
ApproveThis manages your Azure Active Directory Integration approvals.
April 17, 2025
Integration Category: Microsoft Security Identity
Your Approval Process Shouldn't Live in a Bubble
Let's cut through the corporate speak: if your team's still manually rubber-stamping requests before granting system access, you're leaving money on the table. ApproveThis and Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) integration via Zapier isn't just another tech pairing - it's about closing the loop between decision-making and actual execution. We're talking about turning "approved" statuses into live permissions before your security team finishes their first coffee.
Why This Combo Works Like a Double Shot of Espresso
ApproveThis handles the messy human part of approvals (you know, chasing down signatures, dealing with out-of-office replies). Azure AD controls the keys to your digital kingdom. Together through Zapier, they create an airtight system where every "yes" automatically translates into real-world access. No more security gaps from forgotten follow-throughs. No more IT tickets asking why approved users can't log in.
Real Problems This Integration Solves
1. The Onboarding Time Sink
Healthcare companies we work with shave 3 days off new hire ramp-up. Here's how: When HR approves a nurse's access request in ApproveThis, Zapier triggers Azure AD to create their account and add them to the right medical record access groups. No more waiting for IT to manually configure permissions.
2. The Contractor Conundrum
That marketing agency you hired? Use ApproveThis thresholds to auto-approve their basic file access. But when they request paid ad platform permissions? That kicks off a multi-step approval chain to your CMO. Either way, Azure AD automatically applies the exact access level approved - no over-provisioning.
3. The Offboarding Black Hole
Termination approvals in ApproveThis can trigger immediate Azure AD access revocation. We've seen financial firms prevent data leaks by cutting system access during exit interviews, not days later.
Setting This Up Without Losing Your Mind
If you can set up an out-of-office email, you can handle this integration:
- Create your approval templates in ApproveThis (pro tip: match them to Azure AD permission levels)
- In Zapier, choose "New Request" as your ApproveThis trigger
- Set Azure AD actions (create groups, add users) as the outcome
- Test with a dummy account before going live
Total setup time? About 23 minutes if you're not distracted by Slack. Zapier's interface walks you through each step without needing developer help.
Where Different Teams Get Their Wins
IT Security Teams
Auto-revoke access when approvals expire. Set conditional rules like "Contractor access auto-denied after 90 days unless re-approved." Sleep better knowing every active Azure AD account has current approval documentation.
HR Operations
New hire approved in BambooHR? Push that to ApproveThis for department-specific Azure AD access approvals. Managers get automatic email prompts to approve software access based on role templates.
Finance Controllers
Require budget-holder approval in ApproveThis before granting Azure AD access to financial systems. Set approval thresholds - under $5k gets auto-approved, over that needs CFO sign-off. All tracked for audit trails.
Why This Isn't Just Another Integration
ApproveThis brings three game-changers to Azure AD management:
- Delegated Approvals: Vacationing approver? Requests automatically reroute without messing up Azure AD group structures
- External Approvers: Clients or vendors can approve Azure AD access requests without needing your Microsoft licenses
- Real-Time Calculations: Automatically flag requests that exceed pre-set Azure AD permission thresholds
Making This Work For Your Industry
Healthcare Example
A hospital group uses ApproveThis thresholds - any request for patient record access triggers mandatory HIPAA compliance checks. Once approved, Azure AD adds the user to the exact EHR access group needed. Revocations happen automatically when approvals expire.
Manufacturing Use Case
Plant managers approve new equipment software access in ApproveThis. Zapier adds approved technicians to the right Azure AD groups for machine control systems. Denied requests automatically notify supervisors with revision requests.
The Silent Cost of Not Integrating
One client found 22% of their Azure AD users had outdated access from manual provisioning errors. Another spent 17 hours/week fielding "Why can't I access X?" tickets. The kicker? Both issues disappeared post-integration. Your audit readiness improves overnight - every access grant ties back to an approval paper trail.
Your Move
This isn't about chasing shiny tech. It's about eliminating the 47 back-and-forth emails currently needed to get someone CRM access. About security teams actually trusting that access lists match reality. About new hires being productive on Day 1 instead of Day 8.
ApproveThis plays nice with Azure AD through Zapier - no coding PhD required. Set up takes less time than your next compliance meeting. And approvers? They just click a button in their email. No Azure portal navigation needed.
Ready to stop being the bottleneck? Get ApproveThis rolling with your Azure AD setup today. Or book a 15-minute demo to see how other mid-sized companies killed their permission chaos.
FAQ: What Your Team Will Ask
Q: Does this require Azure AD license for approvers?
A: Nope. Approvers interact through ApproveThis emails or dashboard. Only the user being granted access needs the Azure license.
Q: Can we set up multi-level approvals?
A: Yes. Example: First-line manager approves basic access, then IT director signs off on admin privileges - all before Azure AD processes anything.
Q: What if a request gets denied?
A: Azure AD actions simply don't trigger. ApproveThis automatically notifies the requester with next steps.
Integrate with Azure Active Directory Integration and get 90 days of ApproveThis for free.
After you create a Zapier integration, please email us at support@approve-this.com with your account name and we'll add 3 months of ApproveThis to your account. Limit one redemption per account.
Learn More
Best Approval Workflows for Azure Active Directory
Suggested workflows (and their Zapier components) for Azure Active Directory
Create Azure AD groups for new ApproveThis requests
When new approval workflows are initiated in ApproveThis, this integration creates a corresponding group in Azure AD. Use this to ensure new project or departmental groups align with company approvals.
Zapier Components
Trigger
New Request
Triggers when a new approval request workflow is initiated.

Action
Create Group
Creates a new group.
Create approval requests for new Azure AD users
Each time a new user is added to Azure AD, kickstart an approval process in ApproveThis. Ensure security compliance by verifying user access needs through a structured approval workflow.
Zapier Components

Trigger
New User
Triggers when a new user is created.
Action
Create Request
Creates a new request, probably with input from previous steps.
Add Azure AD users to groups after request approvals
Once a user access request is approved in ApproveThis, this integration automatically adds the user to their designated Azure AD group, streamlining access management.
Zapier Components
Trigger
A Request Is Approved/Denied
Triggers when a request is approved or denied.

Action
Add User to Group
Adds the selected user to a group you choose.
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