Introduction to Microsoft EntraEntra Admin Center & Tenant Setup

Entra Admin Center & Tenant Setup

25 mins

Understanding the Concept

The Microsoft Entra admin center (entra.microsoft.com) is the unified management portal for all Entra products. It provides a centralized interface for managing users, groups, applications, Conditional Access policies, and governance features.

A tenant is a dedicated instance of Microsoft Entra ID that an organization receives when it signs up for a Microsoft cloud service. Each tenant is distinct and separate, with its own directory of users, groups, and registered applications.

Key tenant configuration includes custom domain names, company branding, user settings (external collaboration, app registrations), and security defaults. Proper initial setup is critical for a secure and manageable identity environment.

Key Points

  • Entra admin center at entra.microsoft.com replaces the Azure AD portal
  • Each organization gets a unique tenant with a .onmicrosoft.com domain
  • Custom domains can be added and verified via DNS TXT records
  • Company branding customizes the sign-in experience with logos and backgrounds
  • Tenant-level settings control default behavior for all users

Tenant Configuration Flow

Step 1

Create Tenant

Provision a new Entra ID tenant with .onmicrosoft.com domain

Step 2

Add Domain

Register and verify custom domain via DNS

Step 3

Set Branding

Configure sign-in page with company logo and colors

Step 4

User Settings

Configure guest access, app registrations, admin consent

Step 5

Security Defaults

Enable baseline security policies or configure Conditional Access

Why This Matters in Real Organizations

The tenant is the foundation of your identity infrastructure. Poor initial configuration leads to security gaps, user confusion, and administrative overhead. Getting tenant settings right from the start prevents costly remediation later.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not verifying custom domains, leaving the .onmicrosoft.com as primary
Ignoring company branding, leaving the default Microsoft sign-in page
Allowing all users to register applications without governance
Not understanding the difference between security defaults and Conditional Access

Interview Tips

  • Explain the relationship between tenants, subscriptions, and directories
  • Discuss custom domain setup and DNS verification process
  • Mention security defaults vs Conditional Access tradeoffs

Exam Tips (SC-300)

  • Know how to add and verify custom domains
  • Understand tenant-level user settings and their implications
  • Know when security defaults should be disabled in favor of Conditional Access

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