For nearly a decade, Azure Active Directory (AzureAD) PowerShell modules have been the heartbeat of identity automation for Microsoft 365 admins. From user provisioning and license assignments to group management, AzureAD scripts quietly powered some of the world’s most complex enterprise environments. But every great era in technology eventually gives way to something new and that time has come.
Microsoft has officially announced the final retirement of the AzureAD, AzureADPreview, and MSOnline PowerShell modules, marking the end of one of the most widely used admin tools in the cloud ecosystem. The replacement? Microsoft Graph PowerShell a unified, modern, and API-driven approach to managing everything within the Microsoft ecosystem, from Entra ID to Teams, Exchange, and beyond.
For IT professionals, this isn’t just a version upgrade it’s a fundamental shift in how we connect to and control Microsoft cloud services. Graph PowerShell isn’t about commands; it’s about capabilities, security, and future-proof automation.
As we enter this new chapter, it’s time to look back at AzureAD’s journey, understand why this transition is happening now, and explore how to prepare for a smoother, more powerful future.
The End of an Era — AzureAD’s Journey and Final Retirement
The AzureAD module first appeared to simplify directory management in the early days of Microsoft 365 adoption. It offered a direct, admin-friendly way to automate tasks that would otherwise require complex API calls a game changer for system admins everywhere. Over time, the module evolved into a cornerstone of cloud governance, enabling organizations to manage hundreds of thousands of identities with precision and repeatability.
But as Microsoft’s cloud ecosystem expanded, AzureAD’s foundations began to show their limits. New products like Intune, Teams, and Entra demanded deeper integration and cross-service automation capabilities the legacy AzureAD module couldn’t fully support. That’s when Microsoft began building Microsoft Graph, a single, REST-based API uniting all Microsoft 365 services.
In 2023, Microsoft announced that the AzureAD and MSOnline modules were officially deprecated, with support ending in March 2025 and full retirement expected by Q3 2025. Admins relying on these modules have already started seeing intermittent issues and deprecation warnings. For many, it’s the push needed to finally migrate.
Yet the story isn’t just about what’s ending it’s about what’s beginning.
Microsoft Graph PowerShell isn’t merely a replacement; it’s the next evolution designed for scalability, security, and integration across the Microsoft cloud stack.
Why Microsoft Graph PowerShell Is the Future
When Microsoft first unveiled Microsoft Graph, it wasn’t just another API it was a vision for unifying how all Microsoft 365 services communicate. The company saw what administrators already knew: managing identities, groups, licenses, and security policies across multiple modules was becoming increasingly fragmented.
Graph PowerShell solves this by giving admins a single, extensible SDK that connects directly to the Microsoft Graph API the same engine that powers Entra ID, Teams, SharePoint, and Intune. Instead of juggling several PowerShell modules with different authentication flows, you now have one consistent language for the entire Microsoft ecosystem.
Unified API Access Across Microsoft 365
Think of Microsoft Graph PowerShell as the control center for your organization’s cloud identity. You can query, create, and update resources from multiple services in one authenticated session.
Instead of using Get-AzureADUser and then switching modules for Teams or Exchange, you can now use a single command set (Get-MgUser, Get-MgTeam, etc.) that scales across every workload. For admins and DevOps engineers managing hybrid or large-scale tenants, this means fewer headaches, fewer module conflicts, and far greater efficiency.
Improved Security and Modern Authentication
One of the biggest shifts comes from authentication. The old AzureAD module relied on less flexible credential models that often didn’t align with modern security standards. Microsoft Graph PowerShell introduces OAuth 2.0-based authentication and a granular permission model, giving you precise control over what scripts and service principals can do.
This change also brings automation in line with enterprise compliance requirements supporting MFA, Conditional Access, and Entra app consent workflows. In other words, it’s not just more powerful; it’s more secure by design.
Continuous Updates and Broader Coverage
Microsoft Graph PowerShell is now the only PowerShell SDK actively maintained by Microsoft for identity and access automation. New API endpoints arrive first in Graph, meaning admins get access to features months before they’re ever exposed in the old modules.
This future-proof approach ensures your automation scripts evolve alongside Microsoft 365, not behind it. For long-term maintainability and compliance, that’s a significant advantage.
Breaking Down the Key Differences
The transition to Graph PowerShell is powerful but it’s not plug-and-play. Understanding the differences between the two ecosystems will save hours of troubleshooting later.
Cmdlet Parity and Naming Shifts
The AzureAD-to-Graph mapping isn’t one-to-one. Microsoft has released a cmdlet mapping guide to help, but admins should expect changes in structure and output. For example:
- Get-AzureADUser → Get-MgUser
- New-AzureADGroup → New-MgGroup
- Set-AzureADApplication → Update-MgApplication
Even property names differ (DisplayName vs. displayName, for instance). Many scripts will require slight refactoring to align with Graph’s JSON-based output format.
Authentication and Consent Model Changes
You’ll no longer connect with Connect-AzureAD using just credentials. Instead, you’ll use:
Connect-MgGraph -Scopes “User.ReadWrite.All, Group.ReadWrite.All”
This scope-based model introduces delegated and application permissions, forcing admins to think about least-privilege principles in a more structured way. It’s more secure, but it demands intentional setup.
Automation and CI/CD Impacts
Scripts that once ran silently with stored credentials now require updated authentication flows. That means service principals, certificates, or managed identities become central to your automation architecture. If your organization relies heavily on Azure Automation or DevOps pipelines, this shift will affect how you authenticate and manage tokens.
And that’s exactly where many teams stumble not because they lack skill, but because Microsoft’s landscape is evolving faster than most IT departments can keep up.
That’s where CRM Stuff’s PowerShell and Dynamics 365 specialists come in. Our team helps organizations modernize, migrate, and secure their Microsoft 365 and Dynamics environments with Graph PowerShell and Entra automation. Whether you’re rewriting legacy AzureAD scripts, redesigning CI/CD pipelines, or setting up secure app-based authentication, we handle the heavy lifting so your team can focus on business outcomes, not syntax errors.
The Migration Path How Admins Can Prepare
Migrating from AzureAD to Microsoft Graph PowerShell isn’t a simple version bump it’s a strategic modernization project. Microsoft has provided mapping guides and documentation, but real-world migrations often reveal nuances you won’t see until you start testing. Here’s how to make the transition smooth and predictable.
Step 1: Inventory and Identify Dependencies
Start with a discovery phase. Run a tenant-wide code scan or use a PowerShell search tool to identify where AzureAD or MSOnline cmdlets appear in scripts, scheduled jobs, or automation workflows.
Document what each script does especially those tied to provisioning, security groups, or license assignments. You can’t fix what you can’t see, and this visibility is the foundation of a successful migration.
Step 2: Learn the Microsoft Graph SDK Basics
Once you’ve mapped dependencies, it’s time to learn the ropes.
Install the new module:
Install-Module Microsoft.Graph -Scope AllUsers
Connect-MgGraph -Scopes “User.ReadWrite.All, Group.ReadWrite.All”
Microsoft’s cmdlet mapping guide is your best friend here.
It shows you which Graph commands replace legacy ones and highlights functional differences.
Step 3: Migrate and Test Scripts
Approach migration in small, controlled phases. Don’t rewrite 50 scripts at once.
Refactor a single script, validate its output, and test it in a sandbox tenant. Pay attention to JSON structures and property case sensitivity — subtle differences can break logic if not adjusted.
Using Select-MgProfile helps you target the correct Graph API version, ensuring compatibility with existing workflows.
Step 4: Update Automation Accounts and Permissions
Your existing automation accounts might use basic credentials or stored passwords. With Graph, you’ll transition to app registrations, certificates, and managed identities.
That may sound complex, but it actually improves long-term security and maintainability.
Ensure your automation services (like Azure DevOps, Power Automate, or Azure Automation) use the right Graph permissions and token lifetimes.
Document everything especially consent scopes to streamline audits later.
Step 5: Monitor, Optimize, and Stay Updated
Once migrated, keep your SDK updated (Update-Module Microsoft.Graph) and monitor Microsoft’s Entra announcements.
You’ll find new cmdlets, API versions, and deprecations announced regularly.
Admins who stay proactive now won’t face the same scramble when Microsoft makes its next major platform evolution.
What This Shift Means for Admins and Organizations
A Cultural Shift in Microsoft Admin Work
This transition is more than technical it’s cultural.
For years, admins interacted with Microsoft 365 through static PowerShell commands. With Graph, they’re evolving into API-first automation engineers, bridging scripting and integration.
It’s a learning curve, yes, but one that unlocks immense flexibility.
The Real Benefits After Migration
Once teams fully adopt Graph PowerShell, they’ll notice immediate gains:
- Unified management across Entra ID, Teams, and more.
- Better security posture through granular permissions.
- Reduced technical debt from deprecated scripts and outdated modules.
- Faster adoption of Microsoft’s newest cloud capabilities.
It’s not just modernization it’s strategic future-proofing.
Challenges and Community Insights
No migration is perfect. Admins often face missing cmdlets, throttling errors, or consent issues early on. The good news?
Microsoft’s community has become a powerhouse of shared scripts and fixes. GitHub, TechCommunity threads, and PowerShell forums are filled with solutions from peers who’ve already faced and solved these problems.
Still, many organizations don’t have time to troubleshoot every line of code, which is where specialized migration partners make the difference.
Conclusion
The retirement of AzureAD marks the end of an extraordinary era one that defined how admins managed identity in the cloud. But every ending in technology signals a new beginning.
Microsoft Graph PowerShell isn’t simply replacing AzureAD it’s redefining what PowerShell can do in the modern Microsoft ecosystem.
For IT leaders and PowerShell veterans alike, this is your moment to evolve. Migrate early, automate smarter, and embrace a more unified, secure, and scalable future.
And if your team needs hands-on support modernizing scripts, setting up secure Graph authentication, or integrating PowerShell with Dynamics 365 and Entra the experts at CRM Stuff are ready to help.
We specialize in PowerShell modernization, Dynamics 365 automation, and Microsoft Graph integration, helping organizations future-proof their identity infrastructure while minimizing downtime, Because the end of AzureAD isn’t just a retirement it’s the beginning of a more connected, intelligent admin era.
