Automatic removal of inactive Microsoft Teams guests

We are thrilled to announce an exciting new feature for our Entra ID Premium customers that will revolutionize the way you manage guest accounts in your Microsoft 365 environment. This innovative feature allows you to automatically report, block, or remove guests who have been inactive for a defined period, enhancing the security and tidiness of your directory.

In this blog post, we’ll delve into the importance of removing inactive guests, suggest appropriate time-out periods, and highlight how Entra ID Premium customers can easily manage these accounts.

The significance of removing inactive guests

Maintaining a clean and secure directory is crucial for any organization. Here are some compelling reasons why you should consider removing inactive guests:

1. Tidying up your directory

Inactive guest accounts clutter your directory, making it harder to find and manage active users. By removing them, you keep your directory organized and efficient, ensuring that only relevant accounts are present.

2. Preventing sharing errors

Inactivity can lead to sharing errors, especially when using the Microsoft 365 people picker. Accidentally sharing content with the wrong, inactive accounts can result in data leakage or miscommunication.

3. Post-project data protection

After a project or collaboration ends, you want to revoke access for guests who no longer need it. Inactive guests should not have access to your data, as they may not have the right to retain or copy it for their purposes.

4. Minimizing security sisks

Compromised guest accounts can pose significant security risks. Removing inactive accounts reduces the attack surface and helps protect your environment from potential threats.

Recommended time-out periods

The appropriate time-out period for inactivity may vary depending on the nature of guest access. Here are some general recommendations:

• Short-term projects: For short-term projects or collaborations, consider a time-out period of 30-60 days. This allows for a quick cleanup once the project concludes.

• Medium-term access: For medium-term access, such as ongoing partnerships, a period of 90-180 days may be suitable. This provides a balance between security and convenience.

• Long-term collaborations: For long-term collaborations or trusted partners, you might opt for a more extended period, such as 180-365 days, before considering an account as inactive.

Visibility for Entra ID premium customers

For Entra ID Premium (P1 and P2) customers, we offer an additional advantage. You can now easily view the last sign-in date of guests directly in the Guests List within the Guests Admin Center. This feature streamlines the identification and removal of inactive accounts, making it even more convenient for you to maintain a secure and organized directory.

Try it our today!

Are you ready to take control of your guest accounts and enhance the security of your Microsoft 365 environment? You can start a free trial of our Entra ID Premium feature for 30 days. All you need is a Microsoft 365 Admin Account, and you can begin your trial by visiting https://admin.guests.one.

Don’t miss this opportunity to easily identify and remove inactive guests, ensuring a clean and secure directory for your organization. Try it out today, and experience the benefits of automated guest management with Entra ID!