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Integrating with Microsoft Exchange using Application Authentication in Azure

Introduction​

This step-by-step guide will show you a popular method for creating a Microsoft Exchange application for Communications Mining in your Azure Cloud Platform. You'll learn how to create an Application (client) with an ID and Client Secret, and find your existing Directory (tenant) ID. This will allow users to access Exchange mailbox integrations in Communications Mining.

Why is a successful integration important?​

Failure to create an Exchange-Communications Minig application in Azure can lead to permissions errors that prevent users from accessing their mailbox integrations. To gain the full benefits of Communications Mining, follow the steps below and complete the process in its entirety.

The Integration Process—Step by Step​

1. Sign into Azure​

Sign into your Azure Cloud Portal.

2. Register a new Application for Communications Mining​

Access the App Registrations menu and select the New Registration option.

Register a new application:

  1. Enter an application name—for example 'communications-mining-exchange-integration'
  2. Under Supported account types select the single tenant option
  3. Hit Register to complete the registration

Azure will give you an Application (client) ID and a Directory (tenant) ID. Save these for later and go to Step 4.

3. Create a Client Secret for your Communications Mining application​

To keep your application secure, you must create a Client Secret to log into your application. First, click on Certificates & Secrets under the Manage sidebar, then follow the steps below:

  1. Select the Client secrets option if it's not already selected
  2. Select New client secret
  3. In the sidebar, add an easily recognizable Description and select an expiry date—we recommend 12 months
  4. Hit Add

You've now created a Secret Value for your Communications Mining application.

note

Please note that Azure will only display this Secret Value to you once so make sure to copy it. If you ever lose your secret value, simply complete Step 3 again to create a new one.

4. Set API permissions​

  1. Navigate to API permissions under the Manage sidebar
  2. Select Add a permission
  3. Select APIs my organization uses
  4. Search for and select "Office 365 Exchange Online"
  5. Select "Application Permissions"
  6. Select the option "full_access_as_app"
  7. Hit Add permissions
  8. Back in the API permissions menu, hit Grant admin consent for Communications Mining
  9. Select Yes in the Grant admin consent confirmation pop-up

5. Restrict access to the mailbox with a conditional access policy​

At this point, you will likely want to limit the applications permissions so that it can only access certain mailboxes within your organisation. To learn how to do this, see here

6. Sign into Communications Mining​

Sign into Communications Mining through UiPath Automation Cloud as normal.

7. Create a new integration in Communications Mining​

  1. Navigate to the Integrations page through the settings cog at the top right
  2. Select New Integration
  3. Select an existing project and enter a name for your integration, and add a title if desired
  4. Click Continue
  5. Populate your oauth authority using the tenant ID generated in Step 2, in the following format: https://login.microsoftonline.com/{tenant_id}
  6. Populate your client ID generated in Step 2
  7. Populate your Client Secret generated in Step 3
  8. Select the option "With application access"
  9. Click Validate & Save Credentials to check that your credentials are valid
  10. Click Continue
  11. Click Add Mailbox to open the mailbox form
  12. Enter the email address for which you wish to copy emails into Communications Mining
  13. Click Add Mailbox again to save the mailbox
  14. Click Create Integration

Final Steps​

You have now successfully created an integration between Communications Mining and Microsoft Exchange through Azure. Should you wish, you can disable the integration by hitting the switch in the top-right corner of the Integrations page. To delete it, select the trash can icon.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the integration process, please contact UiPath support.