Integrating Workday with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) is a powerful way to streamline user provisioning, enhance security, and improve the employee experience. By automating the process of creating, updating, and deactivating user accounts, this integration ensures that your workforce has seamless access to the tools and resources they need. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of integrating Workday with Microsoft Entra ID for inbound user provisioning.

What is Inbound User Provisioning?

Inbound user provisioning refers to the process of automatically creating and managing user accounts in a target system (e.g., Microsoft Entra ID) based on data from a source system (e.g., Workday). This integration ensures that user accounts are always up-to-date and aligned with your HR data.

Benefits of Integrating Workday with Microsoft Entra ID

1. Automated User Provisioning: Eliminate manual processes and reduce errors by automating user account creation and updates.
2. Improved Security: Ensure that only active employees have access to your systems by automatically deactivating accounts for terminated employees.
3. Enhanced Employee Experience: Provide employees with seamless access to Microsoft 365, Teams, and other Microsoft services from day one.
4. Compliance: Maintain compliance with data protection regulations by ensuring accurate and timely user account management.

Step-by-Step Guide to Integrating Workday with Microsoft Entra ID

Step 1: Prepare Your Workday Environment

1. Ensure Workday Web Services are Enabled: Workday’s provisioning integration relies on Workday Web Services (WWS). Confirm that WWS is enabled in your Workday tenant.
2. Create a Workday Integration System User (ISU): Set up a dedicated integration system user in Workday with the necessary permissions to access employee data.

Step 2: Configure Microsoft Entra ID

1. Log in to the Microsoft Entra Admin Center: Navigate to the Enterprise Applications section and click New Application.
2. Add Workday as a New Application: Search for Workday in the gallery and add it as a new enterprise application.
3. Configure Single Sign-On (SSO): Set up SSO to allow users to log in to Microsoft services using their Workday credentials.

Step 3: Set Up Inbound User Provisioning

1. Navigate to the Provisioning Tab: In the Workday application settings, go to the Provisioning tab and click Get Started.
2. Enter Workday Credentials: Provide the Workday tenant URL, username (ISU), and password to connect Microsoft Entra ID to Workday.
3. Test the Connection: Click Test Connection to ensure that Microsoft Entra ID can communicate with Workday.
4. Map Workday Attributes to Microsoft Entra ID: Define how Workday attributes (e.g., employee ID, name, email) map to Microsoft Entra ID fields.
5. Configure Provisioning Settings: Specify whether to create, update, or deactivate users based on Workday data. You can also define scoping filters to limit which users are provisioned.

Step 4: Enable and Monitor Provisioning

1. Enable Provisioning: Turn on the provisioning toggle and click Save to start the provisioning process.
2. Monitor Provisioning Logs: Use the Provisioning Logs tab to track the status of user provisioning and troubleshoot any issues.

Best Practices for Workday and Microsoft Entra ID Integration

1. Regularly Review Attribute Mappings: Ensure that Workday attributes are correctly mapped to Microsoft Entra ID fields to avoid data discrepancies.
2. Test in a Sandbox Environment: Before deploying the integration in production, test it in a sandbox environment to identify and resolve any issues.
3. Monitor for Changes in Workday: Workday updates may impact the integration. Stay informed about changes and update your configuration as needed.
4. Provide Training: Train your HR and IT teams on how to manage the integration and troubleshoot common issues.

Conclusion: Streamline User Provisioning with Workday and Microsoft Entra ID

Integrating Workday with Microsoft Entra ID for inbound user provisioning is a game-changer for organizations looking to automate user management, enhance security, and improve the employee experience. By following this step-by-step guide, you can set up the integration with confidence and ensure a smooth implementation.

Need Help with Workday and Microsoft Entra ID Integration?

At Lafayette Technology, we specialize in helping organizations like yours integrate Workday with Microsoft Entra ID and other systems. Whether you’re looking to set up inbound user provisioning, configure SSO, or optimize your integration, our team of experts is here to help. [Contact us today] to learn more!