Difference between Global Admin and Owner in Microsoft Azure

Question

Hi guys,

So far, I know that Global Administrator is an Azure AD built-in role that manage access to all the administrative features in Azure AD and Owner is an RBAC role that has full access to all Azure resources.

But what are the other differences between them? Doesn't Global Administrator have full access to all resources and Owner can manage access to all the administrative features in Azure AD?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hello @Lt. Columbo

Thank you for reaching out. Azure AD Global Admin is a Directory level role, however Global Admin have a privilege to elevate their access to Azure subscription and deployed resources. On other had Owner is an Azure RBAC roles specifically to get access to resources deployed within Azure Subscription. I would like to share following details with you with regards to each role.

Global Admin Azure AD Role:

• Users with this role have access to all administrative features in Azure Active Directory, as well as services that use Azure Active Directory identities like the Microsoft 365 Defender portal, the Microsoft Purview compliance portal, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Skype for Business Online.
• Global Administrators can view Directory Activity logs.
• Furthermore, Global Administrators can elevate their access to manage all Azure subscriptions and management groups.
• This allows Global Administrators to get full access to all Azure resources using the respective Azure AD Tenant.
• For more details please review: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/roles/permissions-reference#global-administrator

Azure RBAC Owner

• Grants full access to manage all resources, including the ability to assign roles in Azure RBAC.
• This role is associated with Azure resources, such as resource groups or individual resources (e.g., virtual machines, storage accounts).
• An Owner has full access to manage and control all aspects of the resources within the scope they are assigned.
• The Owner role is specific to a particular resource or resource group and does not have privileges over the Azure AD tenant as a whole.
• For more details please review: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/built-in-roles#owner

I hope this helps to resolve your query. Please "Accept the answer" if the information helped you. This will help us and others in the community as well.

Answer 2

Hi @Harpreet Singh Matharoo

Thanks for your prompt response.