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.