diff --git a/src/modules/role_assignments/built_in_role/_locals.tf b/src/modules/role_assignments/built_in_role/_locals.tf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d58623ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/modules/role_assignments/built_in_role/_locals.tf
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+locals {
+
+  flat_assignments = flatten([
+    for role_definition_name, resources in var.settings : [
+      for resource_key, resource_details in resources : [
+        for principal_type, principals in try(resource_details, {}) : [
+          for principal in(
+            can(principals) && length(principals) > 0 ? principals : []
+            ) : {
+            role_definition_name = role_definition_name
+            resource_key         = resource_key
+            resource_type        = var.resource_type
+            principal_type       = principal_type
+            principal            = principal
+          }
+        ]
+      ]
+    ]
+  ])
+
+
+  users_email = {
+    for a in local.flat_assignments :
+    a.principal => a.principal
+    if a.principal_type == "users_email"
+    && !can(regex("^[0-9a-fA-F-]{36}$", a.principal))
+  }
+
+
+  group_names = {
+    for a in local.flat_assignments :
+    a.principal => a.principal
+    if a.principal_type == "group_name"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/modules/role_assignments/built_in_role/main.tf b/src/modules/role_assignments/built_in_role/main.tf
index fc97bf32..2253faba 100644
--- a/src/modules/role_assignments/built_in_role/main.tf
+++ b/src/modules/role_assignments/built_in_role/main.tf
@@ -1,48 +1,56 @@
 resource "azurerm_role_assignment" "main" {
   for_each = tomap({
-    for item in flatten([
-      for role_definition_name, resources in var.settings : [
-        for resource_key, resource_details in resources : [
-          for principal_type, principals in try(resource_details, {}) : [
-            for principal in(
-              # Handle cases where the principal is a list (like object_ids) or a single value
-              can(principals) && length(principals) > 0 ? principals : []
-              ) : {
-              role_definition_name = role_definition_name
-              resource_key         = resource_key
-              resource_type        = var.resource_type
-              principal_type       = principal_type
-              principal            = principal
-            }
-          ]
-        ]
-      ]
-    ]) :
-    # Ensure unique keys for each role assignment
+    for item in local.flat_assignments :
     "${item.role_definition_name}-${item.resource_key}-${item.principal_type}-${item.principal}" => item
   })
 
-  scope = try(var.resources[
-    try(var.settings.lz_key, var.client_config.landingzone_key)
-    ].virtual_networks[
-    split("/", each.value.resource_key)[0]
-    ].subnets[
-    split("/", each.value.resource_key)[1]
+  scope = try(
+    var.resources[
+      try(var.settings.lz_key, var.client_config.landingzone_key)
+      ].virtual_networks[
+      split("/", each.value.resource_key)[0]
+      ].subnets[
+      split("/", each.value.resource_key)[1]
     ].id,
     var.resources[
       try(var.settings.lz_key, var.client_config.landingzone_key)
     ][var.resource_type][each.value.resource_key].id,
     null
   )
+
   principal_id = try(
-    # If principal is directly an ID (like object_ids), use it. Otherwise, resolve via var.resources.
     each.value.principal_type == "object_ids"
     ? each.value.principal
+
+    : each.value.principal_type == "users_email"
+    ? data.azuread_user.users[each.value.principal].object_id
+
+    : each.value.principal_type == "group_name"
+    ? data.azuread_group.groups[each.value.principal].object_id
+
+
     : var.resources[
-      try(var.settings.lz_key, var.client_config.landingzone_key)
-    ][each.value.principal_type][each.value.principal].principal_id,
+      can(regex("/", each.value.principal))
+      ? split("/", each.value.principal)[0]
+      : try(var.settings.lz_key, var.client_config.landingzone_key)
+      ][each.value.principal_type][
+      can(regex("/", each.value.principal))
+      ? split("/", each.value.principal)[1]
+      : each.value.principal
+    ].principal_id,
     null
   )
 
+
   role_definition_name = each.value.role_definition_name
 }
+
+data "azuread_user" "users" {
+  for_each            = local.users_email
+  user_principal_name = each.value
+}
+
+data "azuread_group" "groups" {
+  for_each     = local.group_names
+  display_name = each.value
+}