How to Automate Entra ID Updates? A Guide for IT Teams
Chad BurggrafUpdated 10 min read
Managing user lifecycles inside Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) is among the most important tasks for IT teams. As employees join, change roles, or leave an organization, their digital identities should be updated quickly and accurately.
Every stage of the employee lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding, affects access to critical systems and data. If these updates are delayed or handled incorrectly, it can lead to security gaps, compliance issues, and frustrated users.
Automating Microsoft Entra ID updates makes it easier to manage these user transitions. Automation also frees up IT teams to focus on higher-value tasks instead of repetitive updates.
This guide is about keeping the attributes and group memberships of existing users up to date, such as a new job title, department, manager, or office. Below, we'll show you how to automate those updates with Microsoft Graph and a PowerShell runbook, and how to do it without code. But first, let's look at the options.
Ways to Automate Entra ID Updates
You can use the following methods to automate identity management updates in Entra ID:
- Microsoft Graph API: Microsoft Graph is the API for Entra ID. It lets you read and update users, groups, licenses, access packages, access reviews, and other directory objects from your own code.
- PowerShell script: The Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK wraps the same API in cmdlets, such as
Update-MgUser. You can script user updates, group changes, and license tasks without building a full application, and run the scripts on a schedule in Azure Automation. - Onboarding and offboarding software: IT onboarding tools and offboarding platforms can automate user lifecycle tasks out of the box. They are built to handle account creation, access permissions, and user deactivation without requiring heavy coding or manual updates.
How This Differs From Entra’s Built-In Automation
Microsoft Entra ID also has two built-in features that change users automatically. They solve different problems from a script:
- The provisioning service keeps users in sync with a source. Its HR-driven inbound provisioning updates users from Workday or SAP SuccessFactors, and API-driven provisioning accepts records from any other system of record. It also carries changes on to SaaS apps. If your updates come from an HR system, start with our guide to the Microsoft Entra provisioning service.
- Lifecycle Workflows in Entra ID Governance run tasks at points in the employee lifecycle, such as emailing a manager before a start date or disabling an account on the last day. They can update a few attributes as one of their tasks, but they react to changes rather than bring data in. See our guide to Microsoft Entra Lifecycle Workflows.
A Graph script fills the gaps: one-off bulk changes, attributes no connector maps, or a source with no connector at all.
How to Automate Microsoft Entra ID Updates Using Graph API and PowerShell
If you want full control over Microsoft Entra ID updates, you can use Graph API and PowerShell scripts to automate tasks. Here's how to set up this method of automation:
1. Create an Azure Automation Account
First, you need an Azure subscription to create an Azure Automation account. This is a cloud-hosted environment where you can execute Runbook scripts to automate updates based on a schedule. Automation can also be triggered by webhooks or by Logic Apps.
Sign in to the Azure portal as an owner of the subscription or resource group where the Azure Automation account will be located.
Next, choose the subscription or resource group and type Automation. Then, select the Automation Azure service from Microsoft, and click Create.
After creating the Automation account, select Access control (IAM) and click View under View access to this resource. Everyone listed there will be able to run scripts through this account against your directory, so remove anyone who shouldn’t.
2. Create a Certificate for Authentication
The runbook needs to sign in to Entra ID on its own, without your personal credentials. Microsoft’s guide uses a certificate for this.
If you don’t have one from a certificate authority, create a self-signed certificate in PowerShell, following Microsoft’s instructions for creating a self-signed certificate, and export it twice: as a .pfx file with its private key, protected by a password, and as a .crt file with only the public key. Note the certificate’s thumbprint.
Upload the .pfx file to Azure Automation. Select Certificates and click Add a certificate, then enter the password you set. Record the expiry date, and keep the .crt file, as you'll need it in step 4.
3. Add Modules to Microsoft Graph
After authentication, you can install Microsoft Graph modules like Microsoft.Graph.Authentication to enable secure access to your automation scripts. By default, the Azure Automation account doesn't have these modules, so you should add them manually.
Go to the Azure portal, navigate to Modules, and click Browse gallery. A search bar will appear. Type Microsoft.Graph.Authentication and select the specific module to start importing.
Wait for a little while until the module import has been completed before you can add other modules.
To update users, import Microsoft.Graph.Users next, and Microsoft.Graph.Groups if the runbook will change group memberships. If you need Microsoft Entra ID Governance features, such as entitlement management, import the Microsoft.Graph.Identity.Governance module.
For those using Microsoft Entra ID Protection, you can import the Microsoft.Graph.Identity.SignIns module.
4. Register an Application in Microsoft Entra ID
Now that you've added modules, you can create an app registration. This allows Microsoft Entra ID to recognize Azure Automation runbooks.
Sign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center as at least an Application Administrator, and browse to Entra ID > App registrations.
Select New registration, give the app a name, and register it. Note its Application (client) ID and Directory (tenant) ID. Next, navigate to Certificates and Secrets > Certificates and upload the .crt file from step 2.
Then select API permissions > Add a permission > Microsoft Graph > Application permissions, and add only what the runbook needs. Updating user properties, for example, needs a permission such as User.ReadWrite.All. Someone with at least the Privileged Role Administrator role then has to grant admin consent.
5. Configure Azure Automation Variables
The next step is to configure variables for your Azure Automation account. This step will determine how to authenticate Microsoft Entra ID.
On the Azure portal, go to the Variables page and select Add variable. Name it as "Thumbprint" and type the certificate thumbprint as the value of the variable.
You should also create another variable with a display name of "ClientId". Then, enter the client ID for the specific application you want to register.
Lastly, generate a variable named TenantId. Make sure to use the tenant ID of the specific directory where the application was registered.
6. Build a PowerShell Runbook
Now that you have variables ready, it's time to develop a PowerShell runbook that can use Microsoft Graph.
Open Runbooks and Create a runbook. Name it and select PowerShell as the runbook type.
On the text editing pane, start with a few lines that read the three variables and sign in with Connect-MgGraph, using the client ID, tenant ID, and certificate thumbprint. Then add the updates themselves. For example, Update-MgUser changes a user’s department, job title, or office, and New-MgGroupMember adds them to a group.
Then, select the Test pane option and click Start. Wait until the Azure Automation runbook processing is complete.
7. Test and Monitor Automated Workflows
Once your runbook is built, it's important to test the automation carefully before full deployment. Doing so helps you identify missing permissions, incorrect logic, or unexpected results.
Start by running the automation script against a small test group to check if updates apply correctly without errors.
After testing, schedule the runbook to run at specific times. Alternatively, you can trigger it automatically using Logic Apps for event-based updates.
Always review output logs in Azure Automation after each run to track success or failure. Set up alerts to allow your IT team to respond quickly to issues.
Finally, plan for the certificate. A self-signed certificate expires, and the runbook stops signing in when it does. Renew it and upload the new one to both Azure Automation and the app registration before the expiry date.
3 Easy Steps to Automate Entra ID Updates with ezOnboard
If setting up PowerShell or API automation sounds overwhelming, you can use onboarding and offboarding software to automate identity lifecycle management updates.
ezOnboard is among the best solutions for companies experiencing fast growth or high attrition. It works by connecting your HR system to on-premises Active Directory and cloud-based Microsoft Entra ID.
You can use ezOnboard to automate Entra ID updates by following these three simple steps:
Step 1: Install ezOnboard
Request a demo to deploy ezOnboard’s agent on a server inside your network. This software offers seamless integration with your HR system and Entra ID account.
Step 2: Define Your Access Management Rules
You can easily pre-determine your access management rules with the help of plug-and-play formulas. For example, when onboarding new hires in Entra ID, you can group them into categories based on their job titles or departments. When a title, department, or manager changes in HR, ezOnboard updates the user’s attributes and groups to match.
Step 3: Customize the Platform
You can tailor ezOnboard to match your business workflows. Doing so lets you stay in control of your Entra ID credentials while automating identity lifecycle management tasks.
If you need further assistance in software deployment, you can benefit from ezOnboard's fully integrated professional support services. You'll get direct access to an expert team, who will configure the platform to your specific environment and ensure you get results.
Challenges of Manual Entra ID Updates
Manually updating Entra ID identity governance tasks comes with several challenges. Let's look at a few below:
- Time-consuming: Manual updates take hours each week, especially when onboarding large teams or managing high staff turnover. This slows down IT operations.
- Risk of human errors: Manual data entry can create access issues. Skipping important steps, on the other hand, may disrupt user functionality across connected systems.
- Security vulnerabilities: Delays in IT offboarding increase the risk of unauthorized access. Outdated roles may leave sensitive data exposed to former employees.
- Administrative overhead: IT teams should chase updates, manage approvals, and track changes manually. This reduces time spent on higher-value tasks and affects productivity.
Benefits of Automating Entra ID Updates
Automation can address the challenges of manual updates. It also offers the following benefits:
- Reduce manual workload: When updates run on a schedule, your IT teams no longer need to manually track them. They can focus on more strategic responsibilities.
- Boost IT efficiency: Predefined rules and scripts enable changes to happen quickly and consistently. IT staff is free to perform other tasks, which can increase efficiency.
- Enhance security posture: Automation helps enforce security policies, such as multi-factor authentication and role-based access controls. These help ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive company data.
- Improve user experience: Automated user provisioning means new hires gain access to the necessary tools from day one. Meanwhile, single sign-on authentication methods work smoothly when Entra ID credentials are updated on time.
- Cut down costs: Automation reduces the need for additional IT staff members to manage digital identities. It also helps avoid fines due to compliance gaps or access violations.
Automate Entra ID Updates with ezOnboard
ezOnboard can automatically handle Microsoft Entra ID lifecycle updates with rule-based automation.
By seamlessly integrating your HR system with Active Directory and Entra ID, it syncs the user data you choose. This ensures that every update, such as promotions or group changes, is accurately reflected in both systems.
With ezOnboard, you can transform manual and error-prone onboarding and offboarding workflows into efficient processes. This saves hours for your IT team, allowing them to focus on other tasks.
Book a demo today! You can also check this ROI calculator to see how much money you can save with ezOnboard.
FAQs About Entra ID Updates
Does Entra Connect automatically update?
Yes. Microsoft Entra Connect Sync copies user and group changes from on-premises Active Directory to Entra ID automatically, running a sync cycle every 30 minutes by default. It only carries what’s already in Active Directory, so the changes still have to be made there first.
How do I enable automatic provisioning?
In the Microsoft Entra admin center, open the app under Enterprise apps, select Provisioning, set the mode to Automatic, and enter the app’s admin credentials. Then review the attribute mappings and scope, and turn provisioning on. Our guide to the Microsoft Entra provisioning service walks through each step.
Alternatively, you can use onboarding tools like ezOnboard to provision users in Entra ID automatically from your HR system. This helps you save significant time and money.
Is Entra replacing Azure?
No. Only the identity service was renamed, to Microsoft Entra ID, and Azure itself is unchanged. Microsoft Entra is the wider product family, which also includes Entra ID Governance, Entra Private Access, Entra Internet Access, and Entra Verified ID.
What is the provisioning interval for Entra ID SCIM?
After the initial cycle, the Microsoft Entra provisioning service runs an incremental cycle about every 40 minutes, pushing changes from Entra ID to each connected app. It isn’t a setting you change, but you can push a single user straight away with Provision on demand.