Azure AD Connect Overview

This article provides an overview of Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Connect, a service that synchronizes your on-premises directories with Azure AD. It helps you implement single sign-on (SSO) across your on-premises and cloud resources.

What is Azure AD Connect?

Azure AD Connect is a Microsoft service that connects your on-premises Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) with Azure Active Directory. It provides a bridge between your existing identity infrastructure and the cloud, enabling a hybrid identity solution.

With Azure AD Connect, you can:

Synchronize users, groups, and other objects from on-premises AD DS to Azure AD.
Enable password hash synchronization, pass-through authentication, or federation for authentication.
Implement single sign-on (SSO) to cloud applications.
Manage your hybrid identity solution from a single point of administration.

Key Components

Azure AD Connect consists of several key components that work together to synchronize your identity data:

Azure AD Connect Synchronization Service: The core engine that performs the synchronization.
Azure AD Connect Health: Provides monitoring and reporting of your hybrid identity infrastructure.
Microsoft Azure AD Sync Tool: A command-line tool for managing synchronization settings and operations.
Azure AD PowerShell Module: For scripting and automating Azure AD tasks.

Synchronization Process

The synchronization process involves several steps:

Import: Data is imported from on-premises AD DS and Azure AD into the synchronization service.
Synchronization Rules: Rules are applied to transform and filter the imported data.
Export: Changes are exported to Azure AD.

The synchronization cycle typically runs every 30 minutes, but can be triggered manually.

Important Note: Ensure your on-premises AD DS schema and object attributes are clean and well-formed before synchronization to avoid unexpected issues.

Installation and Configuration

Installing and configuring Azure AD Connect is a straightforward process. The wizard guides you through the necessary steps, including:

Choosing between Express Settings and Custom Installation.
Selecting the sign-in method (Password Hash Sync, Pass-through Authentication, or Federation).
Connecting to your on-premises AD DS and Azure AD.
Configuring OU filtering and attribute selection.

For detailed installation instructions, refer to the official Microsoft documentation.

                # Example of a PowerShell command to start a delta sync (for advanced users)

                Import-Module ADSync

                Start-ADSyncSyncCycle -PolicyType Delta

Common Scenarios

Azure AD Connect supports various common hybrid identity scenarios, including:

Synchronizing Users and Groups: The most common use case, bringing your on-premises identities to the cloud.
Password Hash Synchronization: Users authenticate against Azure AD, with their password hashes synchronized from on-premises AD.
Pass-through Authentication: Users authenticate directly against your on-premises AD servers for both cloud and on-premises resources.
Federation with AD FS: For more complex authentication requirements, you can federate with Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS).

Best Practices

To ensure a smooth and secure hybrid identity experience, consider these best practices:

Plan carefully: Understand your organization's needs and choose the appropriate sign-in method.
Use a dedicated service account: For the synchronization service, use a dedicated service account with the necessary permissions.
Implement strong network security: Ensure secure communication between your on-premises environment and Azure AD.
Monitor with Azure AD Connect Health: Regularly check the health of your synchronization service and identify any potential issues.
Keep Azure AD Connect updated: Install the latest versions and updates to benefit from new features and security patches.