Azure Tenant Setup Guide

How to set up a free Azure Tenant for use with FreeITSM

Already have Microsoft 365?

If you work for a company that already has a Microsoft 365 suite with Exchange Online, you do not need to set up a new Azure Tenant. Your organisation already has one. You can skip this guide entirely and proceed straight to configuring an Enterprise Application.

If you want to set up something completely from scratch – for example, you're an individual, a hobbyist, or you're building a standalone FreeITSM environment outside of an existing organisation – then read on. This guide will walk you through creating a free Azure Tenant from the ground up.

What is an Azure Tenant?

An Azure Tenant is a dedicated instance of Azure Active Directory (now called Microsoft Entra ID) that your organisation receives when it signs up for a Microsoft cloud service. It's the foundation that allows you to manage users, register applications, and integrate with Microsoft 365 services like Exchange Online.

Creating a tenant is completely free. You only pay when you add paid services on top of it, such as Exchange mailboxes or Microsoft 365 licences.

Step 1: Create a Free Azure Account

  1. Visit azure.microsoft.com
  2. Click "Get started with Azure"
  3. Click "Try Azure for Free"
  4. Sign in with an existing Microsoft account, or create a new one if you don't have one
  5. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the sign-up process

Security: Protect Your Account

Your Azure Tenant will be the backbone of your FreeITSM integration with Microsoft 365 services. It is essential that you secure it properly from the start.

  • Use a strong, unique password – at least 16 characters, mixing upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. Do not reuse a password from another service.
  • Install the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile device (Download for iOS/Android). You will need this to configure Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
  • Enable MFA immediately – during or shortly after account creation, set up Multi-Factor Authentication using the Authenticator app. This adds a critical second layer of security, meaning that even if your password is compromised, an attacker cannot access your account without your mobile device.

Do not skip MFA. A compromised Azure Tenant could expose your entire FreeITSM environment and any connected Microsoft 365 services.

Step 2: Linking Your Domain

By default, your new Azure Tenant will have a domain like yourname.onmicrosoft.com. To use your own domain (e.g. yourcompany.co.uk) with Microsoft 365 services, you need to add and verify it within Azure.

Add Your Custom Domain

  1. Sign in to the Azure portal at portal.azure.com
  2. In the search bar at the top, search for "Domain Names" under Azure Services and select it
  3. Click "Add custom domain name"
  4. Enter your domain name (e.g. yourcompany.co.uk) and click Add domain

Verify Your Domain with a DNS Record

After adding your domain, Azure will provide you with a TXT record that you need to add to your domain's DNS settings. This proves to Microsoft that you own the domain.

  1. Azure will display a TXT record value – it will look something like MS=ms54249063
  2. Log in to your domain registrar or DNS hosting provider (e.g. GoDaddy, Cloudflare, 123 Reg, Namecheap, etc.)
  3. Navigate to the DNS management area for your domain
  4. Add a new TXT record with the following settings:
    • Type: TXT
    • Host/Name: @ (or leave blank, depending on your provider)
    • Value/Data: The value Azure gave you (e.g. MS=ms54249063)
    • TTL: 3600 (or 1 hour – the default is usually fine)
  5. Save the DNS record
  6. Go back to the Azure portal and click "Verify"

DNS propagation can take time

It can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours for DNS changes to propagate, depending on your provider. If verification fails on the first attempt, wait a while and try again. In most cases it takes no more than 15–30 minutes.

Once verified, your custom domain will appear as a confirmed domain in your Azure Tenant, and you'll be able to use it when setting up Exchange mailboxes and other Microsoft 365 services.

Ready for the Next Step?

Before moving on, make sure you've completed everything in this guide. Use the checklist below to confirm you're ready:

  • Purchased a domain name – you own a domain (e.g. yourcompany.co.uk) through a registrar
  • Created a free Azure Tenant – you have signed up at azure.microsoft.com and can access the Azure portal
  • Secured your account with a strong password – at least 16 characters, unique to this account
  • Enabled Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – using the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile device
  • Added your custom domain – your domain has been added in the Azure portal under Domain Names
  • Verified your domain via DNS – you have added the TXT record and Azure has confirmed the domain is verified

All done? You're ready to set up an Exchange mailbox for FreeITSM's email ticketing.

→ Continue to Exchange Mailbox Setup Guide

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