Understanding Azure AD Connect Synchronization Rules

This image illustrates the core concepts behind synchronization rules in Azure AD Connect. These rules govern how objects (users, groups, etc.) are synchronized between your on-premises Active Directory and Azure Active Directory.

Key Components:

• Connectors: Represent the data sources, such as on-premises AD and Azure AD.
• Synchronization Engine: The central component that processes and applies the synchronization rules.
• Metaverse: A central repository where objects from all connected data sources are projected and reconciled.
• Synchronization Rules: The logic that defines how attributes flow between connectors and the metaverse, and how objects are provisioned or updated.

Types of Rules:

Synchronization rules are categorized into inbound and outbound rules:

• Inbound Rules: These rules determine how data flows from a connected data source (like on-premises AD) into the metaverse.
• Outbound Rules: These rules define how data flows from the metaverse to a connected data source (like Azure AD).

Rule Precedence:

Each rule has a precedence value. Lower numbers indicate higher precedence. When multiple rules apply to an object, the rule with the highest precedence is applied first. Azure AD Connect uses a default set of rules, but you can create custom rules to tailor synchronization to your specific needs.

Common Customizations:

• Filtering objects based on specific attributes.
• Transforming attribute values during synchronization.
• Controlling the flow of attributes for specific object types.

Effectively managing synchronization rules is crucial for a seamless identity management experience in hybrid environments. For detailed configuration and advanced scenarios, refer to the official Microsoft documentation.