Microsoft has introduced a new usage reporting API in the beta version of Microsoft Graph, aiming to provide organizations with detailed insights into their API consumption. This enhancement allows developers and administrators to monitor and analyze how Microsoft Graph APIs are utilized within their tenants, facilitating better resource management and optimization.
Understanding Microsoft Graph
Microsoft Graph serves as a unified API endpoint, enabling developers to access data, intelligence, and insights from the Microsoft cloud. It maps relationships between people, information, and activities within an organization, allowing seamless integration of data from various Microsoft services into custom applications. Developers can interact with Microsoft Graph using REST APIs or SDKs, making it a versatile tool for building comprehensive solutions.
Introduction of the Usage Reporting API
The newly introduced usage reporting API offers detailed information on Microsoft Graph API usage at both the tenant and individual application levels. Recognizing the extensive surface area of Microsoft Graph, which encompasses numerous APIs with diverse calling patterns across different services, Microsoft has organized these APIs into groups called service areas. In the beta release, the service areas include Microsoft Exchange, Teams calling, Teams messaging, and Teams presence, with plans to expand this list over time.
Key Features of the Usage Reporting API
- Comprehensive Data Access: The API provides organization-level summaries per service, entity-level usage information for the last 7, 30, 90, and 180 days, and daily activity aggregates.
- Integration with Existing Reporting Solutions: Organizations with existing reporting applications or web portals can incorporate Microsoft 365 usage data into their current solutions, ensuring all IT service reports are centralized.
- Authentication Methods Analysis: The API enables analysis of Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) application activity and configuration, as well as monitoring of application sign-ins. It also provides insights into how users utilize Microsoft Entra capabilities, such as self-service password reset and multi-factor authentication (MFA), helping identify successful authentication methods and common user errors.
- Application Access Monitoring: Organizations can track how frequently applications access Microsoft Graph APIs, aiding in the assessment of application performance and usage patterns.
The introduction of the usage reporting API empowers organizations to gain a deeper understanding of their Microsoft Graph API consumption. By analyzing usage patterns, organizations can optimize their API calls, enhance application performance, and ensure efficient resource utilization. Additionally, the ability to monitor authentication methods and application access contributes to improved security and compliance.
Future Developments
As the usage reporting API is currently in beta, Microsoft plans to expand its capabilities by adding more service areas and features. Organizations are encouraged to participate in the beta program to provide feedback and help shape the future of this tool.
In conclusion, the new usage reporting API in Microsoft Graph represents a significant advancement for organizations seeking to monitor and optimize their API usage. By providing detailed insights and integration capabilities, it supports better decision-making and resource management within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
Source: i-programmer.info Microsoft Adds Usage Report To Graph
