This guide explains how to configure Microsoft Azure so that Howspace can securely access CSV files stored in your Azure Blob Storage.
Overview
To enable the integration, you will:
Create an Azure App Registration (service principal)
Upload Howspace’s public certificate
Grant the app access to your storage container
Share configuration details with Howspace
Step 1: Create an App Registration
Go to Microsoft Entra ID
Navigate to App registrations
Click + New registration
Configure:
Name: Choose a descriptive name (e.g. Howspace Blob Access)
Supported account types: Default is fine
Redirect URI: Leave empty (not needed for service-to-service integration)
Click Register
After creation, copy:
Application (client) ID
Directory (tenant) ID
You will need these later.
Step 2: Upload Howspace Public Certificate
This enables secure authentication without passwords.
Open your newly created app
Go to Certificates & secrets
Select the Certificates tab
Click Upload certificate
Upload the certificate file provided by Howspace (
.crt). Copy the public certificate from here and save it ashowspace-azure-blob-storage.crt
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----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-----END CERTIFICATE-----
Important:
Only the public certificate is uploaded
The private key remains securely with Howspace
Step 3: Grant Access to Your Storage Container
You must give the app permission to read files from your Blob Storage.
Go to Storage accounts
Select your storage account
Open Containers
Select the container where your CSV files are stored
Go to Access Control (IAM)
Click + Add → Add role assignment
Configure:
Role: for example
Storage Blob Data ReaderAssign access to: User, group, or service principal
Select: Search and choose the app you created
Click Save
Step 4: Provide Configuration Details to Howspace
After completing the setup, send the following information to your Howspace contact:
Azure Storage Account Hostname
Example:
mystorageaccount.blob.core.windows.netAzure AD Application (Client) ID
Example:
6c06c3d5-7bcb-4014-99da-xxxxxxxxxxxxAzure AD Tenant ID
Example:
xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxxContainer and Path to CSV Files
Example:
/my-container/imports/
Notes & Best Practices
Ensure CSV files are placed in the specified container path
Access is read-only (no data will be modified)
Changes to permissions or certificates may interrupt the integration
Use a dedicated container or folder for imports if possible
Troubleshooting
Access issues
Verify the role assignment is correctly applied
Confirm the app registration was selected (not a user)
Authentication errors
Ensure the certificate was uploaded correctly
Confirm you are using the correct tenant and client IDs
File not found
Check container name and path formatting
Ensure files exist and are accessible in Azure
If needed, provide screenshots or error messages to Howspace support for faster troubleshooting.