When Jonas Watt Boolsen founded his MSP in 2015, he quickly saw how cloud migrations often left one foot stuck on-premises. Even after migrating email to Microsoft 365, companies still needed Exchange servers just to manage mailboxes – wasting time and frustrating clients.
That challenge led to the creation of Easy365Manager, which brought Microsoft 365 management into Active Directory Users & Computers and made it possible to finally retire on-prem Exchange.
Today, Jonas and his team are taking the next step with EasyEntra – built to simplify management across pure AD, hybrid, and cloud-only environments, while introducing powerful new capabilities that go far beyond what Easy365Manager offers.
Solving the Last On-Premise Exchange Server Problem
"After migrating to Exchange Online, clients couldn't believe they still needed Exchange on-premises."
—jonas Watt Boolsen, Co-Founder of EasyEntra
Q: Jonas, take us back to when you started your MSP. What challenges did you face early on?
A: I launched my MSP in 2015, right when many companies were moving to Office 365. We supported small and mid-sized businesses, often with hybrid environments where Active Directory lived on-premises and email moved to the cloud.
The migration part was usually smooth. But then came the surprise: to manage simple configurations like email addresses and aliases, you still had to keep an Exchange server on-premises.
For customers who thought they were “fully cloud,” this was a huge disappointment. They had to maintain a server they didn’t really use – patch it, back it up, monitor it – just so IT could manage mail attributes.
And on top of that, Exchange on-premises quickly became one of the most frequently targeted systems for zero-day exploits and ransomware. So not only were clients forced to run a server they didn’t need – they were also exposing their environment to unnecessary risk.
Over time, this became one of the biggest frustrations for us as an MSP and for our clients. It felt like the technology was holding us back and putting us at risk, instead of helping us move forward.
Q: And that’s where the idea for Easy365Manager started?
A: Exactly. We needed a way to manage Microsoft 365 mailboxes directly from Active Directory – without Exchange. We wanted something simple, familiar, and powerful, so even first-level support could handle tasks like user creation and mailbox management confidently.
That’s how Easy365Manager was born. It integrated Microsoft 365 management directly into AD Users & Computers and removed the need for Exchange on-premises entirely.
It saved us time, reduced complexity, eliminated a major security risk, and made both our internal technicians and our clients much happier.
The MSP Journey – From Startup to 100+ Clients
"Supporting 100+ clients taught us where IT management really breaks down."
—jonas Watt Boolsen, Co-Founder of EasyEntra
Q: Jonas, once your MSP started growing, what were some of the biggest lessons you learned from supporting so many customers?
A: Growth accelerated as more businesses sought help moving to Microsoft 365 and trusted us for their ongoing user management and support. But as the client base grew beyond a hundred companies, so did the complexity.
Every customer had a slightly different setup – some were fully cloud, others hybrid, some still heavily on-prem. That meant every onboarding, offboarding, and mailbox change could look different. For a small MSP team, that inconsistency was a real challenge.
The truth is, understanding AD, hybrid setups, and cloud-only wasn’t the hard part – the fragmented tools were. Too many portals, too much PowerShell, and too many chances for junior staff to slip up.
Q: What did you notice as a common theme across all these environments?
A: No matter the setup, user management was never simple. Even basic tasks like resetting a password or assigning a license could take multiple steps across different admin centers.
For hybrid environments, it got worse – you had to juggle on-prem AD, Exchange management tools, and the Microsoft 365 Admin Center just to complete a single onboarding.
We started tracking the time spent on these tasks and saw how much it added up. It wasn’t just about lost minutes – it was about lost consistency. Different techs would do things in different ways, and that made troubleshooting harder and training slower.
Q: How did that shape your approach as an MSP?
A: It made us think differently about tools. We realized the key wasn’t just technical capability – it was simplifying and standardizing processes so any technician could deliver the same quality of service.
That mindset led directly to our software development: build tools that eliminate guesswork, unify workflows, and make hybrid management as seamless as possible.
Identifying the Pain Point
"Too many tools, too many steps - and not enough time."
—jonas Watt Boolsen, Co-Founder of EasyEntra
Q: Jonas, what were the biggest day-to-day frustrations you saw across your clients and your own team?
A: The number one issue was fragmentation. Managing users meant jumping between on-prem AD, Exchange Management tools, Microsoft 365 Admin Center, Entra portal, and often PowerShell.
Something as basic as onboarding a new user could involve five different tools – one for the AD account, one for the mailbox, another for the license, and so on. That kind of process is hard to scale and easy to mess up.
Q: How did that impact your team and your clients?
A: It slowed everything down and created inconsistency. Experienced techs knew the workarounds, but junior staff needed guidance every step of the way.
And from the client’s side, it was confusing. They’d ask, “Why do we still have all these systems when we’ve moved to the cloud?” They expected things to get easier – not more complicated.
Q: Was PowerShell part of the issue?
A: Definitely. PowerShell is powerful, but it’s not practical for daily, ad hoc user administration — especially at scale. It requires training, introduces risk, and makes documentation difficult.
On top of that, Microsoft’s modules and APIs are constantly evolving, which often leads to version conflicts and unpredictable behavior – especially when multiple modules load different DLL versions. What worked last week can suddenly break after an update, and troubleshooting those issues takes valuable time away from actual support work.
We wanted to move away from scripts and give our team a simple, visual interface that works the same way every time, without worrying about module versions or command syntax.
Q: So this wasn’t just about saving time – it was about creating consistency?
A: Exactly. MSPs need repeatable, reliable processes. You want first-level support to handle onboarding and changes confidently, without escalating or second-guessing. When the process depends on too many portals or scripts, it’s impossible to guarantee that.
The Birth of Easy365Manager
"We built the tool we needed — and it changed everything."
—jonas Watt Boolsen, Co-Founder of EasyEntra
Q: So after years of dealing with these challenges, what made you finally decide to build your own solution?
A: It reached a point where we realized the problem wasn’t going away. Every new Microsoft admin center just added another place to look, and buttons kept moving or getting rebranded – it didn’t simplify anything. And the Exchange dependency? That was a dealbreaker. Clients wanted to shut down their on-prem servers, but we couldn’t, because we still needed them for mailbox management.
We needed one tool that could handle everything – user management, mailbox configuration, and licensing – directly from the place we already worked: Active Directory Users & Computers.
Q: And that’s what became Easy365Manager?
A: Exactly. Easy365Manager was built to integrate Microsoft 365 management right into ADUC. No PowerShell. No switching portals. And best of all, no need for Exchange on-premises.
Suddenly, onboarding a user became a one-step process. You could create the account, assign a license, configure the mailbox, and set forwarding – all from one screen.
Q: How did that change things for your MSP?
A: It was a game-changer. We saved hours every week, reduced errors, and it gave first-line technicians the ability to handle tasks that used to require senior staff.
Clients noticed too. When they realized they could finally retire their Exchange servers and still manage mailboxes effortlessly, it felt like a huge weight lifted.
Easy365Manager didn’t just make life easier – it made Microsoft 365 management predictable, efficient, and accessible for every technician.
Q: And it seems the product resonated beyond your own MSP?
A: Absolutely. Once we released it, other MSPs and IT departments immediately saw the same value. Everyone was fighting the same battle – and finally, there was a practical solution.
Outgrowing ADUC — Building for the Future
"Great for its time - but ADUC belongs to the past."
—jonas Watt Boolsen, Co-Founder of EasyEntra
Q: Easy365Manager has obviously been a big success. What made its original design – integrating with ADUC – so effective?
A: Embedding Easy365Manager directly into Active Directory Users & Computers (ADUC) was the perfect solution for its time. It gave us a unified console for hybrid management, eliminated the dependency on Exchange on-premises, and made Microsoft 365 management accessible right where IT admins already worked. For years, that approach delivered tremendous value to MSPs and IT departments worldwide, and it actually still does.
Q: At what point did you start seeing limitations with that approach?
A: Let’s be honest – ADUC is built on MMC technology from the early 2000s, and Microsoft hasn’t meaningfully evolved it in decades. It’s a static framework with limited UI capabilities, no modern integrations, and poor scalability for the cloud-driven workflows organizations rely on today.
Q: How did those limitations affect your ability to innovate?
A: As we kept expanding Easy365Manager, the aging ADUC framework became a real obstacle. Many of the improvements customers asked for – like automated onboarding and offboarding, license insights, and integrated MFA management – required capabilities the old technology simply couldn’t support. It became clear that the MMC foundation wasn’t built for the speed, flexibility, and integration that today’s cloud environments demand.
Q: So how did you respond to those constraints?
A: By autumn 2023, it was clear we’d reached the limit of what we could achieve inside ADUC. Instead of continuing to work around those gaps, we made a strategic decision to start fresh – to build a modern platform from the ground up, preserving the simplicity and familiarity users valued, but adding scalability, performance, and a future-ready architecture.
Q: And that’s what led to EasyEntra?
A: Exactly. EasyEntra isn’t just an add-on – it’s a next-generation management console and a complete replacement for ADUC.
Without compromising our original promise of a single, consolidated, and easy-to-use admin tool, EasyEntra delivers the same intuitive experience while unlocking the power and flexibility of a modern platform.
It supports single and multiple on-premises, hybrid, and cloud-only environments in one unified interface, handling everything from user life-cycle management and MFA configuration to license insights and automation – all under a single pane of glass.
And for MSPs, it adds something game-changing: the ability to manage multiple clients instantly from a single interface, without the constant context switching, portal hopping, or repeated sign-ins that slow down daily work. It’s lightning fast, consistent, and built for scale.
And because it’s built entirely on our own architecture, we can keep evolving it alongside Microsoft’s cloud, free from the constraints of legacy technology.
The Vision Behind EasyEntra
"EasyEntra is about turning complexity into clarity for every IT team member."
—jonas Watt Boolsen, Co-Founder of EasyEntra
Q: Once you decided to build EasyEntra, what guiding vision shaped the platform?
A: Our vision was to create a tool that transforms complexity into clarity. We’ve spent years working with MSPs and IT departments that juggle multiple portals, scripts, and manual processes. With EasyEntra, the goal was simple: give them a single, predictable way to manage Microsoft 365 and Entra ID – no guesswork, no context switching, and no dependence on senior specialists.
Q: What kind of difference does that make day-to-day?
A: It’s huge. With EasyEntra, onboarding, offboarding, MFA setup, and license management all follow a consistent workflow. That means first-line technicians can handle requests confidently, and tasks that used to take 10 minutes now take 1.
Q: How does EasyEntra help MSPs scale their services?
A: Standardization is key to growth. EasyEntra gives MSPs a repeatable process across all tenants – whether they’re hybrid, cloud-only, or managing multiple environments. It simplifies training, reduces human error, and makes it easier to delegate tasks without compromising quality. That’s how you grow profitably while keeping service levels high.
Q: So EasyEntra is as much about business outcomes as technical ones?
A: Absolutely. It’s about more than just managing users – it’s about empowering teams, cutting overhead, and improving client satisfaction. EasyEntra is built to help MSPs and IT departments operate with the same efficiency and confidence, no matter how complex their environment is.
Real-World Impact – Simpler Work, Greater Value
"Our mission is to empower IT teams, elevating their service, and boosting their productivity."
—jonas Watt Boolsen, Co-Founder of EasyEntra
Q: What kind of impact does EasyEntra have on day-to-day operations?
A: The biggest change is speed and simplicity. With EasyEntra, tasks like onboarding, offboarding, MFA setup, and license management are completed in seconds instead of minutes – all from one place. That leads to faster ticket resolution, which not only makes IT teams more efficient but also keeps end users productive with less downtime and fewer delays.
Q: How does it affect collaboration within the IT team?
A: EasyEntra makes support more predictable. Every technician follows the same workflow, so there’s less confusion and fewer mistakes. That consistency reduces escalations to senior IT, freeing up experienced staff to focus on more strategic work.
It also makes staffing and training easier. Because the interface is intuitive and the processes are unified, new team members can become productive quickly – you don’t need PowerShell experts or deep portal knowledge to deliver great support.
Q: What about the experience for MSPs?
A: For MSPs, the benefits multiply across clients. You get standardized processes that scale, fewer escalations across tenants, and a much more predictable workload. That improves both service quality and profitability, since more can be done by first-line technicians with confidence.
Q: And for internal IT departments?
A: Internal IT teams gain clarity and control. With one platform covering user, license, and mailbox management, they avoid the constant portal switching that slows things down. The result is a more proactive, efficient IT function that supports the business better and reduces stress on the team.
Q: So the impact goes beyond IT itself?
A: Exactly. It’s not just about saving time – it’s about creating a smoother, more consistent experience for everyone. End users stay productive, IT teams stay focused, and organizations operate more efficiently. EasyEntra turns what used to be a daily frustration into a reliable, streamlined operation that supports growth and confidence across the business.
Looking Ahead – Built for Today, Evolving for Tomorrow
"Continuous innovation for a constantly changing cloud."
—jonas Watt Boolsen, Co-Founder of EasyEntra
Q: What’s next for EasyEntra?
A: The journey doesn’t stop here. Microsoft 365 and Entra ID are constantly evolving, and so is EasyEntra. Our mission is to stay one step ahead, making sure IT teams always have a simple, unified platform that keeps pace with new features, security requirements, and best practices.
Q: What can customers expect going forward?
A: We’re continuously expanding EasyEntra’s capabilities – from advanced automation and deeper reporting to integrations that give IT teams even more insight and control. Every improvement is driven by the same core idea: reduce complexity, save time, and empower every level of IT.
Q: What would you say to MSPs and IT leaders considering EasyEntra?
A: If you’ve ever felt frustrated switching between portals, maintaining old systems, or relying on scripts just to complete everyday tasks, EasyEntra was built for you.
It’s the next step in simplifying Microsoft 365 management, whether you’re running on-prem, hybrid, or cloud-only environments. With EasyEntra, you get clarity, speed, and consistency – and a platform that grows with you.
To test EasyEntra in your own environment, download the 30-day trial.
