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Overview

Microsoft Teams is a messaging platform for team communication. This integration connects Backline with Microsoft Teams so Backline can post remediation updates and security notifications into a channel of your choice, and answer replies in the same thread.

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What You Can Do

With the Microsoft Teams integration, you can:
  • Receive real-time remediation alerts and updates, such as when Backline opens a remediation pull request
  • Get notified about security events, such as a vulnerability approaching its deadline
  • Reply in the thread and get an answer from Backline

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Prerequisites

Before connecting Microsoft Teams, ensure you have:
  • A Microsoft 365 organization with Microsoft Teams
  • A team owner who can add apps to the team
  • Access to the standard channel where you want notifications

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Adding Backline to a Team

A team owner does these steps.
1

Find Backline in Teams

In Teams, open Apps in the left rail and search for Backline.
If your organization restricts which apps can be installed, a Teams administrator must first allow Backline in the Teams admin center under Teams apps → Manage apps.
2

Add Backline to the Team

Click Add, choose the team, then click Go. Backline is installed for the whole team, so any of its standard channels can be picked in Backline later.The permissions Backline receives in that team are listed under Permissions overview on the app card and granted when it is added. They are what lets replies in a Backline thread reach Backline without anyone mentioning it by name, in that team only — never across your organization.
Backline offers only channels from teams it has been added to, so add it to the team that holds the channel you want Backline to post to. If you later switch to a channel in another team, add it there first.

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Connecting Microsoft Teams

1

Navigate to Integrations

In Backline, go to Integrations in the main menu.
2

Select Microsoft Teams

Find and click on the Microsoft Teams integration card.
3

Authorize with Microsoft

Click Connect. You’ll be redirected to Microsoft to sign in and approve the requested permissions.
4

Return to Backline

Once authorized, Microsoft redirects you back to the integration page.
5

Configure Channel

In the Configuration tab, select the Default channel where Backline will send messages. The list shows Team name / Channel name for every channel Backline can reach. Save your changes; Backline tests the channel before the integration counts as connected.
Only standard channels in teams the Backline app has been added to appear in the list. Private and shared channels are not offered, because Backline cannot post in them.

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What the Sign-in Asks For

  • Read the names of teams you are in and read the names of their channels — so the channel list can show your teams and channels. Backline reads names only, never message content, through this permission.
  • The permissions granted when the app was added to the team are what lets replies in a Backline thread be read, in that team only.
Some organizations require an administrator to approve these permissions. Microsoft then shows Need admin approval during sign-in and Microsoft Teams stays disconnected in Backline. Ask a Microsoft 365 administrator to grant the permissions, then click Connect again.

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After Connection

Backline posts nothing on Save. Messages start arriving with Backline’s next notification, for example when a remediation pull request is opened or a vulnerability nears its deadline.
  • Messages arrive from Backline, not from a person’s name, and the remediation’s owner is mentioned by name when Backline can identify them in the team.
  • Follow-ups appear underneath the first message as replies, not as new channel posts.
  • Replying in that thread gets an answer in the same thread.

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Managing the Integration

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Changing Channels

To send notifications to a different channel:
  1. If the channel is in another team, have a team owner add the Backline app to that team first
  2. Open the Integrations page
  3. Click Configure on the Microsoft Teams integration card
  4. In the Configuration tab, select the new channel
  5. Save your changes

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Testing the Connection

From the Microsoft Teams integration card, run Test connection at any time. If it reports that Backline could not reach Microsoft, your Microsoft sign-in has expired or was revoked. Click Connect again to sign in, then re-run the test.

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Disconnecting

1

Open Integration Menu

On the Integrations page, click the three dots menu on the Microsoft Teams integration card.
2

Select Disconnect

Click Disconnect and confirm.
Disconnecting stops all Backline messages to Microsoft Teams and Backline stops answering replies in existing threads. Other messaging integrations keep working. The Backline app stays installed in your teams until a team owner removes it.

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Troubleshooting