Top 5 Things to Change Now for Power Platform Administrators

Congratulations on becoming a Power Platform administrator! Managing a Power Platform environment can be overwhelming, but this guide will walk you through the top five things you should change immediately to ensure a well-organized and efficient environment.

1. Rename the Default Environment

The first step is to rename the default environment in your Power Platform. This environment often acts as a "junk drawer" for various apps and flows that aren't meant for enterprise use. By renaming it to something like "Personal Productivity," you clarify its purpose as a space for individual or small team projects. To do this:

• Access the environment via the admin center.
• Select the default environment and hit the Edit button.
• Rename the environment to reflect its intended use, such as "Personal Productivity."

2. Configure Production Environment Assignments

Next, head to the settings panel and adjust key settings related to environment creation:

• Production Environment Assignments: Restrict this to specific admins (e.g., Global Admins, Dynamics Admins, and Power Platform Admins) to prevent unnecessary environment creation.
• Trial Environments: Allow users to create trial environments, which are automatically deleted after 30 days.
• Developer Environments: Enable developer environments for all users, as these don't consume additional resources.

3. Adjust Key Production Settings

For each production environment, consider tweaking specific settings to maintain control and ensure data security:

• Map Features: Enable map features and Bing Maps integration for model-driven apps.
• Unmanaged Code: Disable unmanaged code in production environments to prevent unauthorized changes.
• Data Validation: Activate data validation to ensure the accuracy and integrity of your data.

4. Implement the Center of Excellence Toolkit

The Center of Excellence (CoE) Toolkit is a must-have for any Power Platform admin. It consolidates all reporting into a single dashboard, providing valuable insights into your environments. Additionally, the CoE Toolkit offers tools to simplify tasks such as reassigning apps and flows when a user leaves the organization.

To get started:

• Download the CoE Toolkit from the official site.
• Install it in a dedicated environment.
• Use it to inventory and manage your other environments efficiently.

5. Set Up Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Policies

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies are crucial for securing your data and ensuring that it is used appropriately across environments. Here's how to set them up:

• Go to the admin center and select Data Policies.
• Create a new DLP policy and decide which connectors to block, especially in non-production environments.
• Scope the policy to exclude environments like Dev, QA, and Prod, ensuring that only enterprise apps are used in these settings.

By following these steps, you’ll set a strong foundation for managing your Power Platform environment. 

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