MPermissions PowerShell Module: A Comprehensive Guide To Microsoft /Entra ID Permission Management

Managing permissions in Microsoft 365 and Entra ID can be complex, but the M365Permissions PowerShell module by Jos Lieben simplifies the process by providing a 360° view of permissions for users and groups, including external entities. This tool generates detailed reports (defaulting to XLSX) that capture all unique permissions, authentication details, and access rights.

🔗 Tool Link: M365Permissions PowerShell Module

You Should Know: Essential Commands and Practices for Permission Auditing

1. Installing the M365Permissions Module

To get started, install the module from the PowerShell Gallery:

Install-Module -Name M365Permissions -Force -AllowClobber

2. Authenticating to Microsoft 365/Entra ID

Before running scans, authenticate with:

Connect-MgGraph -Scopes "User.Read.All","Group.Read.All","Directory.Read.All"

3. Generating a Full Permission Report

Run a full permission scan and export to Excel:

Get-M365Permissions -ExportToExcel -OutputPath "C:\Reports\M365_Permissions_Report.xlsx"

4. Checking Permission Deltas Over Time

To compare changes between scans:

Compare-M365Permissions -OldReport "C:\Reports\Old_Report.xlsx" -NewReport "C:\Reports\New_Report.xlsx" -OutputPath "C:\Reports\Permission_Deltas.xlsx"

5. Listing External User Permissions

Identify external access risks:

Get-M365Permissions -IncludeExternalUsers | Export-Csv -Path "C:\Reports\External_Access.csv" -NoTypeInformation

6. Checking Role Assignments

Audit admin roles in Entra ID:

Get-MgDirectoryRole | ForEach-Object { Get-MgDirectoryRoleMember -DirectoryRoleId $_.Id }

7. Automating Regular Permission Audits

Schedule a weekly scan with Task Scheduler or a PowerShell script:

 Save as Audit-M365Permissions.ps1
Get-M365Permissions -ExportToExcel -OutputPath "C:\Reports\M365_Audit_$(Get-Date -Format 'yyyyMMdd').xlsx"

What Undercode Say

Managing permissions in Microsoft 365 & Entra ID is critical for security. The M365Permissions module provides an efficient way to audit, track, and compare permissions. Key takeaways:
– Automate permission audits to detect excessive privileges.
– Monitor external access to prevent data leaks.
– Use PowerShell for bulk operations instead of manual checks.

For deeper security, combine this with Linux log analysis (journalctl -u sshd) or Windows event auditing (Get-WinEvent -LogName Security).

Expected Output:

Excel reports with all permissions.
Delta comparisons for tracking changes.
External user access logs for compliance.