How to Integrate WordPress with Microsoft Office 365 & Azure AD

Microsoft Office 365 & Azure Active Directory (AD) allow for seamless and secure account management, especially when using multiple devices to access the same network of programs. It begins with joining Azure AD which is a relatively straightforward process, with steps involved depending on which Microsoft OS you use. If you have a Windows 10 device for instance, this task can be achieved via Settings and configuring a work or personal account. Once you have a Microsoft Office 365 or Azure AD account available, it may be used for integration with third-party applications.

This guide shows how to set up a Microsoft 365 / Azure AD account to access WordPress. It will allow you to sign in to your site without the need to enter your WordPress login credentials. This is achieved through the WPO365 | LOGIN plugin which features OpenID Connect and SAML 2.0 single sign-on (SSO) protocols. The integration not only improves security, it also provides Microsoft-based tasking like sending emails via Microsoft Graph and embedding Power BI data.

Follow the steps below to integrate WordPress with Microsoft Office 365 and Azure AD:

Step 1: Pre-requisites

For this method to work, your Azure AD account must be allowed to register new applications. If that’s not the case, you have to discuss this with your network administrator.

Ensure that your WordPress admin login name is not the same as the Azure AD login name that will be used. Your WordPress admin email address, however, must be the same as your Office 365 Exchange email address. Doing this will let you send emails directly from your WordPress site.

Your WordPress site should also be in HTTPS and have a valid SSL. If you’re running a managed WordPress site, check with your hosting platform. In most cases, SSL is already included upon setting up your website. This is important because the Microsoft 365 ecosystem requires these protocols. Microsoft Outlook mailer, for example, will only work if you have a valid SSL certificate. This is critical if you plan to connect Outlook to WordPress down the line and use it to manage business emails related to your site.

Step 2: Register AD Application

To register WordPress as an AD application, go to the Azure portal and navigate to Azure Active Directory. Select “App registrations” and click on “New registration.”

Input your desired name, such as “WP Integration”. Choose the supported account types and enter the Redirect URI (e.g. https://example.com/wp-admin/admin.php?page=oauth-azuread).

After registration, jot down the Application ID and Directory ID as you’ll need them later.

Step 3: Configure Azure AD Settings

Next, select your newly created application under “App registrations.” Go to Authentication and add a platform. Choose “Web” and enter the Redirect URI again.

Under API permissions, click on “Add a permission” and select the desired Office 365 APIs you want to access. For example, you might need “Microsoft Graph” API permissions for user data. Grant admin consent for the permissions you added.

Step 4: Install and configure WPO365 | LOGIN Plugin

Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins then click “Add New.”

Search for “WordPress + Microsoft Office 365 / Azure AD | LOGIN” then install and activate it.

Next, open the plugin’s settings and enter the Azure AD Application ID and Directory ID you saved earlier. Configure other settings like the scope of permissions and user roles based on your requirements.

Step 5: Test your Integration

Log out of your WordPress site. On the login page, choose the option for Azure AD or Office 365 login.

You should be redirected to the Azure AD login page, where you can enter your Office 365 credentials. Once authenticated, Azure AD will provide an access token to WordPress, allowing you to log in and access the site.

When the testing phase proceeded without a hitch, it means you succeeded with the integration. Now you may explore other hacks like connecting your WordPress site with other Microsoft 365 applications.

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