MetaGroups

General Questions

What is MetaGroups?

MetaGroups is a cloud-based group management platform that automatically synchronises with Microsoft Entra / Exchange. It enables you to create dynamic group hierarchies, manage exceptions, map attributes and maintain comprehensive audit trails for compliance.

How is MetaGroups different from managing groups in Entra directly?

Whilst Entra provides basic group management, MetaGroups adds powerful features like dynamic hierarchies based on user attributes, include/exclude exception handling, attribute mapping, comprehensive field-level auditing, and a user-friendly interface designed specifically for group management at scale.

Do I need to replace Entra with MetaGroups?

No! MetaGroups works alongside Entra, not as a replacement. Entra remains your source of truth for identity. MetaGroups provides an enhanced management layer with additional features and automation.

What size organisations is MetaGroups suitable for?

MetaGroups scales from small teams (250 users) to large enterprises (unlimited users). Our tiered pricing ensures you only pay for what you need, and you can upgrade as you grow.

Synchronisation

How often does synchronisation occur?

Synchronisation runs hourly, and you can also trigger manual synchronisation at any time.

How long does a synchronisation take?

Synchronisation times depend on organisation size, the number of changes that need to be updated and the type of groups being synchronised. Typically day to day changes will complete in just a few minutes if not seconds, but intial synchronisations could take a several hours for thousands of memberships. The UI remains responsive throughout via background processing.

What happens if I make changes to Users in Entra?

Changes in Entra will sync to MetaGroups during the next scheduled sync or when you trigger a manual sync. User ynchronisation is one-way (Entra → MetaGroups).

What happens to changes made to groups in Entra / Exchange that are managed by MetaGroups?

Any changes to memberships in Entra / Exchange will be corrected by MetaGroups during the next full synchronisation process.

Can I get MetaGroups to take ownership and manage existing Entra / Exchange groups?

Not yet, but we are working on a way to link and manage existing groups.

Dynamic Group Hierarchies

How do dynamic group hierarchies work?

You define patterns using user attributes like [Country] > [Department]. The system automatically creates flat groups for all perumations of country and department, that meet the minimum number of members and adds users to the appropriate groups based on their attributes. When user attributes change, group memberships update automatically.

What attributes can I use for dynamic groups?

You can use any standard Entra user attribute including Country, City, Department, Job Title, Office Location, Company Name, and custom extension attributes. You can also create your own custom mappings, for example mapping countries to regions.

Can I have multiple hierarchy patterns?

Yes! You can define multiple patterns that run simultaneously. For example, one pattern for geographical hierarchy and another for departmental hierarchy.

What if a user matches rules but shouldn't be in a group?

Use the "Exclude" feature to manually remove users from dynamic groups. They won't be re-added automatically even if they match the rules. This is perfect for contractors, temporary staff, or special cases.

What if a user doesn't have the necessary attributes but I still need them to be in a group?

Manually add the user to the dynamic groups you require. They won't be removed even though they don't follow the rules. This is perfect for staff who might work in multiple locations.

Security & Compliance

Is my data secure?

Yes. We use enterprise-grade security including Azure Key Vault encryption, HTTPS everywhere, SOC 2 compliant infrastructure, and complete multi-tenant data isolation. Your data is encrypted both in transit and at rest.

Where is data stored?

Data is stored in Azure data centres, currently hosted in the UK but can be relocated to comply with data residency requirements on request for Enterprise customers.

Is MetaGroups GDPR compliant?

Yes. We are fully GDPR compliant. We act as a data processor, you remain the data controller. We provide data processing agreements (DPA) and support right to be forgotten, data portability, and other GDPR requirements.

What audit capabilities does MetaGroups provide?

MetaGroups tracks every change at the field level. You can see who changed what, when, and what the previous value was. Audit logs can be exported for compliance officers or external auditors.

How long are audit logs retained?

Standard plans retain logs for 30 days, Professional for 90 days, and Enterprise plans for 120 days. All plans allow you to export logs for offline storage.

Technical Questions

What permissions does MetaGroups need in Entra?

MetaGroups requires read-only permissions for users in Entra (User.Read.All) via your Microsoft Graph. We then need permission to write back the groups to Microsoft Entra / Exchange. Full setup instructions are provided during onboarding.

Can I integrate MetaGroups with other systems?

We don't currently provide API access for custom integrations, although get in touch if you have a specific requirement and we will do our best to accomodate.

Does MetaGroups support on-premises deployment?

Although we do not currently provide an on-premise implementation. Contact sales to discuss your requirements.

What browsers are supported?

MetaGroups works on all modern browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported.

Pricing & Plans

Can I try MetaGroups before buying?

Yes! All plans include a 14 day free trial. No credit card required. Full access to all features in your chosen plan.

Can I change plans after I sign up?

Absolutely! You can upgrade or downgrade at any time. Changes take effect immediately, and we'll prorate any charges.

What happens if I exceed my plan limits?

We'll notify you when you approach your limits. You can upgrade your plan manually, or we'll automatically adjust based on usage with prorated billing. We'll never cut off access without warning.

Do you offer discounts?

Yes! We offer 30% discounts for non-profit organisations and educational institutions. Annual billing receives a 15% discount. Volume discounts are available for Enterprise customers.

Support

What support do you provide?

All plans include email support.

Do you provide training?

Yes! All plans include access to self-service documentation and video tutorials.

What's your uptime SLA?

Professional plans have 99% uptime SLA. Enterprise plans guarantee 99.9% uptime with service credits for any downtime beyond SLA.

Frequently Asked Questions