• This cmdlet will automatically authenticate against the affected workload using the provided authentication parameters from compilation and apply the configuration settings from the file.

If you find yourself in a situation where you’ve mistakenly configured your settings, don’t panic! Fortunately, you have the flexibility to utilize the same DSC (Desired State Configuration) code to remove or update the necessary modifications.

Microsoft365DSC – One Module, Endless Automation!

In a nutshell, no more manual configuration headaches hereafter! 😌Sit back, relax, and witness the automation. Compile a single DSC file for your settings, tweak as needed, and implement them effortlessly. Microsoft365DSC is your shortcut to streamlined and stress-free tenant configuration management.

I hope this blog brings you more information about how to automate Microsoft 365 settings with Microsoft365DSC in detail. Furthermore, feel free to reach out to us in the comment section for any queries.