Exchange Online · Recipient Management
Distribution Groups
Create and manage distribution groups and mail-enabled security groups.
Scope: Distribution groups and mail-enabled security groups
Permissions
- Create, modify, and delete distribution groups
- Manage group membership
- Configure group delivery settings
- Set group moderation and restrictions
- Manage mail-enabled security groups
Common use cases
- Group creation for departments or projects
- Managing mailing lists
- Email distribution management
Best practices
- Implement naming conventions for groups
- Set expiration policies for dynamic groups
- Use Microsoft 365 Groups for collaboration features
Common questions
When should I assign the Distribution Groups role?
Assign Distribution Groups when you need to: Group creation for departments or projects; Managing mailing lists; and Email distribution management. It is part of Exchange Online and should be granted as a least-privilege alternative to broader roles like Global Administrator.
What can someone with the Distribution Groups role do?
The Distribution Groups role grants permissions including: Create, modify, and delete distribution groups; Manage group membership; Configure group delivery settings; Set group moderation and restrictions; and Manage mail-enabled security groups. See the Permissions section above for the full list.