Global Reader Role in Azure Explained

The global reader role in Azure is a crucial component for managing access to resources. It allows users to read the identity of other users and groups without granting them any permissions.

This role is particularly useful for auditing and monitoring purposes. The global reader role is also a prerequisite for other roles, such as the Azure Active Directory (AAD) B2C reader role.

As we'll explore further, the global reader role is a fundamental part of Azure's identity and access management system. It provides a way to view and manage user and group identities across multiple resources.

Additional reading: Azure Resource Manager Reader Role

16 new built-in roles, including the highly requested Global reader, are now in public preview in Azure AD.

These new roles allow you to delegate administration tasks and reduce the number of Global administrators in your directory.

The Global reader role is a read-only version of the Global administrator role, which allows you to view all settings and administrative information across Microsoft 365.

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The new roles are available globally for all subscriptions and can be accessed in the Azure portal under Roles and administrators.

Here are the 16 new built-in roles:

The Global reader role is supported across virtually all Microsoft 365 services, with support for viewing SharePoint Online settings and administrative information coming soon.

In the Azure portal, you can assign the Global Reader role to a user through the Azure active directory. To access this, log in with a read-only account and search for the user.

To activate the Global Reader role for a user, you need to log in with an admin account. The eligible assignment section will show that the Global Reader permission is already given, but it's not active. You need to update the assignment type to active and enter a justification for the change.

Here's a summary of the Azure portal roles and their permissions:

The Azure portal offers more control and best practices compared to the Microsoft 365 admin center. If you click Save after updating the assignment type, the read-only user will have Global Reader access.

The Azure Portal Role is a crucial aspect of managing access to your Azure resources. You can assign a Global Reader role from the Azure Portal, but users without administrative privileges can't activate it themselves. Admins need to log in and update the role assignment to activate the Global Reader permission.

To do this, go to the Azure Active Directory, search for the Read-only account, and select Assigned roles. The Eligible Assignment section will show that the Global Reader permission is already given and is permanent. After clicking Update, change the Assignment type to Active, enter a justification, and click Save.

This will grant the Read-only account Global Reader access, but keep in mind that they still have only read-only access and can't edit any settings. If you want more control or best practices, it's recommended to use the Azure Portal rather than the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

Here are some key differences between the Azure Portal and Microsoft 365 Admin Center:

Removing a role from the Azure Portal is a straightforward process. You can remove the assignment from active assignments by clicking the Remove hyperlink from Action. The minimum time required to remove the active assignments is 5 minutes.

To confirm the removal, click Yes in the confirmation message that appears. A notification will show that the "Role assignment was removed successfully."

Here's a quick summary of the steps:

To assign a global reader role or a message center reader role, you have two options. One is to provide a Global reader role from the Azure portal, which offers more control.

The Azure portal includes more processes than the Microsoft 365 admin center, making it a more involved option. Microsoft 365 admin center, on the other hand, is the easiest option because it only requires a checkmark.

A Global admin has the most extensive permissions, including Create, Read, Update, and Delete for M365 Groups, Security Groups, and Distribution Groups. In contrast, a Global Reader has limited permissions, restricted to Read-only access.

For another approach, see: Azure Global Load Balancer

Here's a comparison of the Admin Role and Global Reader Role permissions:

To assign a Message Center Reader role from the Azure portal, you need to open the Azure portal with an admin account and select the Assigned roles on the left side. Then, select Add Assignments and choose the Message Center Reader role.

You'll need to provide justification for the assignment and select the scope type as Directory. After that, click on the Settings tab and select the assignment type as Active. This will give the read-only account the actual permission.

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If you're experiencing issues with the Global Reader role in Azure, start by checking the Azure subscription's permissions.

The Global Reader role has limited permissions, which can sometimes cause issues with certain features.

Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to access the Azure portal, Azure Active Directory, and Azure resources.

If you're unable to access resources, verify that the Global Reader role is correctly assigned to your user account.

The Global Reader role does not have the ability to reset passwords or manage user accounts, which may cause issues with authentication.

Check the Azure portal's logs for any errors or issues related to the Global Reader role.

If you're still experiencing issues, try resetting the Azure portal's cache.