Tutorial / Cram Notes
Azure AD Connect cloud sync is a lightweight agent-based alternative to Azure AD Connect that provides synchronization of your on-premises Active Directory (AD) objects to Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). It enables a hybrid identity setup where on-premises AD identities can be consistent across cloud services. Azure AD Connect sync is particularly beneficial for organizations with multiple forests or domains, as it offers a simplified architecture that doesn’t require a full SQL server or a dedicated server as Azure AD Connect does.
Understanding Azure AD Connect cloud sync
The Azure AD Connect cloud sync service’s primary function is to synchronize user, group, and other AD object data to Azure AD. The data synchronization is managed by provisioning agents installed on one or more on-premises servers. These agents then communicate with the Azure AD Connect provisioning service in the cloud.
Key Features
- Lighter footprint on-premises
- Multi-forest and multi-domain support
- Resilience through multiple agents for high availability
- Filtering to control which objects are synchronized
- Seamless coexistence with Azure AD Connect
Implementing Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync
Pre-requisites
Before you can implement Azure AD Connect cloud sync, ensure you meet the following prerequisites:
- An Azure AD tenant
- An enterprise admin account for your on-premises AD
- Windows Server running on-premises with .NET Framework 4.7 or later
- Outbound connectivity to Azure services
Steps for Implementation
- Create an Azure AD application and grant permissions: In Azure AD, you need an application with permissions to handle directory data synchronization.
- Install and configure Azure AD Connect provisioning agents: On your on-premises server, download and install the Azure AD Connect provisioning agent from the Azure portal. During installation, you’ll be prompted to sign in with your Azure AD global administrator account.
- Configure your directories: In the Azure portal, you’ll need to define which domains and OUs (Organizational Units) you want to synchronize.
- Set up filtering: Decide if there are specific users, groups, or object attributes that you want to exclude from synchronization.
- Enable synchronization: Start the synchronization process. The provisioning agent will begin syncing your specified AD objects to Azure AD.
- Monitor your synchronization: In the Azure portal, you can monitor the sync status, view logs, and troubleshoot any issues that arise.
Managing Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync
Maintenance Tasks
- Monitoring synchronization health
- Adding, removing, or updating provisioning agents for load balancing or high availability
- Adjusting filtering rules as the organization’s needs change
- Updating directory mappings if there are changes in the on-premises AD structure
Troubleshooting
If you encounter synchronization issues, Azure provides troubleshooting documentation and logs. Common actions include:
- Reviewing synchronization logs for errors
- Checking for updates to the provisioning agent
- Confirming network connectivity to Azure services
- Revisiting filtering rules and configuration settings
Azure AD Connect vs Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync
| Feature | Azure AD Connect | Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync |
|---|---|---|
| Installation Requirements | Requires a SQL server, can be more complex. | Lightweight agent, simpler setup. |
| Multi-forest Support | Supported with complexity | Simplified multi-forest synchronization |
| Fault Tolerance | Depends on the on-premises environment | High availability with multiple agents |
| Real-time synchronization | Near real-time synchronization | Frequent synchronization with low latency |
| On-premises footprint | Requires a dedicated server | Minimal on-premises footprint |
| Filtering Capabilities | Detailed filtering options | Simple filtering options |
| High Availability | Requires SQL high availability | Multiple agents provide resilience |
| Dependencies | Requires Windows Server and .NET Framework | Less dependent on on-premises infrastructure |
Conclusion
Azure AD Connect cloud sync is a versatile tool for hybrid identity scenarios, offering a more streamlined approach to syncing on-premises AD objects with Azure AD. It allows organizations to leverage cloud capabilities while maintaining their existing on-premises AD infrastructure. By understanding its implementation and management, IT administrators can ensure their organization’s identity systems are robust, unified, and up-to-date.
Administrators preparing for the SC-300 Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator exam should familiarize themselves with both the detailed implementation steps and ongoing management of Azure AD Connect cloud sync to ensure they can effectively execute these tasks in real-world scenarios.
Practice Test with Explanation
True/False: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync is a replacement for Azure AD Connect with all the same features.
- Answer: False
Explanation: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync is a lighter version of Azure AD Connect and does not have all the features of Azure AD Connect, such as write-back capabilities.
True/False: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync can be used in environments with multiple Active Directory forests.
- Answer: True
Explanation: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync supports multi-forest environments and can synchronise users from multiple on-premises AD forests to a single Azure AD tenant.
Which of the following is a prerequisite for using Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync?
- A. An Azure subscription
- B. An existing on-premises Active Directory
- C. An Azure AD Premium P1 or P2 license
- D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Explanation: To use Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync, you need an Azure subscription, an on-premises Active Directory, and Azure AD Premium P1 or P2 licenses.
True/False: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync requires an on-premises SQL Server database to operate.
- Answer: False
Explanation: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync does not require an on-premises SQL Server; it uses an Azure SQL DB instance in the cloud.
Multiple Select: Which of the following features are supported by Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync?
- A. Password hash synchronization
- B. Seamless Single Sign-On
- C. Exchange hybrid deployment
- D. Password write-back
Answer: A. Password hash synchronization, B. Seamless Single Sign-On
Explanation: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync supports password hash synchronization and Seamless Single Sign-On. It does not currently support Exchange hybrid deployments or password write-back.
True/False: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync supports provisioning from disconnected Active Directory forests.
- Answer: False
Explanation: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync does not support provisioning from disconnected Active Directory forests.
Which component is responsible for connecting on-premises Active Directory with Azure AD in Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync?
- A. Azure AD Application Proxy
- B. Azure AD Connect Health Agent
- C. Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync Agent
- D. Azure AD Connect Sync Engine
Answer: C. Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync Agent
Explanation: The Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync Agent is responsible for connecting on-premises Active Directory to Azure AD in Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync.
True/False: You need to open inbound ports on your firewall for Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync to work.
- Answer: False
Explanation: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync does not require inbound ports to be opened on your firewall as it uses outbound connections to the Azure AD Connect cloud provisioning service.
True/False: The Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync service provides automatic failover between agents if one fails.
- Answer: True
Explanation: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync has a built-in high-availability mechanism which allows for automatic failover between sync agents if one agent fails.
Multiple Select: What kind of synchronization features are available with Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync?
- A. Full import
- B. Delta import
- C. Export
- D. Full synchronization
Answer: A. Full import, B. Delta import, C. Export
Explanation: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync supports full import, delta import (detecting changes since last import), and export (syncing changes to Azure AD). Full synchronization is not a separate feature as it is comprised of the full import and export steps.
True/False: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync can synchronize dynamic group memberships from on-premises to Azure AD.
- Answer: False
Explanation: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync does not currently support the synchronization of on-premises dynamic group memberships to Azure AD.
True/False: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync allows you to filter which objects are synchronized based on domain, OU, or attribute-based filtering.
- Answer: True
Explanation: Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync supports filtering objects that are synchronized to Azure AD based on domain, organizational unit (OU), or attribute-based filtering, allowing for more granular control of the synchronization process.
Interview Questions
What is Azure AD Connect cloud sync?
Azure AD Connect cloud sync is a feature of Azure AD Connect that enables synchronization of identities between on-premises environments and Azure AD, without the need for a separate server or infrastructure.
What are the benefits of Azure AD Connect cloud sync?
Benefits of Azure AD Connect cloud sync include simplified deployment, scalability, high availability, and reduced infrastructure costs.
What security features does Azure AD Connect cloud sync include?
Azure AD Connect cloud sync includes support for multi-factor authentication and conditional access policies.
How do you configure Azure AD Connect cloud sync?
Azure AD Connect cloud sync can be configured using the Azure AD Connect cloud sync portal. The process involves setting up an Azure AD Connect cloud sync account, installing the Azure AD Connect cloud sync agent, configuring the synchronization settings, enabling Azure AD Connect cloud sync, and monitoring and managing the synchronization process.
What is the Azure AD Connect cloud sync agent?
The Azure AD Connect cloud sync agent is a lightweight application that must be installed on the on-premises server that will be used for synchronization.
How do you set up an Azure AD Connect cloud sync account?
An Azure AD Connect cloud sync account can be set up in the Azure portal.
What synchronization settings can be configured in Azure AD Connect cloud sync?
Synchronization settings that can be configured in Azure AD Connect cloud sync include selecting the on-premises directory to be synchronized, configuring the synchronization schedule, and selecting the objects to be synchronized.
How do you enable Azure AD Connect cloud sync?
Azure AD Connect cloud sync can be enabled after the synchronization settings have been configured in the Azure AD Connect cloud sync portal.
How do you monitor and manage Azure AD Connect cloud sync?
Azure AD Connect cloud sync can be monitored and managed using the Azure AD Connect cloud sync portal.
What are some best practices for managing Azure AD Connect cloud sync?
Best practices for managing Azure AD Connect cloud sync include regularly reviewing and updating the synchronization settings, testing changes in a test environment, monitoring synchronization performance, configuring high availability and disaster recovery measures, and implementing appropriate security measures.
Can Azure AD Connect cloud sync be used to synchronize on-premises identities with Azure AD without a separate server or infrastructure?
Yes, that’s correct. Azure AD Connect cloud sync enables synchronization of identities between on-premises environments and Azure AD, without the need for a separate server or infrastructure.
What benefits does Azure AD Connect cloud sync offer?
Azure AD Connect cloud sync offers benefits such as scalability, high availability, simplified deployment, and reduced infrastructure costs.
What security features does Azure AD Connect cloud sync offer?
Azure AD Connect cloud sync includes security features such as support for multi-factor authentication and conditional access policies.
What are some best practices for managing Azure AD Connect cloud sync?
Some best practices for managing Azure AD Connect cloud sync include testing changes in a test environment before deploying them in a production environment, monitoring synchronization performance, and implementing appropriate security measures.
Can Azure AD Connect cloud sync be monitored and managed using the Azure portal?
Yes, Azure AD Connect cloud sync can be monitored and managed using the Azure AD Connect cloud sync portal.
Great post! Implementing Azure AD Connect cloud sync was a breeze after following these steps.
Thanks for the detailed guide. It made setting up a hybrid identity environment so much easier.
I’m having trouble with syncing passwords. Has anyone else experienced delays?
Appreciate the effort put into this blog post!
Can someone explain the difference between Azure AD Connect and Azure AD Connect cloud sync?
Do we need to install anything for cloud sync, or is it all managed in the cloud?
The blog was very helpful. Thank you!
In case of a DR scenario, how does Azure AD Connect cloud sync handle failover?