How MSPs Can Deliver Secure Microsoft 365 User Management at Scale

Every day, organizations onboard new employees, requiring rapid account creation, permission assignment, and device security. Yet, when employees leave, managed service providers (MSPs) often race to revoke access and close security gaps before sensitive data can be exposed.

According to Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report 2024, over 600 million identity attacks occur daily, with more than 99% targeting passwords. These attacks exploit common behaviors like weak or reused passwords, putting unmanaged or stale credentials at significant risk. Despite multifactor authentication adoption climbing to 41%, attackers are evolving, using adversary-in-the-middle phishing, token theft, and infrastructure targeting tactics — highlighting the pressing need for MSPs to adopt robust, automated user lifecycle management.

The Challenges of User Lifecycle Management

For MSPs and IT teams, managing the user lifecycle is a constant challenge. Overlapping roles, inconsistent access rights, and inactive accounts create security blind spots and unmanaged devices. As departments demand customized access, oversight becomes fragmented and time-consuming, stretching already limited resources.

Manual processes only heighten the risk. Incorrect permissions can trigger data breaches, disrupt workflows, or undermine compliance, while frequent role changes and employee departures require updates that must be made with speed and precision. At scale, the volume of accounts and permissions can easily overwhelm IT staff, underscoring the urgent need for automation and streamlined identity management. But there is a better way: automate user lifecycle management to reduce errors and free your team to deliver higher-value services.

Why User Lifecycle Management Matters for MSPs

In today’s SaaS-driven landscape, user lifecycle management is mission-critical for:

• Security first: Preventing unauthorized access and data breaches by enforcing consistent account management
• Business continuity: Ensuring users have the right access and tools from day one
• Productivity gains: Cutting manual work through automation, enhancing accuracy across all user stages

For MSPs managing decentralized, multi-tenant environments, a single-pane-of-glass approach is a must to manage users and security policies across multiple tenant configurations from one console. Having a standardized interface means less time spent learning different systems and faster execution of routine tasks. A simplified and automated user management provides clients peace of mind and rapid recovery options when issues arise. This transforms lifecycle management from reactive firefighting into proactive, scalable, and security-first services.

Simplify User Management with AvePoint Elements

With AvePoint Elements, MSPs can streamline the entire user journey from onboarding to offboarding while minimizing manual effort, reducing errors, and strengthening compliance.

• Automate onboarding: Instantly create user accounts with predefined access, accelerating productivity
• Enforce security policies: Apply consistent rules across tenants to reduce vulnerabilities
• Reduce manual tasks: Free IT teams from repetitive provisioning and auditing
• Minimize errors: Automated workflows protect sensitive data from mishandling
• Revoke access instantly: Automated deprovisioning immediately removes access, ensuring secure offboarding

A unified platform helps MSPs overcome scaling challenges and create high-value services that turn offerings into predictable monthly recurring revenue. It also reduces cost and supports customers with less overhead, delivering efficient managed services. 

What’s New in AvePoint Elements: Greater Flexibility, Stronger Security, Smarter Control

The latest updates to the Elements platform make lifecycle management even more powerful for partners:

• Policy-based provisioning. Templates now streamline account creation and resource access, enabling faster onboarding, standardizing role-based access, and minimizing manual mistakes.
• Centralized user oversight. Partners can manage identities and policies across tenants from one intuitive dashboard, making it easier to see who has access, reduce identity sprawl, and stay audit-ready.
• Secure deprovisioning. When users leave, sessions and accounts are revoked faster — helping organizations eliminate redundant accounts, prevent access creep, and cut unused license costs.
• Privileged access management (PAM). Admin activity can be tracked, audited, and alerted in real time, helping organizations prevent insider threats, strengthen internal controls, and support compliance needs.
• Role-based access control (RBAC). Permissions can be assigned by role, preventing excessive access and ensuring consistent security across environments.
• Compliance and audit readiness. Built-in logs and activity records simplify reporting, helping organizations meet regulatory requirements with less effort.

Register for AvePoint Innovates to learn about the latest features and updates with the Elements platform.

The Business Impact for MSPs

As security threats evolve, MSPs must strengthen their security services portfolio to stay competitive and valuable to clients. This must be done without overburdening teams that may already be stretched thin. 

AvePoint Elements provides the foundation for enhanced security services by embedding automation in user lifecycle management to deliver error-free, consistent processes. It also lowers security risks across tenants by enforcing security-first policies. Built-in reporting simplifies audits, while increased efficiency enables IT teams to focus on higher-value, strategic services that fuel growth and customer satisfaction.

Start Securing Identities at Scale with AvePoint Elements

User lifecycle management today goes beyond account creation and removal to delivering scalable security, compliance, and agility. AvePoint Elements empowers MSPs to scale user management securely, automate critical tasks, and solidify their role as trusted, security-first partners.

Ready to simplify security and grow your services?