The Future of Hybrid! Deploying Azure AD Cloud Sync the Easy Way.

What is Azure AD Cloud Sync ?

Azure AD Cloud Sync is a feature of Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) that enables organizations to synchronize user and group information between their on-premises Active Directory environment and Azure AD. This synchronization enables a seamless integration between on-premises and cloud-based identity management, making it easier for users to access cloud-based applications and resources.

With Azure AD Cloud Sync, organizations can synchronize their on-premises Active Directory objects, including users, groups, and contacts, to Azure AD. This synchronization can be configured to occur automatically on a schedule, ensuring that the cloud-based directory stays up-to-date with changes made on-premises.

Azure AD Cloud Sync can be used to enable a variety of scenarios, including hybrid identity management, where users have a single identity across on-premises and cloud-based resources. It can also be used to enable password hash synchronization, which allows users to use the same password to access both on-premises and cloud-based resources.

Overall, Azure AD Cloud Sync is a powerful tool that helps organizations to leverage their existing on-premises Active Directory infrastructure to enable secure and seamless access to cloud-based resources.

What is Azure AD Connect?

Azure AD Connect is a tool from Microsoft that allows organizations to synchronize on-premises Active Directory identities and attributes to Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). It is designed to simplify the process of integrating on-premises directories with Azure AD, making it easier to manage user identities and access to cloud-based resources.

AD Connect provides a number of key features, including:

1. Directory synchronization: AD Connect allows for synchronization of user and group information, including passwords and attributes, from an on-premises Active Directory to Azure AD.
2. Password synchronization: With AD Connect, users can use their on-premises passwords to access cloud-based resources.
3. Federation integration: AD Connect provides integration with Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS), allowing for seamless single sign-on (SSO) for on-premises and cloud-based resources.
4. Health monitoring and alerts: AD Connect monitors the synchronization process and provides alerts if any issues are detected.
5. Customization: AD Connect can be customized to meet specific business needs, such as filtering which users and attributes are synchronized.

Overall, AD Connect is a powerful tool for organizations that want to integrate their on-premises Active Directory with Azure AD, enabling a seamless integration between on-premises and cloud-based identity management.

What is Azure AD Connect cloud sync? - Microsoft Entra | Microsoft Learn