Microsoft-Entra-Management-Tasks: Perform basic Self-Service Password Rest (SSPR) tasks

Introduction

Passwords are the gateway to every digital identity, and managing them securely is critical for any organization. Microsoft Entra ID empowers users with Self‑Service Password Reset (SSPR) — a feature that allows individuals to reset their own passwords without administrative intervention.
This exercise demonstrates how administrators can configure and test SSPR, enabling users to verify their identity through multiple authentication methods such as email, SMS, or security questions. The goal is to reduce help‑desk dependency while maintaining strong security controls.

Exercise - Perform basic Self-Service Password Rest (SSPR) tasks.

In this exercise you will learn where the self-service password reset feature is located in Microsoft Entra and explore the process to configure it.

Task 1 - View the SSPR properties for a specific group.

1. Open the Microsoft Entra admin center at https://entra.microsoft.com.
2. Log in using the credentials for your tenant.
3. From the menu on the left, open Protection submenu and then select Password reset.
4. Find the Self service password enabled bar

Value	What it means
None	No users can use the SSPR feature.
Selected	Only members of the selected group(s) can use SSPR.
All	All users in the tenant can use the SSPR feature.

1. Set the value to Selected.
2. Select the text No groups selected.
3. Mark the Project23 group we created previously.
4. Use the Select button to complete your choice.
5. Save your configuration.

Subtask 1 - View SSPR authentication methods

1. Select Authentication methods from the menu within Password reset.
2. Select 1 as the value for Number of methods required to reset. Note - this value represents how many different ways the user is required to sign-in to the password reset tool, before they are allowed to reset their password. Note that using a password is not an option. 3, Select Email, Mobile phone, and Mobile app code for Methods available to user. Note - if you use Security Questions you have to specific the number of questions the user is required to create and answer.
3. Use the button at the top to Save your choices.
4. You have added an Authentication method to your self-service password reset.

Subtask 2 - View SSPR registration

1. Select Registration from the menu within Password reset.
2. Make sure the Required users to register when signing in? value is set to Yes.
3. Set the Number of days before users are asked to re-confirm… to 90 days. 4.Select Save to save your changes.

Subtask 3 - View SSPR reset notifications

1. Select Notifications from the menu withing Password reset.
2. Leave the Notify users on password reset? at the default of Yes.
3. Change the Notify all admins when other admins reset their password? value to Yes.
4. Use the Save option to save your changes.

Summary

In this exercise, you learned how to:

• Access the Microsoft Entra admin center and navigate to Authentication methods → Password reset.

• Configure SSPR settings to allow users to reset their passwords securely.

• Set up verification options — including email, SMS, and security questions — to confirm user identity.

• Test the password reset workflow, from “Forgot Password?” to successful verification and password creation.

• Understand how multi‑factor authentication (MFA) enhances password recovery security.

These steps ensure that users can regain access to their accounts quickly and safely, improving both productivity and security posture.

Conclusion

Implementing Self‑Service Password Reset in Microsoft Entra ID is a simple yet powerful way to strengthen identity management. It reduces administrative overhead, minimizes downtime caused by forgotten passwords, and empowers users to take control of their own credentials.
By combining SSPR with multi‑factor authentication, organizations create a resilient defense against unauthorized access and password‑related attacks.

Takeaway Points

• SSPR enhances user autonomy while maintaining enterprise‑grade security.

• Multiple verification methods (email, SMS, security questions) ensure flexible identity validation.

• MFA integration adds an extra layer of protection during password recovery.

• Admin configuration in Microsoft Entra ID is straightforward and scalable for any organization.

• Empowering users through SSPR reduces help‑desk workload and improves overall security hygiene.