Azure AD Connect is a tool for connecting on-premises identity infrastructure to Microsoft Entra ID. The wizard deploys and configures prerequisites and components required for the connection, including synchronization scheduling and authentication methods.[1] Azure AD Connect encompasses functionality that was previously released as Dirsync and AAD Sync. These tools are no longer being released individually, and all future improvements will be included in updates to Azure AD Connect.[2][3]
Azure AD Connect synchronizes on-premises objects present in Active Directory to a corresponding Azure AD service within a Microsoft 365 tenant.[4] Supported on-premise objects include user accounts, group memberships, and credential hashes.[5] Synchronization can be configured to operate in two directional flow configurations. In a one-way configuration changes to an object on-premise updates the corresponding object in Azure AD. Two-way or bidirectional synchronization configurations allow for object changes to be made either on-premise or within Azure AD/Microsoft 365 and update the corresponding object on the opposite end.[6]
Azure AD Connect GA was released to the public on 24 June 2015[7] and is currently on Version 2.1.16.0.[8] On 31 August 2022 all 1.x versions of Azure AD Connect were retired. On 15 March 2023 Versions 2.0.3.0 through 2.0.91.0 will be retired.
The current release offers the following high level options:[9]