Microsoft Entra Connect vs. Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync: Comprehensive Guide to Differences and Benefits

In the evolving landscape of identity management, Microsoft offers two distinct solutions designed to enhance your hybrid identity goals: Microsoft Entra Connect and Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync. Each caters to different needs and setups, providing robust options for organizations navigating the complexities of modern IT environments.

Microsoft Entra Connect: Bridging On-Premises and Cloud Identity

Microsoft Entra Connect, formerly known as Azure AD Connect, is an on-premises application that plays a pivotal role in hybrid identity solutions. It allows seamless integration of your on-premises directories with Microsoft Entra ID, ensuring that users have a common identity for accessing both on-premises and cloud resources.

Key Features:

• Password Hash Synchronization: Enables users to use their on-premises AD password in the cloud without additional infrastructure.
• Pass-through Authentication and Federation: Offers seamless sign-in experiences while keeping additional infrastructure requirements minimal.
• Synchronization: Ensures that identity information is consistent across on-premises and cloud platforms.
• Health Monitoring: Provides a centralized overview of your identity infrastructure’s health within the Microsoft Entra admin center.

Use Cases:

• Ideal for organizations with a robust on-premises infrastructure looking to extend their identity capabilities to the cloud without fully migrating their identity services.
• Suitable for companies requiring detailed control over synchronization and authentication methods due to regulatory or complex operational needs.

Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync: Future-Proofing Identity Synchronization

As the next step in identity synchronization solutions from Microsoft, Entra Cloud Sync is designed to replace Entra Connect. This cloud-managed solution simplifies identity management across disconnected and multi-forest environments, often arising from mergers or acquisitions.

Key Features:

• Multi-Forest Support: Works seamlessly across disconnected Active Directory forests, which is a common scenario in complex organizational structures.
• Simplified and Lightweight Installation: Utilizes lightweight provisioning agents managed in the cloud, reducing on-premises infrastructure requirements.
• High Availability: Supports the deployment of multiple agents to ensure continuous synchronization.

Use Cases:

• Best suited for organizations transitioning to the cloud, especially those with complex, multi-forest AD configurations that require streamlined identity management.
• A strong option for companies looking to reduce on-premises infrastructure while enhancing identity synchronization reliability and security.

Transitioning from Microsoft Entra Connect to Cloud Sync

Given the retirement of Azure AD Connect V1 and the strategic move towards cloud solutions, Microsoft recommends transitioning to Entra Cloud Sync. Before upgrading to Microsoft Entra Connect V2, consider evaluating the benefits of Entra Cloud Sync, which is positioned as the future of synchronization technologies by Microsoft. To facilitate this transition, Microsoft provides tools and resources to assess whether Cloud Sync fits your organizational needs.

Conclusion

Both Microsoft Entra Connect and Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync offer significant benefits, but choosing between them depends on your specific identity management needs and infrastructure setup. Entra Connect is ideal for those who require a robust connection between on-premises and cloud environments, while Entra Cloud Sync offers a forward-looking, cloud-centric approach that simplifies and secures identity management across more complex and diverse IT landscapes. By understanding the unique advantages of each solution, organizations can make informed decisions that align with their long-term identity management strategies.