How to Get the List of All Dynamic Distribution Groups in Microsoft 365

In Microsoft 365, dynamic distribution group members are determined by recipient filters and conditions rather than a static list. These email groups are useful when membership needs to be dynamic and based on specific attributes or criteria. You can reconfigure the settings at any time based on your needs, and the dynamic distribution group will automatically update its membership based on recipient filters.

To create a dynamic distribution group in Exchange Online

Note: The maximum number of members allowed in a dynamic distribution group is 100,000 users.

The Exchange admin center provides a simplified interface for managing dynamic distribution groups, with a primary focus on "AND" conditions for recipient filters. To use "OR" operator you will need to utilize the PowerShell method.

To create a dynamic distribution group with PowerShell

Note: You can configure various filters, such as department, state, country, or custom attributes in dynamic distribution groups.

With AdminDroid’s dynamic distribution group changes report, admins can generate detailed reports on activities like group creations, deletions, membership changes, and owner updates, ensuring comprehensive oversight.

• Utilize AdminDroid's simple filter feature to set Performed Operation to 'New-DynamicDistributionGroup' and retrieve new dynamic distribution groups created recently.

That's it! With just a few clicks, you can access a detailed report on new dynamic distribution group creations, including creation time, the user who performed the action, along with recipient filter rules.

Although a dynamic distribution group doesn’t have static members like a traditional distribution group, you can retrieve the list of users that currently match the membership conditions configured for the group. It will help you verify the accuracy of the group, ensure targeted communication, and effectively manage group membership.

To get the dynamic distribution group members in Exchange Online, follow the steps below.

By using PowerShell with Exchange admin privilege, you can get the list of all dynamic distribution group members, recipient filter, managed by and other attributes.

Exchange Online dynamic distribution groups usage report allows admins to track the usage count and last accessed time of DDLs based on members' activity within a selected time frame. It also provides a default pie chart for easy visualization of dynamic distribution group data.

• Login to the Exchange admin center.
• Navigate to the Dynamic distribution group report residing under Reports»Mail flow.
• If you wish to view the DDG usage report for a different date range, you shall adjust the report period accordingly.

Managing dynamic distribution groups is essential for ensuring accurate message delivery and streamlined team collaboration. To ensure they function optimally, it is crucial to implement best practices for maintaining security and effective communication.

Admins can enhance security by restricting mail senders to dynamic distribution groups, allowing only authorized users to send messages. This measure enhances the group's security by reducing the risk of unauthorized communication and ensuring that only approved users can interact with the group.

To configure users to allow to send messages to the dynamic distribution group, run the below cmdlet after connecting Exchange Online module.

Set-DynamicDistributionGroup –AcceptMessagesOnlyFrom <UserPrincipalName>
#In the pipeline, enter the identity of the dynamic distribution group to authorize the specific user to send emails to the dynamic distribution list. 

Additionally, admins can assign Send As or Send on Behalf permissions to trusted users to ensure that the emails are handled correctly, maintaining communication integrity and authority.

Managing dynamic distribution groups involves tracking overall changes within the groups and their memberships. This helps prevent miscommunication and ensures sensitive information reaches only the appropriate users.

To get the dynamic distribution group changes for the last 30 days, use the below cmdlet in the elevated admin PowerShell.

Search-AdminAuditLog -Cmdlets 'New-DynamicDistributionGroup', 'Set-DynamicDistributionGroup', 'Remove-DynamicDistributionGroup' -StartDate (Get-Date).AddDays(-30) -EndDate (Get-Date) | Select-Object RunDate, UserId, CmdletName, ObjectModified, Parameters

Admins can monitor dynamic distribution groups changes using AdminDroid's comprehensive report. This report includes details such as event time, performed operation, user who performed the action, and the dynamic distribution group where the change is performed.

By utilizing AdminDroid's advanced alerting feature, you can effortlessly create a Quick Alert that notifies the admins whenever changes occur to a dynamic distribution group.

Distribution lists and dynamic distribution lists are both essential tools in managing email communication within organizations, but they differ in their structure and functionality. Some of the major differences are listed below.

Overall, managing traditional distribution groups is often tougher than managing dynamic distribution groups, as it requires manual updates each time membership changes.

No, converting a distribution group to a dynamic distribution group is not feasible due to their fundamentally different membership structures and management methods. Dynamic distribution groups rely on recipient filters for dynamic membership, while traditional distribution groups maintain static member lists.

To transition, Microsoft 365 admins must create a new dynamic distribution group with an appropriate recipient filter and manually migrate members to reflect the dynamic criteria, ensuring accurate group functionality.