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Adding Dynamics 365 Users through Security Roles as Members


This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Nikhil Sarpatwari

In Dynamics 365 CE and Dataverse, security is managed through Security Roles. A straightforward way to give users access is by adding them as members of a role.

You can also do this directly in the Power Platform Admin Center, which is handy when you need to add multiple users to the same role at once.

How to add users as members of a security role

  1. Open the Power Platform Admin Center.
  2. Select your environment.
  3. Go to Settings → Security Roles.
  4. Choose the security role you want to update.
  5. From the top ribbon, select Members.
  6. Click Add People, search for the users, and confirm.

Once added, those users will inherit the permissions defined by that role.

Limitations to keep in mind

While this method is quick and easy, it does have some limitations:

  • Bulk updates are limited: you can only add a few users at a time.
  • Business Unit restrictions: a user must be in the same Business Unit as the role to be added.
  • No automation or logic: users must be added manually—there is no way to assign roles dynamically based on department or job title.
  • Harder to govern at scale: it’s more difficult to track and audit these assignments across large organizations.
  • Navigation challenges: the members screen is not always efficient when dealing with many users.

When this approach works well

  • Adding a small number of users during onboarding.
  • Assigning roles in test or development environments.
  • Making quick adjustments where automation is not needed.

Alternatives for larger or automated scenarios

  • Use Power Automate to assign roles during onboarding or other events.
  • Use PowerShell scripts to handle large, bulk assignments across environments.
  • Use XrmToolBox plugins (like User Roles Manager) for mass updates and better visibility.

Takeaway

Adding users to security roles as members through the Power Platform Admin Center is a simple option for smaller teams or one-off assignments. For larger organizations or long-term governance, automation and admin tools are a better fit.


This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Nikhil Sarpatwari