Enable SSPR in Azure AD

Overview

Managing user passwords can be a significant challenge for IT departments. Forgotten passwords often lead to downtime and increased support costs. To address this, Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) offers a Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) feature. This tool empowers users to reset their passwords independently, reducing the burden on IT support teams and improving productivity.

In this post, we’ll guide you through the steps to enable SSPR in Azure AD.

What is SSPR?

Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) allows users to reset their passwords or unlock their accounts without needing to contact the helpdesk. Users can authenticate themselves using various methods such as email, SMS, or security questions.

Prerequisites

Before you enable SSPR, ensure the following prerequisites are met:

  1. Azure AD Premium P1 or P2 License: SSPR requires an Azure AD Premium P1 or P2 license. Verify your subscription includes these licenses.
  2. Global Administrator Role: You need to be a global administrator in Azure AD to configure SSPR.
  3. User Data: Ensure that user contact information (like phone numbers and email addresses) is up to date in Azure AD.

Steps to Enable SSPR

Step 1: Sign in to the Azure Portal

Go to the Azure portal and sign in with your global administrator account.

Step 2: Navigate to Azure Active Directory

In the left-hand navigation pane, select Azure Active Directory.

Step 3: Configure Password Reset

  1. In the Azure AD blade, select Password reset under the Manage section.
  2. You will see an option for Properties. Click on it.

Step 4: Select Users and Groups

  1. In the Properties blade, you will see the Self-service password reset enabled option.
  2. Choose Selected to enable SSPR for specific users or groups, or choose All to enable it for all users.
  3. If you selected Selected, click Select groups to enable SSPR and choose the relevant groups.

Step 5: Authentication Methods

  1. Still, under the Properties blade, configure the Number of methods required to reset. This determines how many authentication methods users must provide to reset their passwords.
  2. Under Authentication methods, choose the methods you want to allow. Options include:
  • Mobile app notification
  • Mobile app code
  • Email
  • Mobile phone
  • Office phone
  • Security questions
  1. For security questions, you can also define the specific questions users must answer.

Step 6: Registration

  1. Navigate to the Registration tab.
  2. Enable Require users to register when signing in. This will prompt users to register their authentication methods the next time they sign in.
  3. Specify the Number of days before users are asked to reconfirm their authentication information.

Step 7: Notifications

  1. Navigate to the Notifications tab.
  2. Enable Notify users on password resets to send an email notification to users when their passwords are reset.
  3. Optionally, enable Notify all admins when other admins reset their password to enhance security by keeping administrators informed.

Step 8: Customization (Optional)

  1. Navigate to the Customization tab.
  2. You can customize the helpdesk link or other instructions to assist users if they encounter issues during the password reset process.

Step 9: Save Settings

After configuring all the settings, click Save to apply the changes.

Testing SSPR

Once you have enabled SSPR, it is essential to test the configuration:

  1. User Registration: Log in as a user who is enabled for SSPR. Ensure that they are prompted to register their authentication methods.
  2. Password Reset: Try resetting the password using the configured authentication methods to verify that everything works as expected.

Conclusion

Enabling Self-Service Password Reset in Azure AD is a straightforward process that can significantly enhance your organization’s efficiency and security. By allowing users to reset their passwords independently, you reduce the load on your IT support team and minimize downtime caused by forgotten passwords.

Remember to communicate the new feature to your users and provide them with any necessary instructions or training materials to ensure a smooth transition.

For more detailed information, refer to the official Microsoft documentation on Self-Service Password Reset in Azure Active Directory.

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