Non-human Identity Workflow Approvals in Microsoft Teams

In Microsoft Teams, workflow approvals no longer need to wait for a human to click send. Bots, service accounts, and automated agents—non-human identities—can create, route, and complete approvals as part of a secure, continuous workflow. This removes fragility, speeds execution, and locks compliance into every step.

The setup begins with Azure AD. Each non-human identity must exist as a defined entity: app registration or managed service identity. Grant only the minimum permissions needed for the approval API and Teams message sending scope. This structure keeps automation under control while enabling precise actions.

In Teams, tie the identity to a Power Automate flow or custom connector. When conditions are met—code build success, security scan passed, resource provisioned—the non-human identity calls the approval endpoint. The request appears in Teams exactly like a human-originated approval, with tracked metadata and audit logs.

Security is not optional. Use conditional access policies on these identities. Enforce logging of every request and response. Monitor for unexpected approval creation or status changes. Non-human identities can move fast; guardrails ensure they move correctly.

Scale follows the same pattern. Hundreds of workflows can run in parallel, each identity bound to a distinct task or environment. One identity can handle deploy approvals in a staging tenant. Another manages access grants for a production database. These approvals flow in real time, without bottlenecks, all visible inside Teams channels or approval apps.

For cross-platform execution, integrate Teams approvals with external systems through APIs. A non-human identity can call Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or Kubernetes after approval status flips to "Approved"—instant release gates without human delay.

Non-human identities workflow approvals in Teams are the clean link between automation and oversight. Set them up right, and your systems authorize themselves—while you stay in control.

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