Enable Group Calendar Synchronization to automatically add employee absences to Microsoft 365 group calendars. This integration requires permissions for the absentify Group Calendar Permission Microsoft 365 Enterprise App (App ID: aa06e0d6-dd66-4d79-9ec5-660a87afbfdd), utilizing Directory.Read.All (Application) and Group.ReadWrite.All (both Application and Delegated) permissions.

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Benefits of granting Group Calendar Synchronization permissions

Granting the Directory.Read.All and Group.ReadWrite.All permissions to the absentify Group Calendar Permission app offers significant advantages for your organization:
  • Automated absence visibility: Automatically adds employee absences to relevant group calendars, making it easier for team members to see who is out and when.
  • Teams calendar integration: Ensures that absences are visible in Microsoft Teams calendar views, improving team coordination and planning.
  • Streamlined calendar management: Reduces manual effort by automatically updating group calendars when absences are approved or modified in absentify.

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Default functionality without permissions

If the Directory.Read.All and Group.ReadWrite.All permissions are not granted, absentify’s Group Calendar Synchronization features are unavailable. Without these permissions:
  • Manual calendar updates: Team members must manually add absences to group calendars or rely on other communication methods to stay informed about team availability.
  • No Teams calendar visibility: Absences will not appear in Microsoft Teams calendar views, potentially leading to scheduling conflicts or miscommunication.
  • Increased administrative workload: HR or managers may need to manually communicate absences or update shared calendars, increasing administrative burden.

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How absentify uses the Directory and Group permissions

To promote transparency and trust, here’s how absentify uses the Directory.Read.All and Group.ReadWrite.All permissions in the absentify Group Calendar Permission app:
  • Directory access: Directory.Read.All allows absentify to access group and organizational information necessary to identify the appropriate group calendars for absence synchronization.
  • Group calendar management: Group.ReadWrite.All (Application) permits absentify to add and manage absence events in group calendars automatically when absences are approved or modified.
  • Teams calendar support: Group.ReadWrite.All (Delegated) is specifically needed to support Teams calendar functionality, ensuring that absences appear correctly in Microsoft Teams calendar views where group calendars are accessed on behalf of users.
  • Secure storage: All calendar synchronization data is stored in absentify’s database to maintain application performance and reduce reliance on Microsoft API calls. Data is stored securely in Azure North Europe, adhering to GDPR requirements. Access to this data is strictly limited to authorized personnel at BrainCore Solutions GmbH, with no access for developers or external parties.

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Security and data protection

absentify adheres to strict security protocols to protect your organization’s data:
  • ISO 27001 certification: absentify is ISO 27001 certified, confirming compliance with international standards for information security management.
  • Microsoft 365 App Certification: The absentify Group Calendar Permission app has achieved Microsoft 365 App Certification, meeting Microsoft’s requirements for security, privacy, and compliance. This certification assures that absentify follows best practices in data handling.
  • Controlled access: Access secrets and permissions required for group calendar synchronization are securely stored in an Azure Key Vault, restricted to necessary personnel only. No developers or members of other departments can access production data, ensuring full data security.

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Enabling Group Calendar Synchronization

To activate automatic synchronization of absences to group calendars, follow these steps:
  1. Grant permissions: Start by granting the required permissions through the Microsoft 365 admin portal. Use the following link to initiate the consent process: Grant Permissions
  2. Activate synchronization in absentify: Go to Settings > Integrations in absentify and enable the Group Calendar Synchronization options to automatically add absences to relevant group calendars.

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Key features of Group Calendar Synchronization

With the Group Calendar integration enabled, absentify provides several key features:
  • Automatic absence events: Automatically create calendar events in group calendars when absences are approved in absentify.
  • Real-time updates: Update or remove calendar events when absences are modified or cancelled in absentify.
  • Teams integration: Ensure absences are visible in Microsoft Teams calendar views for better team coordination.
  • Department-specific calendars: Sync absences to department-specific group calendars based on user assignments.
For a full breakdown of Group Calendar Synchronization features, see our support article.

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Revoking permissions

If you need to revoke the Directory.Read.All or Group.ReadWrite.All permissions for the absentify Group Calendar Permission app, follow these steps:
  1. Access Azure Active Directory: Log in to the Azure portal with your Microsoft 365 administrator account.
  2. Navigate to Enterprise applications: In the left-hand menu, go to Azure Active Directory > Enterprise applications.
  3. Find and select absentify Group Calendar Permission: Locate the absentify Group Calendar Permission app (App ID: aa06e0d6-dd66-4d79-9ec5-660a87afbfdd) in your list of applications.
  4. Manage permissions: Go to the Permissions section and select Directory.Read.All and Group.ReadWrite.All to revoke absentify’s access to group and directory data.
Revoking these permissions will disable Group Calendar Synchronization. Without it, absences will no longer be automatically added to group calendars, requiring manual communication or calendar management by team members. By granting and, if necessary, revoking the Directory.Read.All and Group.ReadWrite.All permissions for the absentify Group Calendar Permission app, you retain full control over group calendar synchronization, ensuring efficient operations while upholding data security.