> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.expel.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.expel.io/connect-your-technology/l-p-integrations/microsoft/microsoft-defender-xdr-setup-for-workbench.md).
# Microsoft Defender XDR Setup for Workbench
{% hint style="info" %}
This setup guide only covers Microsoft Defender XDR. To find a different setup guide, search for the technology or check the [Integrations](/connect-your-technology/about-integrations/expel-integrations.md) page and select the hyperlink (if available) to go directly to the guide.
{% endhint %}
## Scope and Limitations
In order for us to collect the logs from Microsoft Defender XDR, you must provision the Azure App so that it can perform graph API queries for the following three endpoints:
* `/security/alerts_v2`
* `/security/incidents`
* `/security/runHuntingQuery`
The steps in this guide will help you provision the access properly via a custom Microsoft Entra ID App.
## Prerequisites
1. You must be able to log in to the Microsoft Entra Admin Console as a user assigned the Global Administrator or User Administrator role.
## Step 1: Enable Console and Cross-Tenant Access for Expel
{% hint style="warning" %}
**If your organization has already created a new Expel account for console access and enabled cross-tenant access for another Microsoft integration, you may skip to** [**Step 2: Create a Custom Microsoft Entra ID Application**](#step-2-create-a-custom-microsoft-entra-id-application). The same "\@soc.expel.io" account provides access across all Microsoft services.
{% endhint %}
### Step 1: Enable Console Access for a New Account
Expel requires console access to allow analysts to perform investigation and triage. Without this additional level of information, details cannot be verified by our analysts and an investigation cannot be initiated. For more information, see [Why Expel Asks for Console Access](/connect-your-technology/about-integrations/why-expel-asks-for-console-access.md).
1. [Log in to the Microsoft Entra Admin Center](https://entra.microsoft.com/) as a user assigned the Global Administrator or User Administrator role.
2. Navigate to **Entra ID > Users > All Users**.
3. Select **User > Invite external user**.
4. On the **Basics** tab, include the following:
* **Email** - use your [Organization GUID](#user-content-fn-1)[^1] to create the email address in the format "\@soc.expel.io". For example, `a123bc45-aa12-123b@soc.expel.io` .
* **Display Name** - enter "Expel SOC".
5. On the Assignments tab, configure the following:
* Select **Add role**.
* Search for and select **Global Reader**.
{% hint style="info" %}
This role provides read-only access across most Microsoft 365 and Azure management consoles.
{% endhint %}
6. Select **Review + invite** and then **Invite**.
The user account will be added to your directory as a guest, and an invitation will be sent to the email provided.
### Step 2: Enable Cross-Tenant Access
In this step you will add Expel as an external organization and configure inbound trust.
1. Still in the Microsoft Entra Admin Center, navigate to **Entra ID > External Identities > Cross-tenant access settings**.
2. Select the **Organizational settings** tab.
3. Select **Add organization**.
4. On the Add organization pane, enter Expel’s tenant ID: `1cde81fd-b430-4035-b24d-709921922876`
5. Select **Expel** from the search results, and then select **Add**.
6. In the Organizational settings list, locate the **Expel** row and select **Inbound access**.
7. On the "Inbound access settings - Expel" page, select the **Trust settings** tab, and configure the following:
* Select **Customize settings**.
* Enable **Trust multifactor authentication from Microsoft Entra tenants**.
* Enable **Trust compliant devices**.
* Enable **Trust Microsoft Entra hybrid joined devices**.
* Under Automatic redemption, enable **Automatically redeem invitations with the tenant Expel**.
8. Select **Save**.
## Step 2: Create a Custom Microsoft Entra ID Application
Creating a custom application is necessary to allow us to perform the necessary graph API queries and collect the Microsoft Defender XDR logs.
1. Still in the Azure portal, use the search bar to navigate to **App registrations**.
2. Select **New registration**.
3. On the Register an application screen:
* **Name** - enter "Expel Defender XDR".
* **Supported account types** - select "Accounts in this organizational directory only".
* Leave all other defaults on this page as is.
4. Select **Register**.
5. Copy and save the following two values for your new application (you will need to enter them into Workbench later):
* **Application (client) ID**
* **Directory (tenant) ID**
{% hint style="info" %}
If the new application page does not appear automatically, navigate to **App Registrations > View all applications > Expel Defender XDR**.
{% endhint %}
6. Under Client credentials, select **Add a certificate or secret**.
7. Select **New client secret**.
8. On the Add a client secret screen:
* **Description** - enter "Expel API".
* **Expires** - select 730 days (24 months).
9. Select **Add**.
10. For your new client secret, copy the **Value** and save it to a safe place (you will need to enter it in Workbench later). *This value only displays immediately after creation, and cannot be viewed again later.*
11. In the left side navigation, select **API permissions**.
12. Select **Add a permission**.
13. Select **Microsoft Graph**, then select **Application permissions**.
14. Locate and add the following permissions:
* `SecurityAlert.Read.All`
* `SecurityEvents.Read.All`
* `ThreatHunting.Read.All`
* `SecurityIncident.Read.All`
15. Select **Add permissions**.
16. Review the completed list of permissions and make sure they are all present, including the **User.Read** permission, which is required and automatically added for the Microsoft Graph API.
17. Make sure Admin consent is granted for all permissions by selecting **Grant admin consent for \[Tenant Name]**.
## Step 3: Add Microsoft Defender XDR as a Security Device in Workbench
**Before you begin, make sure you have the Application (client) ID, Directory (tenant) ID, and the client secret Value from Step 2.**
1. [Log in to Workbench](https://workbench.expel.io/auth/login?orig=%2F).
2. In the side menu, navigate to **Organization Settings > Security Devices**.
3. Select **Add Security Device**.
4. In the search box, type “XDR” and then select the **Microsoft Defender XDR** integration.
5. A configuration pane displays. Complete the fields as follows:
* **Name** - enter a name that might help you more easily identify this integration, such as “CompanyName Microsoft Defender XDR”; this name will display in Workbench under the Name column, and is a text string that you can filter on.
* **Location** - enter the location of your integration, for example “cloud;” this is also a text string that you can filter on, so we recommend being consistent with location naming across your Expel integrations.
* **Directory ID** - enter the Directory (tenant) ID value from Step 2.
* **Application ID** - enter the Application (client) ID value from Step 2.
* **Client secret** - enter the client secret Value from Step 2.
6. Select **Save**.
7. For console access, select **Set up later** from the dropdown (Expel is completing the console access setup).
8. Select **Save**.
Your device should be created successfully within a few seconds. A few reminders:
* After your connection is healthy, it will take some time for your device to begin polling and receiving data.
* To check on the status, select the downward arrow for your device in the first column and choose **View details**.
* Polling will happen first; data will be received after that. **You must refresh the page to see updates.**
* If your device does not begin polling within 15 minutes, and does not begin receiving data within 30 minutes, [contact our support team for help](/support/how-to-reach-us.md).
* To check if alerts are coming through, navigate to **Dashboards > Alert Analysis**. Scroll to the device you want to check, and select the **Expel Alerts** tab to reveal more alert information. It can take 36 to 72 hours for alerts to appear after setup, as we [tune your device](/workbench-reference/alerts/how-expel-alerts-work.md#device-tuning).
## Troubleshooting
If your device is not healthy, [edit the security device](/connect-your-technology/security-devices/manage-security-devices.md#edit-a-security-device) and:
* Make sure you entered the Application (client) ID and Directory (tenant) ID correctly, and that you put the correct value in the correct field.
* Make sure you entered the client secret Value and not the Secret ID into the security device.
* If neither of the above works, validate the permissions of the Entra ID app and that the app was given access to the appropriate resources.
[^1]: - [Log in to Workbench](https://workbench.expel.io/auth/login?orig=%2F).
- Go to **Organization Settings > My Organization**.
- On the organization's page, look for the Organization GUID and select the **Copy** button to copy the GUID.
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