An administrator must create 500 new cloud-only user accounts in Microsoft Entra ID and wants to submit them in one operation using a comma-separated template downloaded from the portal. Which approach should be used?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B
Bulk create users provides a downloadable CSV template with the required columns, such as user principal name, display name, initial password and usage location. The administrator fills it in, uploads it, and the service validates every row before creating the accounts, returning a results file that lists successes and per-row errors. It is the only option here that matches the requirement to submit one file in a single portal operation. Very large files may need to be split, and each row still consumes a licence.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Creating accounts one at a time is slow, error-prone and does not use the CSV template the requirement specifies.
- C. SCIM provisioning keeps accounts continuously synchronised from a source such as an HR system. It is an ongoing integration, not a one-off file upload of 500 rows.
- D. A PowerShell loop calling New-MgUser does create many accounts efficiently, but it is scripted rather than a single template upload through the portal, and it still requires the administrator to build and validate the input.
Exam tip. Bulk create and PowerShell both scale, but only bulk create uses the portal CSV template.