Request for Guidance on Microsoft Graph OAuth Verification and Security Requirements for Our CRM Platform

We are developing a CRM platform that allows users to connect their Microsoft/Outlook accounts to synchronize emails, manage communications, and organize content via tags. Before our production launch, we want to ensure our integration fully complies with the Microsoft Graph API policies, Microsoft identity platform requirements, OAuth standards, and broader security protocols. We would appreciate your guidance on application registration, the consent and verification process, necessary security controls, and any additional measures required for full compliance.1. Application Use Case Our CRM utilizes the Microsoft OAuth 2.0 authorization flow to allow users to connect their personal or business accounts. Upon authorization, our application will:

• Retrieve and synchronize emails for display within the CRM.
• Store this data in our backend to enable organizational features and tagging.
• Enable users to send emails directly through the CRM interface.
• Manage email properties, including read/unread status.

Data is used exclusively to facilitate these CRM and email management functionalities.2. Authentication Method We employ the official Microsoft identity platform OAuth 2.0 flow. Users are directed to Microsoft’s official consent page to grant permissions, after which our backend exchanges the authorization code for tokens to access Microsoft Graph APIs. We do not collect or store user passwords.3. Requested OAuth / Microsoft Graph Permissions We are currently planning to request the following delegated permissions:

• offline_access: To maintain access via refresh tokens.
• openid & profile: To support OpenID Connect and retrieve basic profile information.
• email: To retrieve the user's email address.
• User.Read: To access basic profile information.
• Mail.Read: To synchronize email messages.
• Mail.Send: To send emails on behalf of the user.

Could you confirm if these permissions are appropriate for our use case, or if we should refine them to adhere to the principle of least privilege? Additionally, please clarify if any of these scopes require specific administrator consent, publisher verification, or additional approvals for production deployment.4. Data Storage and Processing Synchronized email data—including metadata (timestamps, identifiers, status), body content, and attachments—is stored in our MongoDB backend. We are committed to robust security controls to restrict data access.5. Proposed Security Measures

• Token Security: All access and refresh tokens will be encrypted at rest. We will ensure they are used solely for authorized Graph API tasks and revoked immediately upon user disconnection.
• Data Protection: We will implement strict access controls and ensure that synchronized data is purged upon user account disconnection, in accordance with retention policies.
• Privacy and Monitoring: Our privacy policy will transparently detail our data practices. We will provide users with a clear path to request data deletion, avoid logging sensitive content or tokens, and maintain comprehensive security monitoring.

6. Guidance Requested Before we proceed to production, we request your input on the following:

• Registration & Approval: What steps are required to move from development to a publicly available production state?
• Permission Verification: Are any of our requested scopes subject to extra review, publisher verification, or administrative consent?
• Security Standards: Are our proposed measures sufficient? Does Microsoft mandate specific controls for applications hosting Microsoft email data?
• Data Lifecycle: Are there formal requirements for data retention, deletion, or backup handling for this data?
• Architectural Approach: Is our use of delegated permissions the recommended standard for our use case, particularly regarding Microsoft 365 organizational accounts?
• Token Lifecycle: Do you have specific requirements for token rotation, encryption, or revocation management?
• Consent & Branding: What are the requirements for our consent screen, privacy policy, and domain verification?
• Ongoing Compliance: What are the post-deployment requirements regarding security reviews or certifications?

7. Our Objective Our primary goal is to launch this integration while maintaining full alignment with Microsoft's ecosystem requirements. We would appreciate any documentation, checklists, or procedural advice that will ensure our architecture, authentication flow, and security posture meet your standards.We are developing a CRM platform that allows users to connect their Microsoft/Outlook accounts to synchronize emails, manage communications, and organize content via tags. Before our production launch, we want to ensure our integration fully complies with the Microsoft Graph API policies, Microsoft identity platform requirements, OAuth standards, and broader security protocols.

We would appreciate your guidance on application registration, the consent and verification process, necessary security controls, and any additional measures required for full compliance.1. Application Use Case

Our CRM utilizes the Microsoft OAuth 2.0 authorization flow to allow users to connect their personal or business accounts. Upon authorization, our application will:

• Retrieve and synchronize emails for display within the CRM.
• Store this data in our backend to enable organizational features and tagging.
• Enable users to send emails directly through the CRM interface.
• Manage email properties, including read/unread status.

Data is used exclusively to facilitate these CRM and email management functionalities.2. Authentication Method

We employ the official Microsoft identity platform OAuth 2.0 flow. Users are directed to Microsoft’s official consent page to grant permissions, after which our backend exchanges the authorization code for tokens to access Microsoft Graph APIs. We do not collect or store user passwords.3. Requested OAuth / Microsoft Graph Permissions

We are currently planning to request the following delegated permissions:

• offline_access: To maintain access via refresh tokens.
• openid & profile: To support OpenID Connect and retrieve basic profile information.
• email: To retrieve the user's email address.
• User.Read: To access basic profile information.
• Mail.Read: To synchronize email messages.
• Mail.Send: To send emails on behalf of the user.

Could you confirm if these permissions are appropriate for our use case, or if we should refine them to adhere to the principle of least privilege? Additionally, please clarify if any of these scopes require specific administrator consent, publisher verification, or additional approvals for production deployment.4. Data Storage and Processing

Synchronized email data—including metadata (timestamps, identifiers, status), body content, and attachments—is stored in our MongoDB backend. We are committed to robust security controls to restrict data access.5. Proposed Security Measures

• Token Security: All access and refresh tokens will be encrypted at rest. We will ensure they are used solely for authorized Graph API tasks and revoked immediately upon user disconnection.
• Data Protection: We will implement strict access controls and ensure that synchronized data is purged upon user account disconnection, in accordance with retention policies.
• Privacy and Monitoring: Our privacy policy will transparently detail our data practices. We will provide users with a clear path to request data deletion, avoid logging sensitive content or tokens, and maintain comprehensive security monitoring.

6. Guidance Requested

Before we proceed to production, we request your input on the following:

• Registration & Approval: What steps are required to move from development to a publicly available production state?
• Permission Verification: Are any of our requested scopes subject to extra review, publisher verification, or administrative consent?
• Security Standards: Are our proposed measures sufficient? Does Microsoft mandate specific controls for applications hosting Microsoft email data?
• Data Lifecycle: Are there formal requirements for data retention, deletion, or backup handling for this data?
• Architectural Approach: Is our use of delegated permissions the recommended standard for our use case, particularly regarding Microsoft 365 organizational accounts?
• Token Lifecycle: Do you have specific requirements for token rotation, encryption, or revocation management?
• Consent & Branding: What are the requirements for our consent screen, privacy policy, and domain verification?
• Ongoing Compliance: What are the post-deployment requirements regarding security reviews or certifications?

7. Our Objective

Our primary goal is to launch this integration while maintaining full alignment with Microsoft's ecosystem requirements. We would appreciate any documentation, checklists, or procedural advice that will ensure our architecture, authentication flow, and security posture meet your standards.