Microsoft Tenant

These days, it is important for companies to make use of the latest technology to work more efficiently. When using Microsoft's cloud services, users will have to deal with 'tenant'. 

What is a Tenant?

A Microsoft Tenant is a Microsoft online service and can be seen as a container in which all Microsoft's online services are stored. This gives companies and organisations access to various Cloud-based services. When a company or organisation uses a Cloud service, for example Office 365, a space is reserved in Windows Azure Datacenter. This space is also known as the 'tenant' and here online services are made available. It is an environment designed to simplify the management of users, devices and services. Management can be done through Windows Azure Active Directory (WAAD). Linking with a private Active Directory (own location) is also possible through Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS).

Microsoft Tenant enables companies or organisations to manage and secure their IT infrastructure from a central location. Tenant is available for both small and large enterprises. This provides a number of benefits, such as increased control, efficiency and security. This allows companies to increase productivity and reduce costs.

What does a Tenant look like?

A tenant consists of a number of key components, including:

1. Applications and services
2. User accounts and passwords
3. Management tools and capabilities
4. Your own domain name

Together, these components form a powerful platform that allows companies to work securely and effectively in the Cloud. Companies can create user accounts for all employees active in the company and these accounts can be managed from a central location. Microsoft Tenant further provides access to various types of Cloud-based applications and services. Some examples include: Office 365, SharePoint and Microsoft Teams. These applications can be used to collaborate, communicate or share information within the company. The powerful management tools and capabilities offered by Microsoft Tenant allow companies to manage and secure their IT infrastructure through the tools: identity and access management, security management and compliance management.

The tenant itself consists of a self-selected domain name. This is then followed by 'onmicrosoft.com' in the address bar. The tenant may look like the following:

'companyname.onmicrosoft.com'

A domain name can only be associated with a tenant once the tenant has been successfully activated.   If this is the case then the above example (companyname.onmicrosoft.com) could be changed to something else, such as companyname.co.uk. When users are added to the online service, they will get a similar e-mail address. For example, instead of gebruikersnaam@bedrijfsnaam.onmicrosoft.com, this will change to gebruikersnaam@bedrijfsnaam.com. Furthermore, it is also possible to attach multiple domains to a tenant. Companies or organisations do need to take into account whether the desired domain name is available when setting up a domain name. Once the desired domain name is already in use, then the company or organisation has to come up with another name.

Advantages of using a Tenant

A standard Microsoft account is intended for individual users and with it, users can access personal services such as Outlook and OneDrive. In contrast, a Microsoft Tenant provides access to advanced cloud services for businesses and organisations. Namely, businesses use SharePoint and Microsoft Teams. Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, tenant offers businesses and organisations more control and security than a standard Microsoft account. It allows companies to set and enforce their own security policies. As a result, they are better protected against cyber attacks and other security risks.

Microsoft Tenant is a powerful tool for businesses and organisations looking to make change in their IT infrastructure by modernising it and making it more secure. Listed below are the benefits of Microsoft Tenant:

1. Centralised management of users and devices

The use of a Microsoft Tenant lets administrators manage all users and devices through a centralised panel, providing visibility. The platform also further offers the ability to group users and devices based on a certain criteria. For example, think department, function or location. This simplifies the process of applying specific policies and security measures to different groups of users or devices.

1. Scalability and flexibility

Microsoft Tenant brings great scalability and flexibility, as the platform is designed to grow and adapt to a company's changing needs. For example, when users are added, costs are automatically adjusted, so companies only pay for what they need. Microsoft Tenant also offers the ability to add new applications and services to the platform. Companies can expand their IT infrastructure without having to purchase additional hardware or software.

1. Enhanced security and compliance

As mentioned earlier, Microsoft Tenant also brings with it many advanced security and compliance features. Examples of these features include multi-factor authentication, advanced security controls and data encryption. This is very important as cybercrime is becoming increasingly sophisticated. By using Microsoft Tenant, companies can be sure that their data is safe and compliant with applicable laws and regulations.

Setting up and using Microsoft Tenant

To use a Microsoft Tenant, a Microsoft 365 subscription is required. Microsoft offers different subscriptions depending on the user's needs. Once a subscription is chosen, setting up a Microsoft Tenant can begin.

Tenant setup and personalisation

After purchasing a subscription, a Microsoft Tenant can be set up. Setting up a Microsoft Tenant is very simple and can be fully customised. The overall look and feel can be adapted based on the corporate identity of the company. For example, a logo can be added to the Tenant, making it instantly recognisable for employees. In addition, colours of the environment can be changed and specific settings can be configured to suit the needs of the company or organisation.

Adding users and licences

When setting up a Microsoft Tenant, new users can also be added and appropriate licences assigned. This ensures that everyone has access to the right services. For example, administrators can determine which users have access to SharePoint and which users only have access to certain functions, such as e-mail or the calendar functionality. They can also determine which licences are needed to implement specific functions within the company or organisation. Adding users or assigning licences can easily be done via the Microsoft 365 management centre.