Azure AD Connect is a tool that allows organizations to synchronize their on-premises Active Directory with Microsoft’s cloud-based identity and access management service, Azure AD. This synchronization ensures that your on-premises directory is up-to-date with your Azure AD directory, making it easier to manage user identities and access to resources. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the steps to set up Azure AD Connect Sync.
Step 1: Prepare Your On-Premises Environment
Before setting up Azure AD Connect, you need to ensure that your on-premises environment meets the requirements. You should have an Active Directory forest and domain, and you should have a Windows Server 2012 R2 or later server joined to your domain. If you’re not sure if your environment meets the requirements, check Microsoft’s documentation for Azure AD Connect.
Step 2: Download and Install Azure AD Connect
To download Azure AD Connect, visit the Azure AD Connect download page and select the latest version of the tool. Once the download is complete, run the installation wizard and follow the prompts to install Azure AD Connect on your server.
Step 3: Configure the Synchronization
Once you’ve installed Azure AD Connect, launch the Azure AD Connect wizard. You’ll be prompted to sign in to your Azure AD tenant using your Azure AD global administrator credentials. Follow the prompts in the wizard to configure the synchronization options, including choosing which users and groups to synchronize.
Step 4: Configure the Connector
You’ll then need to configure the connector that Azure AD Connect uses to connect to your on-premises Active Directory. This involves providing your on-premises domain name, credentials for a domain account with the necessary permissions, and information about your AD forest and domain.
Step 5: Choose Your Sign-In Method
Next, you’ll need to choose how users will sign in to Azure AD. You can use either password hash synchronization or pass-through authentication. Password hash synchronization is the default option, and it syncs password hashes from your on-premises environment to Azure AD. Pass-through authentication allows users to sign in using their on-premises credentials, which are validated by Azure AD.
Step 6: Configure Additional Options
You can also configure additional options, such as enabling device writeback or configuring group writeback. These options allow you to synchronize additional information between your on-premises AD and Azure AD. These options may vary based on your domain needs.
Step 7: Review and Complete the Setup
Finally, review the settings in the Azure AD Connect wizard and click “Install” to complete the setup. Once the setup is complete, Azure AD Connect will begin synchronizing your on-premises Active Directory with Azure AD.
Conclusion
Setting up Azure AD Connect Sync is essential for organizations that want to ensure that their on-premises directory is up-to-date with their Azure AD directory. This synchronization ensures that users have access to the resources they need, and it makes it easier to manage user identities and access. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can set up Azure AD Connect Sync quickly and easily.