create and manage app permission policies

As an administrator, it’s your responsibility to manage these permissions to protect your organization’s data and ensure apps are properly functioning. In the context of MS-700: Managing Microsoft Teams exam, understanding how to create and manage app permission policies is essential. This post will guide you through it.

1. Understanding App Permissions

App permissions in Microsoft Teams are permissions that an app requires to work. When an app is installed, it requests certain permissions to access data. These permissions can range from read and write access to accessing user information, channels, teams, or other specific data sets.

2. Creating App Permission Policies

As an admin, you have the right to create and manage app permission policies. Here are the steps you need to follow:

• Navigate to the Microsoft Teams admin center.
• Select Teams apps > Permission policies.
• Click on Add to create a new app permission policy.
• Provide a descriptive name and an optional description.
• Configure the permissions. You can choose between Allow all apps, Block all apps, and Customize app permissions.

After creating the policy, you can assign it to users either individually or at scale through batch or group policy assignment.

3. Managing App Permission Policies

Managing app permission policies involves assigning, editing, or removing policies. This can be done through the Teams admin center, PowerShell, or Graph API.

• Assigning Policies: Navigate to Users, select the user, and under Policies, assign the app permission policy.
• Editing Policies: Go to Teams apps > Permission policies, select the policy, make your changes, and then click Save.
• Removing Policies: Select the policy you want to delete, click Delete, and then confirm.

4. Considerations While Managing App Permission Policies

While managing app permission policies, consider these points:

• Policies are applied in the order of precedence, i.e., user policy > group policy > global (Org-wide default) policy.
• If you block an app, users won’t be able to install or use it.
• If an app is already installed before a policy blocks it, the app may continue to work depending upon its permission needs.
• Some apps are system apps, which are essential for Teams and cannot be blocked.

It’s crucial to balance productivity and security when creating and managing app permission policies. For instance, allowing all apps may enhance productivity but could expose sensitive data. So, plan your policies meticulously based on your organization’s needs and compliance requirements.

As part of your preparation for the MS-700 exam, understanding how to create, manage, and troubleshoot app permissions in Microsoft Teams is critical. Remember, practical hands-on experience is the key to mastering these concepts. Practice creating and managing app permission policies in your Teams environment and get comfortable with these processes.

By mastering app permission policies, you fortify your skills as a Teams administrator and enhance the security and functionality of your Teams environment. This is just one piece of the puzzle that is the MS-700 exam, so make sure to continue exploring other features of Microsoft Teams as well.

Practice Test

True or False: The global (Org-wide default) app permission policy is automatically assigned to all users in an organization.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: The global (Org-wide default) app permission policy applies to all users in your organization who are not assigned a custom policy.

True or False: It is possible to block specific apps in an app permission policy.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Yes, it is possible to block specific apps in an app permission policy. You simply need to select ‘Block’ for the chosen app.

True or False: The Teams app permission policies allow you to manage who in your organization has access to specific Teams app features.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Teams app permission policies allow administrators to manage what apps are available to employees within their organization.

Which of the following can be controlled through the App Permission Policy?

• a) Which apps are available in Microsoft Teams.
• b) Which users have access to specific Teams apps.
• c) Assigning a custom app policy to a user.
• d) All of the above.

Answer: d) All of the above.

Explanation: The App permission policies in MS Teams allow administrators to control availability of apps, access to specific Teams apps for specific users, and assign custom app policies to users.

Who can assign a custom app permission policy to a specific user?

• a) Team owner
• b) Team member
• c) Global admin
• d) None

Answer: c) Global admin

Explanation: Only the global admin has the authority to assign a custom app permission policy to a specific user.

True or False: You can view the properties of an app permission policy via Teams admin center.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Yes, you can view the properties of an app permission policy by navigating to Teams apps > Permission policies in the Teams admin center.

The changes made in the app permission policy are reflected immediately.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Changes made in the app permission policy may take up to 24 hours before they are reflected.

Which of the following is the correct path to manage app permission policies in Microsoft Teams admin center?

• a) Teams app > Manage apps
• b) Teams apps > App setup policy
• c) Teams apps > Permission policies
• d) Teams apps > Manage teams

Answer: c) Teams apps > Permission policies

Explanation: To manage app permission policies, you must navigate to Teams apps > Permission policies in the Microsoft Teams admin center.

True or False: You can create custom app permission policies to tailor the policies as per the needs of different users or departments in your organization.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Yes, app permission policies can be customized to suit the needs of different users or departments in your organization.

True or False: App Permission Policy in Microsoft Teams can be used to manage Guest user permissions for accessing apps.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Guest users in Microsoft Teams are managed separately through a different set of policies and not through App Permission Policies.

True or False: Microsoft 365 admin center and Teams PowerShell can also be used apart from Teams admin center to manage app permissions in Teams?

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Apart from Teams admin center, Microsoft 365 admin center and Teams PowerShell are other platforms where Teams app permissions can be managed.

True or False: Microsoft Teams does not allow third party apps.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Microsoft Teams allows third-party apps. Administrators can control their use through App Permission Policies.

If an app is allowed in the App setup policy but is blocked in App permission policy, will the app be available for the user?

• a) Yes
• b) No

Answer: b) No

Explanation: If an app is blocked in the App Permission Policy, it will not be available to the user, regardless of the App setup policy.

App permission policies can be created for individual apps and services.

• a) True
• b) False

Answer: a) True

Explanation: App permission policies can be individually created to manage permissions for specific apps and services in Teams.

True or False: Only third-party apps can be managed via app permission policies in MS Teams.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: App permission policies in MS Teams can be used to manage both third-party apps and apps developed by Microsoft.

Interview Questions

1. Q: What is an app permission policy in Microsoft Teams?

A: An app permission policy in Microsoft Teams allows you to manage what apps are available to your employees. You can control who can use specific apps and prevent certain apps from being used altogether.

2. Q: How do you create a new app permission policy in Microsoft Teams?

A: From the Microsoft Teams admin center, navigate to Teams Apps > Permission Policies. Click on Add, give the new policy a name and description, and then set the desired permissions.

3. Q: Is it important to assign an app permission policy to a user in Microsoft Teams?

A: Yes, it allows you to control the user’s access to apps within Microsoft Teams.

4. Q: How can you assign app permission policies to a user in Microsoft Teams?

A: From the Microsoft Teams admin center, navigate to Users, select a user, click on Policies, then on Apps, select the desired policy and save changes.

5. Q: Can you allow or block all third-party apps in a custom app permission policy?

A: Yes, you can do so by choosing either the “Allow all apps” or “Block all apps” preset option in a custom permission policy.

6. Q: How do you block a specific app within a custom app permission policy?

A: When you are creating or revising the policy, search for the app in the Add apps search box and change the status for that app to “Block”.

7. Q: What types of apps can be controlled through Microsoft Teams’ app permission policies?

A: App permission policies have control over Microsoft apps, third-party apps, tenant apps, and all global custom apps.

8. Q: Can you change the global app permission policy?

A: Yes, the global policy defines the default settings for all users in your organization, but you can customize it based on the specific needs of your organization.

9. Q: How does the priority order of policies work in Microsoft Teams?

A: The policy that is directly assigned to the user is considered first. If no policy is assigned, Teams checks for a policy assigned to the user’s group.

10. Q: What is the impact of excessively restrictive app permission policies?

A: While maintaining security is crucial, overly restrictive policies can limit functionality and discourage user engagement with Teams.

11. Q: Are changes to app permission policies immediately implemented?

A: No, it can take up to 24 hours for changes to app permission policies to propagate throughout the system.

12. Q: Can you create an app permission policy that only allows Microsoft Apps in Teams?

A: Yes, you could set a custom app permission policy that allows only Microsoft Apps and blocks all third-party and custom tenant apps.

13. Q: How do you allow a third-party app in a custom app permission policy?

A: Within the setting for apps, for the specific policy, you would search for the app and change the permission to “Allow”.

14. Q: Can you assign the same app permission policy to multiple users?

A: Yes, once you have created an app permission policy it can be assigned to multiple users.

15. Q: Can an app permission policy block all apps except for specific ones?

A: Yes, you can set the global settings for the policy to “Block all apps” and then add exceptions for the specific apps you want to allow.