Microsoft 365 Administration: The Skills Azure Engineers Overlook

I meet Azure engineers all the time who have deep knowledge of VMs, networking, and infrastructure — but freeze when asked about Microsoft 365.

"That's a different team."

"I don't do productivity stuff."

"M365 is just email, right?"

Wrong. And this gap is costing you opportunities.

Why Azure Engineers Should Care About M365

Here's the reality: most organizations using Azure are also using Microsoft 365. The technologies aren't separate silos — they share identity infrastructure, integrate at multiple points, and often fall under the same IT umbrella.

When you understand both, you become significantly more valuable.

The M365 Skills That Matter for Azure Engineers

1. Entra ID (The Big One)

If you work with Azure, you already use Entra ID. But M365 adds another layer:

• Conditional Access applies to M365 apps, not just Azure resources
• App registrations power integrations between M365 and custom applications
• License management is entirely different from Azure RBAC

Understanding how Entra ID behaves across both platforms prevents embarrassing gaps in your knowledge.

2. Exchange Online Fundamentals

You don't need to be a mail flow expert. But you should understand:

• How email routing works in hybrid environments
• Mail-enabled security groups vs. Microsoft 365 groups
• Why that developer can't send emails from their Azure Function

I've seen Azure engineers build elaborate notification systems without realizing Exchange Online has built-in capabilities that would've saved weeks of work.

3. SharePoint and OneDrive Integration

Azure Blob Storage isn't the only place to store files. Many organizations use SharePoint as their document backbone, and it integrates deeply with:

• Power Platform (Power Automate workflows)
• Teams (which is built on SharePoint)
• Azure Logic Apps

Knowing when to use SharePoint vs. Azure Storage is a valuable skill.

4. Teams as a Platform

Teams isn't just chat. It's a platform with:

• Webhooks for notifications from Azure services
• Bots that can automate IT tasks
• Integration points for custom applications

If you're building internal tools, Teams is often the user interface your organization already has.

5. Security and Compliance Center

M365 has its own security tools:

• Microsoft Defender for Office 365
• Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
• Compliance policies and eDiscovery

These overlap with Azure's security offerings. Understanding the boundaries prevents misconfiguration and security gaps.

The Career Advantage

Job postings increasingly want hybrid skills. "Azure Administrator with M365 experience" pays more than either specialty alone.

Why? Because organizations need people who can:

• Troubleshoot authentication issues that span both platforms
• Design solutions that use the right tool from either ecosystem
• Communicate with both infrastructure and productivity teams

That's you, if you invest the time.

Where to Start

You don't need to become an M365 expert overnight. Start here:

1. MS-900 (Microsoft 365 Fundamentals) — Quick overview of the ecosystem
2. Explore the M365 Admin Center — Poke around, see what's there
3. Set up Conditional Access for M365 apps — Apply your Azure knowledge in a new context
4. Build something with Power Automate — Connect M365 to Azure services

The skills transfer. You're not starting from zero — you're extending what you already know.

Stop Ignoring Half the Ecosystem

Microsoft's cloud isn't just Azure. Pretending M365 doesn't exist limits your understanding and your career.

The best cloud engineers I know are comfortable across the entire Microsoft ecosystem. They can troubleshoot an Azure deployment and an Exchange mail flow issue in the same day.

That breadth is increasingly rare. And rare skills command premium salaries.

Your move.