Microsoft Azure Enterprise Application Request & Approval Policy

 

 

Purpose

This policy establishes the standards and procedures for requesting, reviewing, and approving Microsoft Azure Enterprise Applications within the organization. It ensures that applications meet security, compliance, privacy, and business requirements prior to deployment.

Scope

This policy applies to all staff, faculty, and students requesting the use of Azure Enterprise Applications through the organization’s tenant.

Request Requirements

All requests must include:

·         Justification Required: All requests must include a clear business justification outlining the intended use, expected benefits, and alignment with organizational needs.

·         Supporting Documentation: Requestors should provide any available publisher information, privacy/security documentation, and access requirements.

·         Duplicate Services: If the requested application provides services already covered by previously approved applications, the request must include additional justification explaining the unique need.

Approval Criteria

Applications will be evaluated against the following criteria:

·        Publisher Verification

·        Applications published by Microsoft or those with a verified publisher identity are preferred and prioritized for approval.

·        Security and Access

·        Applications requesting an unreasonable level of access or permissions (e.g., global admin, broad data exfiltration rights) will be subject to heightened review and may be rejected.

·        Applications with unverified or unknown publishers, particularly user-created apps without established security controls, are unlikely to be approved.

·        Applications with very recent creation dates may be deferred until maturity and security standards are demonstrably met.

·        Business Alignment

·        Applications must support organizational objectives and demonstrate business value.

·        Applications duplicating functionality of approved tools will require strong justification.

·        Enterprise-Wide Use

·        Applications that meet organization-wide needs may be approved for tenant-wide deployment and availability to all users.

·        Applications with niche use cases may be approved on a limited, request-only basis.

Review & Approval Process

1.      Submission: Request submitted via designated service portal or ticketing system with required justification.

2.      Initial Review: Information Security team reviews publisher verification, access permissions, and justification.

3.      Risk Assessment: Applications requiring elevated access undergo a security risk assessment.

4.      Decision: Approved – Application added to approved catalog for appropriate scope (individual, group, or enterprise).

5.      Decision: Conditional Approval – Limited or trial use permitted, subject to additional safeguards or monitoring.

6.      Decision: Rejected – Application not approved, with reasoning provided.

7.      Ongoing Review: Approved applications are subject to periodic re-validation for continued compliance and security.