Azure Domain Setup and Management Guide

Setting up an Azure domain is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few steps. You can create a custom domain in Azure by verifying domain ownership through DNS or by using the Azure Domain Registration service.

To manage your Azure domain, you'll need to configure a few key settings. This includes setting up the domain's DNS records, which involves creating a TXT record to verify domain ownership and a CNAME record to point to the Azure DNS server.

The Azure Domain Registration service allows you to register a custom domain name directly in Azure. This service is free, and it provides a convenient way to manage your domain and its associated DNS settings.

By following these steps, you can set up a custom domain in Azure and start using it for your applications and services.

To set up an Azure domain, you'll need to meet some basic prerequisites.

First and foremost, you'll need an Azure account with an active subscription.

You'll also need a domain name that you can host in Azure DNS, and you must have full control of this domain. This means you'll need to be able to set the name server (NS) records for the domain.

Having an active Azure subscription will give you access to the necessary tools and resources to manage your domain.

Here are the specific requirements in a concise list:

To create an Azure Domain, you can start by creating a DNS zone in the Azure portal. This involves selecting a resource group and entering a name for the DNS zone. You can also choose to create a new resource group or select an existing one.

To create a Domain resource, you'll need to specify the resource group name, Email Communication Service name, resource name, and DomainManagement. You can do this using the Azure CLI by running the `az login` command to sign in to your Azure account. You can also use the Azure portal to create an Email Communication Service.

To manage your Domain resource, you can add tags or update user engagement tracking. You can do this by running the following commands in the Azure CLI: `az resource tag` and `az resource update`. Alternatively, you can use the Azure portal to manage your Domain resource.

To create a DNS zone in Azure, you'll need to follow these steps. First, log in to the Azure portal and search for "DNS zones" in the search box at the top of the portal. Select DNS zones from the search results to proceed.

In the DNS zones page, select the + Create button to start the process. You'll be taken to the Create DNS zone page, where you'll need to enter or select some important information.

To begin, select your Azure subscription from the dropdown menu. Then, choose an existing resource group or select Create new and enter a name for the new resource group, such as "myResourceGroup".

Next, make sure the checkbox "This zone is a child of an existing zone already hosted in Azure DNS" is cleared, since we're creating a new zone. Enter your DNS zone name, such as "contoso.xyz", and choose a location for the resource group if you created a new one.

Here's a summary of the required information:

Once you've entered all the required information, select Review + create and then Create to complete the process.

Provisioning a custom domain involves verifying the custom domain ownership by adding a TXT record in your DNS. This is a crucial step in setting up a custom domain.

To verify the custom domain ownership, you need to add a TXT record in your DNS. You can do this by following the steps outlined in the Azure portal.

Here are the steps to verify custom domain ownership:

DNS changes require 15 to 30 minutes to take effect, so be patient and wait for the changes to propagate.

To create a Domain resource in Azure, you'll need to sign in to Azure CLI using the az login command and provide your credentials. You can also specify the --subscription flag and provide the subscription ID if you want to select a specific subscription.

To create the resource, run the command az domain create. You can configure your Domain resource with various options, including the resource group, Email Communication Services resource name, geography, Domain resource name, and Domain management property value.

You can organize your Domain resources using tags, which can be added or updated later. For more information about tags, see the resource tagging documentation.

To specify the options for creating a Domain resource, you'll need to provide the following information: resource group name, Email Communication Services resource name, resource name, and DomainManagement value.

Here are the required options for creating a Domain resource:

Windows Active Directory is a cloud-based service for identity and access management (IAM). It's a secure online authentication store for individual user profiles and groups of user profiles.

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is a multi-tenant, cloud-based directory and identity management service. It helps employees sign up to multiple services and access them anywhere over the cloud with a single set of login credentials.

Azure AD manages access through user accounts, which carry a username and a password. Users can be organized into different groups, which can be granted different access privileges for individual applications.

Azure AD uses Single Sign-On (SSO) to connect users to SaaS applications. This allows each user to access the full suite of applications they have permission for, without having to repeatedly log in each time.

Azure AD creates access tokens which are stored locally on employee devices; these tokens may be created with expiration dates. For important business resources, Azure AD can require multifactor authentication (MFA).

There are three types of audiences in Azure Active Directory, but unfortunately, the article doesn't specify what they are.

Azure AD comes in four different licensing tiers: free, Office 365 Apps, Premium P1, and Premium P2. The free licensing tier has a 500,000-object limit for directory objects and contains all of the business-to-business, core identity and access management features.

The free tier includes features such as unlimited single sign-on, user provisioning, federated authentication, and multifactor authentication. It also includes self-service password change and basic reporting for security and usage.

Here's a breakdown of the features included in each tier:

The cost of each tier varies, with Premium P1 costing $6 per month, per user, and Premium P2 costing $9 per month, per user.

Azure AD comes in four different licensing tiers: free (lowest), Office 365 Apps, Premium P1, and Premium P2 (highest). The free tier has a 500,000-object limit for directory objects.

The free tier includes all of the business-to-business, core identity, and access management features. Unlimited single sign-on is also included, making it easy to access multiple applications with a single username and password.

User provisioning, federated authentication, and users and group management are also part of the free tier. Additionally, device registration, cloud authentication, and Azure AD Connect sync are included, which extends an organization's on-premises directories to Azure AD.

Self-service password change, Azure AD Join, and password protection are also available in the free tier. Multifactor authentication and basic reporting for security and usage are also included.

Here's a breakdown of the features included in the free tier:

The Office 365 Apps tier has no directory object limit and includes all of the features offered in the free tier. It also includes identity and access management for Office 365 apps.

When deciding between Azure Managed Domains and Custom Domains, it's essential to consider the pros and cons of each option.

Azure Managed Domains offer quick and easy setup, with no domain verification required. This can be a huge time-saver, especially for small businesses or individuals who need to get up and running quickly.

One of the main drawbacks of Azure Managed Domains is that the sender domain isn't personalized and can't be changed. This might be a deal-breaker for some businesses that want to maintain a professional image.

Custom Domains, on the other hand, require verification of domain records, which can be a bit of a hassle. However, this verification process also gives you more control over your email setup and allows you to personalize sender usernames.

Here's a quick comparison of the two options:

Ultimately, the choice between Azure Managed Domains and Custom Domains depends on your specific needs and priorities. If you need to get up and running quickly and don't mind some limitations, Azure Managed Domains might be the way to go. But if you want more control over your email setup and are willing to put in a bit more work, Custom Domains might be the better choice.

Azure AD is designed for web-based services, supporting services that use REST APIs for online cloud-based apps like Office 365. This is a key difference from Windows AD, which is better suited for managing networked resources like printers.

Azure AD uses different protocols than Windows AD, including SAML and OAuth 2.0, whereas Windows AD supports NTLM, Kerberos, and LDAP. This means you can't use the same authentication methods with Azure AD as you would with Windows AD.

Azure AD has a flat directory structure, without the organizational units (OUs) or forests found in Windows AD. This simplicity can make it easier to manage your domain.

If you're planning to use Azure AD Join, which links to PCs, keep in mind that it's only compatible with Windows 10. This is a limitation to be aware of when making your decision.

Here's a quick comparison of the two:

Azure Domain Services offers a managed, highly available service that ensures business continuity with guaranteed service uptime and resilience to failures. This is a key benefit for organizations that require reliable and secure domain services.

Domain Services includes multiple domain controllers to provide high availability for your managed domain. This means that even if one domain controller fails, the others can take over to ensure continuous service.

You can create a single managed domain serviced by Microsoft Entra Domain Services for a single Microsoft Entra tenant. This is a great option for organizations that need a simple and secure domain setup.

Here are some key features of Azure Domain Services that support its highly available service:

This means that you don't need to worry about managing domain controllers or synchronizing changes manually. The service is available within your selected virtual network until you delete the managed domain, and billing continues on an hourly basis until then.