Does your organization already have its own Active Directory and do you want to start with Microsoft Teams? Then you want employees to sign in with their familiar account and password. This article walks through the technical steps, from identity to rolling out the app. Note that Azure AD Connect is now called Microsoft Entra Connect, and the new Teams app has replaced classic Teams.
1. A Microsoft 365 tenant and your domain
A tenant is your isolated environment in the Microsoft cloud. If you don't have one yet, create it and add your own domain, so users sign in with name@yourcompany.com.
2. Sync identities with Microsoft Entra Connect
With Microsoft Entra Connect Sync (or the lighter Entra Cloud Sync), your users and groups from Active Directory are automatically copied to Microsoft Entra ID.
- New employees in AD automatically get a cloud account.
- With password hash synchronization they use the same password everywhere.
- When someone leaves, you disable them in one place.
Read set up Microsoft Entra Connect. Then turn on multifactor authentication (MFA) right away.
3. Assign licenses
Users need a license that includes Teams. Note: since 2023 Microsoft has also sold the Microsoft 365 suites without Teams in Europe, and later worldwide. If you have such a suite, you buy Microsoft Teams Enterprise separately. So check carefully which subscription you choose.
Tip: assign licenses through a group. See group-based licensing.
4. Prepare the network
- Allow the Microsoft 365 URLs and ports in your firewall and proxy.
- Preferably let Teams audio and video traffic go straight to the internet, not through a VPN or proxy.
- Provide enough bandwidth for video meetings, especially at sites with many users.
5. Basic settings in the Teams admin center
- Decide whether guest access and external access are allowed.
- Choose who can create new teams.
- Set meeting, messaging and app policies.
6. Roll out the Teams app
Deploy the new Teams app centrally with Microsoft Intune or another management tool, for example with the machine-wide installer. Users can also download Teams themselves or use it in the browser. See download and install Microsoft Teams.
7. Don't forget the people
Technology is only half the job. Agree on how you use teams and channels, pick a few champions and provide short training sessions. Also read a project plan to roll out Teams.
Nederlandstalige versie: Microsoft Teams technisch inrichten in een bestaande organisatie