Monitor User Password Related Activities Using PowerShell

Managing user identities is one of the most important tasks for any Microsoft 365 administrator. Among these tasks, monitoring password-related activities plays a vital role in protecting user accounts and securing organizational data. Whether it’s an admin resetting a password, or a user changing it themselves, every action leaves an audit trail that can be captured and reviewed. PowerShell gives admins a convenient way to fetch these details directly from Entra ID audit logs.

What are some Microsoft 365 user password related activities?

In Microsoft 365, password-related activities usually fall under three categories:

• Admin-initiated resets – when IT administrators reset a user’s password.
• Self-service resets – when a user forgets their password and resets it using self-service features.
• Self-service changes – when a user updates their password without IT involvement.

All of these actions leave an audit trail in Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), and monitoring them helps ensure compliance, security, and transparency.

Why monitor Microsoft 365 user password related activities?

Monitoring password activities is important because passwords are the first line of defense. By keeping an eye on who is resetting or changing passwords, admins can:

• Detect suspicious activity (e.g., frequent resets).
• Ensure compliance with organizational or regulatory requirements.
• Support troubleshooting in case a user reports issues with their account.
• Maintain visibility into both admin-driven and self-service operations.

Without proper monitoring, organizations risk blind spots in their identity security posture.

How to monitor Microsoft 365 user password related activities using Graph PowerShell?

With Microsoft Graph PowerShell, you can pull audit log events from Entra ID that record these password-related actions. Here are three essential scripts you can use:

• Monitor Admin Initiated Password Resets

Sometimes IT admins reset passwords for users—for example, if someone is locked out. Tracking these events lets you confirm that only authorized admins are making changes.

👉 Check out the full guide: Monitor Admin Initiated Password Resets Using PowerShell

• Monitor User Self-Service Password Resets

Self-service password reset (SSPR) reduces IT helpdesk load, but it’s still crucial to monitor when and how often users reset their own passwords. This report ensures your policies are working and flags unusual activity.

👉 Learn more here: Monitor User Self-Service Password Resets Using PowerShell

• Monitor User Self-Service Password Changes

Users can also change their password proactively through the self-service feature. Monitoring these activities provides visibility into user-driven security hygiene and helps admins verify compliance with password change policies.

👉 Explore the script: Monitor User Self-Service Password Changes Using PowerShell

Conclusion

Monitoring user password-related activities is an essential part of Microsoft 365 identity security. By leveraging Graph PowerShell, admins gain visibility into who performed the action, when it happened, and whether it was an admin reset, a self-service reset, or a password change.

These scripts make it easier to stay compliant, reduce risks, and keep your environment secure. Start using them today to stay on top of your organization’s password activity.