Help CenterIn the evolving landscape of identity management, synchronizing on-premises Active Directory (AD) with Azure Active Directory (AAD) is critical for ensuring secure and seamless access to cloud resources. Two primary tools used for this purpose are Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync and Azure AD Connect, each catering to different organizational needs. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of their differences, helping you choose the right solution for your environment.
By understanding the key differences between these two tools, IT leaders can make more informed decisions on how to best manage identity synchronization in their organizations, ensuring both efficiency and security in today’s hybrid environments.
What is Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync?
Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync is a cloud-based service designed to synchronize users, groups, and contacts from on-premises AD to Azure AD. It provides a lightweight, efficient solution ideal for organizations that need frequent synchronization without the overhead of complex infrastructure. Cloud Sync uses lightweight agents installed on domain-joined machines, allowing it to offer a simpler deployment model compared to Azure AD Connect. It is optimized for fast and continuous synchronization, ensuring that changes made in AD are reflected in Azure AD within minutes.
What is Azure AD Connect?
Azure AD Connect is the more robust, feature-rich solution for organizations with complex identity management needs. It synchronizes AD objects to Azure AD, supports password hash synchronization, pass-through authentication, and even federation with AD FS. Azure AD Connect provides deep integration with hybrid identity scenarios, offering advanced capabilities like password writeback, device synchronization, group filtering, and custom user attribute mapping. It requires a dedicated server, making it ideal for organizations that need these advanced features and are willing to manage the additional infrastructure.
Key Differences Between Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync and Azure AD Connect
1. Architecture and Deployment:
- Cloud Sync uses lightweight agents, reducing the infrastructure burden. You can install multiple agents for high availability and load balancing.
- Azure AD Connect requires a dedicated server or virtual machine, adding complexity but offering greater control.
2. Synchronization Frequency:
- Cloud Sync synchronizes changes every 2 minutes, ensuring near real-time updates between on-premises AD and Azure AD.
- Azure AD Connect syncs every 30 minutes by default, though this can be modified based on your needs.
3. Multi-Forest and Multi-Domain Support:
- Cloud Sync excels in multi-forest environments. It allows seamless synchronization across multiple forests, which makes it ideal for organizations with complex domain structures.
- Azure AD Connect also supports multi-forest synchronization, but its configuration can be more complex and resource-intensive compared to Cloud Sync.
4. Feature Set:
- Cloud Sync is designed primarily for simple user, group, and contact synchronization. It does not yet support advanced features like password writeback or group-based filtering.
- Azure AD Connect includes features like password hash synchronization, pass-through authentication, password writeback, and device synchronization, making it a more comprehensive tool for hybrid identity management.
5. Security and Access Control:
- Cloud Sync integrates with Conditional Access and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to secure access to cloud resources.
- Azure AD Connect supports seamless single sign-on (SSO) with Azure AD, allowing a more cohesive experience for users accessing both on-premises and cloud resources.
6. Complexity and Management:
- Cloud Sync offers a simplified, streamlined deployment process that requires minimal ongoing maintenance, making it ideal for organizations seeking simplicity.
- Azure AD Connect requires more careful configuration and ongoing management, making it suitable for organizations with dedicated IT resources and more complex synchronization needs.
Which Solution is Right for You?
- Choose Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync if:
- You need a lightweight solution for fast and frequent synchronization.
- Your organization has multi-forest domains and needs to simplify identity management without managing dedicated infrastructure.
- You prioritize ease of deployment and maintenance.
- Choose Azure AD Connect if:
- You require advanced features like password writeback, pass-through authentication, or federation with AD FS.
- Your organization has the resources to manage more complex infrastructure and configurations.
- You need comprehensive hybrid identity management that supports devices, custom attributes, and complex filtering rules.
The Future of Identity Synchronization
As organizations continue to move towards cloud-first strategies, Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync represents a key evolution in hybrid identity management. While Azure AD Connect remains an essential tool for complex scenarios, Cloud Sync offers a more modern, streamlined approach for many organizations. It reduces the infrastructure overhead and simplifies the management of user identities across cloud and on-premises environments, making it an increasingly attractive option for businesses aiming to minimize complexity while maintaining security.
For more information on Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync, visit the [official documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/hybrid/cloud-sync/what-is-cloud-sync).