Configuring automation

ADManager Plus provides a simple built-in template that helps you configure automations for repetitive AD and Microsoft 365 tasks. Follow the steps provided below to automate a task in ADManager Plus.

1. Log in to ADManager Plus
2. Go to the Automation tab.
3. From the left pane, select Automation.
4. A page with the display of all existing automations and their details will appear. To create a new automation, click Create New Automation in the top-right corner.
5. On the page that appears, fill in the fields with appropriate values.
   
   • Automation Name: Enter a name for the automation process.
   • Description: Add a note that describes the automation process.
   • Automation Category: Choose the AD management category under which the task will be carried out.
   • Select Domain: Choose the domain and OUs where the task should be run. You can also exclude child OUs from the selected OUs.
   • Automation Task/Policy: Choose a task that needs to be executed from the options given.
     • User Automation: Under this category, you will be able to carry out the following user management activities:

       AD Tasks:

       1. Create users
       2. Delete users
       3. Add or remove users from groups
       4. Disable users
       5. Enable users
       6. Move users
       7. Unlock users
       8. Reset password
       9. Modify user attributes
       10. Modify users using templates
       11. Modify Users Using CSV
       12. Delete home folder
       13. Auto reply
       14. Add custom script

       1. Manage user photos
       2. Hide from Exchange address list
       3. Create mailbox
       4. Move home folder
       5. Disable or delete mailbox
       6. Enable or disable Lync
       7. Account expires
       8. Delete Lync
       9. Set folder permissions
       10. Remove folder permissions
       11. Bulk modify folder permissions using CSV
       12. Remove all permissions from file servers
       13. Send Notification

       Microsoft 365 Tasks:

       1. Add Users to Microsoft 365 Groups
       2. Assign Microsoft 365 Licenses
       3. Block Microsoft 365 Users
       4. Cancel Meetings Organized by User
       5. Convert to Shared Mailbox
       6. Create Microsoft 365 Account for AD User
       7. Delete Microsoft 365 User
       8. Disable Litigation Hold
       9. Disable Mailbox Archive
       10. Disable MFA
       11. Disable Microsoft 365 Users
       12. Disable Remote Mailbox
       13. Enable Litigation Hold
       14. Enable Mailbox Archive
       15. Enable MFA
       16. Enable Microsoft 365 Users
       17. Hide from Exchange Address List

       1. Microsoft 365 Mail Forwarding
       2. Mailbox Auto Reply
       3. Microsoft 365 Mailbox Conversion
       4. Microsoft 365 Mailbox Delegation
       5. Microsoft 365 Mailbox Protocols
       6. Modify Microsoft 365 Mailbox Permission
       7. Remove Microsoft 365 Licenses
       8. Remove Users From All Microsoft Teams
       9. Remove Users from Microsoft 365 Groups
       10. Revoke Azure AD User Refresh Token
       11. Unblock Microsoft 365 Users
       12. Unhide from Exchange Address List

     Folder Access Permissions:

     1. Set folder permissions
     2. Remove folder permissions
     1. Bulk modify folder permissions using CSV
     2. Remove all permissions from file server

     Advanced Management:

     1. Orchestration
   • Computer Automation: Under this category, you will be able to:
     1. Create Computers
     2. Disable computers
     3. Enable computers
     4. Delete computers
     5. Move computers

     1. Move computers
     2. Add computers to group
     3. Remove computers from group
     4. Set custom script.
   • Group Automation: Under this category, you will be able to carry out the following group management activities:

     AD Tasks:

     1. Create Groups
     2. Move Groups
     3. Add Groups to Group

     1. Remove Groups from Group
     2. Delete Groups

     Microsoft 365 Tasks:

     1. Add Groups to Microsoft 365 Groups
     2. Delete Microsoft 365 Groups
   • Contact Automation: In this category you will be able to:
     1. Create contacts
     2. Delete contacts
     3. Move contacts

     1. Add contacts to group
     2. Remove contacts from group.
6. Select Domain: choose the domain and OUs where the task should be run.You can also exclude child OUs from the selected OUs.
7. Automation Task/Policy: Under the section Tasks to automate, choose a management task or automation policy from the drop-down list.

   

8. Implement Business Workflow: Choosing this option will associate a workflow to this automation and make it semi-automatic, i.e., the tasks configured will be propelled through the configured workflow.
   Note: Controlled-Automation - For crucial routine tasks that require supervision to a certain extent, a business workflow can be implemented. Say you want to automate the task of disabling user accounts, but disabling accounts seems to increase your help desk calls and requires your HR manager's approval. Now, all you have to do is configure a workflow with the HR manager as the approver and implement it in the automation. Then, every time the automation tries to disable a user account, it seeks approval from the HR manager.

Under the section Select objects, there are two options: From Reports and Location of CSV. These will be considered as data sources for the automation to run.

9. From Reports: Use this option to select the category and type of object reports, and to set them as a data source for the automation to run. You can preview the selected report by using the Generate Report option and filter the results of the report by clicking Add Conditions.
   Note: To avoid making the same modification or performing the same management operation on an object multiple times, check the Exclude objects modified by the previous execution of this automation box.
10. Location of CSV: Use the CSV files stored in your system to import data. Click the Location of CSV that appears when you click the Select More option and specify the location of the CSV file from where the data should be fetched. If you have trouble adding the CSV files, refer to the troubleshooting tips for CSV files available here.
11. Data from external applications: The applications integrated with ADManager Plus will appear as data source options in the Location of CSV drop-down list. Use this option to import object data from the external applications after you have configured them in Application Integrations.
    Note: When enabled, the Select only the appended objects from the file option selects only the new file or only the appended objects from the specified file.
12. Run at: Select the frequency and timing for this automation. You can set the automation to run on an hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly basis, or schedule it to run only at a specific time as needed.
13. Notification: Turn on the Enable Notification button to activate email and SMS alerts for informing users and stakeholders about the automation. Click to choose the Automation Execution Notification template to send notifications after the automation runs. You can also create a new template using the Create New Template option if a different one is needed. To avoid receiving multiple notification emails for each task in an policy-based automation, check the Send only Consolidated Report box while creating a new notification template.
    Note: If notifications are turned on, the templates set up in the automation notification profile will be used instead of the templates in the workflow notification profile (either the execution or approval notification templates).

    

14. Now, click Save if you have scheduled the automation to run at a particular time, or click Save & Run if you want to run it right away.
    Note

    • Click the Back button in the top-right corner of the automation creation or modification page to view all existing automations.
    • There is also an option to enforce or delete a successive task before the duration mentioned in the automation. To do this, the workflow technician can click the run or delete option beside the task while approving or reviewing its workflow.
    • You can also run an automation anytime you want by clicking the Run Now option in the list of configured automations.