Modernizing Dynamic Distribution Groups in Exchange Online
As a Cloud Architect, it is important to be aware of the latest changes and advancements in the cloud. Microsoft Exchange Online is one of the most popular cloud platforms that organizations use to manage their emails and contacts. With the latest update, Microsoft has made it easier for administrators to configure dynamic distribution groups in Exchange Online.
What is a Dynamic Distribution Group?
A dynamic distribution group is a type of distribution list that dynamically changes its membership based on rules that you define. Dynamic distribution groups don’t have an associated address book or email address, and they don’t show up in the address book. You can use dynamic distribution groups to create an email group that includes users based on a filter criteria. For example, you can create a dynamic distribution group that includes all users in a specific organizational unit, or all users with a certain job title, or all users with a specific email address.
What’s new with Dynamic Distribution Groups in Exchange Online?
Microsoft has made several changes to dynamic distribution groups in Exchange Online. The biggest change is the ability for administrators to create multiple dynamic distribution groups with the same filter criteria. This makes it easier to create multiple groups for different purposes without having to create and manage multiple sets of filter criteria.
In addition, administrators now have more control over the filter criteria used to create dynamic distribution groups. You can now set a minimum and maximum number of members in a dynamic distribution group, as well as specify which organizational unit or domain the group should pull members from. You can also specify whether the group should include users with a specific job title or a specific email address.
Lastly, administrators now have the ability to set up notifications when the membership of a dynamic distribution group changes. This makes it easier to keep track of changes in the group’s membership and take appropriate action if needed.
How to Configure Dynamic Distribution Groups in Exchange Online
Step 1: Create the Dynamic Distribution Group
To create a dynamic distribution group, log into the Exchange admin center (EAC). Then, select recipients > groups > dynamic distribution groups. Next, click the “+” icon to create a new group. Enter the group name, and then select the filter criteria for the group. You can choose to filter by organizational unit, domain, job title, or email address. Finally, set the minimum and maximum number of members for the group.
Step 2: Set Up Notifications
Once the dynamic distribution group has been created, you can configure notifications for when the membership of the group changes. To do this, select the group, and then click “edit”. On the “notifications” tab, select the types of notifications you want to receive when the membership of the group changes. You can select email notifications, or you can select to be notified via an instant message or SMS.
Step 3: Test the Dynamic Distribution Group
Once you have created and configured the dynamic distribution group, you can test it to make sure it works as expected. To do this, send an email to the group and make sure that all of the members of the group receive the email. You can also use the Exchange Shell to view the membership of the group.
Conclusion
Dynamic distribution groups are a great way to manage email distribution in Exchange Online. With the new changes, administrators have more control over the filter criteria used to create dynamic distribution groups and can now set up notifications when the membership of a group changes. Hopefully, this article has given you a better understanding of dynamic distribution groups and how to configure them in Exchange Online.
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Modernizing Dynamic Distribution Groups in Exchange Online
