Azure AD Connect Health for Efficient Identity Infrastructure Management

Azure AD Connect Health is a game-changer for identity infrastructure management. It provides a centralized view of your on-premises Active Directory, allowing you to monitor and troubleshoot issues in real-time.

With Azure AD Connect Health, you can receive alerts and notifications when issues arise, ensuring you can quickly resolve problems before they impact your users. This proactive approach helps prevent downtime and improves overall system reliability.

Azure AD Connect Health also provides detailed reports and analytics, giving you valuable insights into your identity infrastructure.

To get started with Azure AD Connect Health, you'll need to sign in to the Microsoft Azure portal. This is the first step in the process.

You can access Azure Active Directory Connect Health by going to the Marketplace and searching for it, or by selecting Marketplace and then Security + Identity.

Clicking Create on the introductory blade will open another blade with your directory information. This is where you'll need to create a new instance of Azure AD Connect Health.

If you don't have an Azure Active Directory Premium License, you'll need to get one to use Azure AD Connect Health. This is a requirement for accessing the service.

You can download the Azure AD Connect Health Agent from the first blade by selecting Quick Start and Get Tools. Alternatively, you can use the link provided to download the agent directly.

To use Azure Active Directory Connect Health, you'll need to follow these steps:

To install Azure AD Connect Health, you'll need to start by installing the agent for sync, AD Domain Services, or AD FS, depending on your specific setup.

The agent installation process typically involves double-clicking the .exe file you downloaded and selecting Install. You'll then be prompted to sign in with a Microsoft Entra account that has permissions to register the agent, such as the Hybrid Identity Administrator account.

To verify that the agent has been installed, look for the following services on the server: Microsoft Entra Connect Agent UpdaterMicrosoft Entra Connect Health Agent If you completed the configuration, these services should already be running.

To install the agent, you'll need to download the relevant .exe file and follow the prompts.

Double-click the .exe file to start the installation process.

You'll be prompted to sign in with a Microsoft Entra account that has permissions to register the agent, such as the Hybrid Identity Administrator account.

The agent services should start automatically to allow secure data upload to the cloud service.

To verify the installation, look for the following services on the server: Microsoft Entra Connect Agent Updater and Microsoft Entra Connect Health Agent.

These services should be running if you completed the configuration; otherwise, they'll be stopped until the configuration is complete.

To complete the configuration, you'll need to have Microsoft Entra ID P1 or P2.

If you don't have Microsoft Entra ID P1 or P2, you won't be able to complete the configuration in the Microsoft Entra admin center.

Here are the steps to remove access for the local account:

To manually specify a proxy server, you can use the Set-MicrosoftEntraConnectHealthProxySettings PowerShell command. This command allows you to specify the HTTPS proxy address for the health agent.

The address setting can be a DNS-resolvable server name or an IPv4 address. You can omit the port, and if you do, 443 is the default port.

Here's an example of how to use the command:

Set-MicrosoftEntraConnectHealthProxySettings -HttpsProxyAddress myproxyserver:443

You can also use a DNS-resolvable server name instead of an IP address, like this:

Set-MicrosoftEntraConnectHealthProxySettings -HttpsProxyAddress myproxyserver

Note that the port number is optional and defaults to 443 if not specified.

To configure Azure AD Connect Health, you'll need to update the agent proxy configuration. You can do this by importing existing proxy settings, specifying proxy addresses manually, or clearing the existing proxy configuration.

To update the proxy settings, you must restart all Microsoft Entra Connect Health agent services. This can be done by running the following command: Restart-Service AzureADConnectHealthAgent*.

If you prefer to specify proxy addresses manually, you can do so on each server that runs the health agent. Simply run the following PowerShell command: Set-MicrosoftEntraConnectHealthProxySettings -HttpsProxyAddress myproxyserver: 443.

The address setting can be a DNS-resolvable server name or an IPv4 address. If you omit port, 443 is the default port.

Azure AD Connect needs to establish a connection to your on-premises Active Directory to work correctly. This connection is crucial for synchronization to work correctly. You can configure this connection by specifying the domain controllers to use for synchronization.

Filtering options allow you to control which users and groups are synchronized to Azure AD. This is essential for organizations with large directories or complex Active Directory structures. You can filter based on organizational units, domains, and specific attributes.

To verify that the agent has been installed, look for the following services on the server: Microsoft Entra Connect Agent Updater and Microsoft Entra Connect Health Agent. If you completed the configuration, the services should already be running.

Here are the steps to remove the role assignment for the local account for Microsoft Entra Connect Health:

Microsoft Entra Connect Health can be manually registered using a PowerShell command if the agent registration fails after installation. This command is: Register-MicrosoftEntraConnectHealthAgent -AttributeFiltering $true -StagingMode $false.

The command takes two parameters: AttributeFiltering and StagingMode. AttributeFiltering is set to $true if Microsoft Entra Connect isn't syncing the default attribute set and has been customized to use a filtered attribute set, and $false otherwise. StagingMode is set to $false if the Microsoft Entra Connect server is not in staging mode, and $true if it is.

To test connectivity to the Microsoft Entra Connect Health service, you can run a PowerShell command. This command checks whether the affected Microsoft Entra Connect Health agent can upload data to the service. The command is only available after the agent has been successfully registered.

The Role parameter in the connectivity tool currently takes three values: ADFS, Sync, and ADDS. If you can't complete the agent registration, make sure you meet all the requirements for Microsoft Entra Connect Health.

Auditing and monitoring are crucial for maintaining a healthy hybrid identity environment. AD FS auditing needs to be enabled to gather data for the Microsoft Entra Connect Health agent.

The AD FS audit logs aren't enabled by default, so you'll need to follow the procedures to enable AD FS auditing on your AD FS servers. This will allow the Usage Analytics feature to gather and analyze data.

Azure AD Connect Health is a vital tool for monitoring the health and performance of your Azure AD Connect installation. It provides insights into synchronization status, alerts for potential issues, and performance data.

Azure AD Connect also provides synchronization logs, which contain valuable information about the status of your synchronization process. You can use these logs to troubleshoot common issues, such as conflicts in attribute mapping, network problems, or issues with the Active Directory schema.

You can force synchronization when needed by using the Azure AD Connect options to trigger synchronization outside the regular schedule.

To enable auditing, you need to turn on AD FS auditing. This feature isn't enabled by default.

You only need to complete these steps on AD FS servers, not on Web Application Proxy servers. The Microsoft Entra Connect Health agent needs the information in the AD FS audit logs to gather and analyze data.

AD FS audit logs are located on your AD FS servers.

Monitoring and troubleshooting are crucial steps in maintaining a healthy hybrid identity environment. Azure AD Connect Health is a vital tool for monitoring the health and performance of your Azure AD Connect installation.

Azure AD Connect Health provides insights into synchronization status, alerts for potential issues, and performance data. This information is essential for identifying and addressing any problems that may arise.

Synchronization logs contain valuable information about the status of your synchronization process. Understanding these logs and addressing common errors is essential for troubleshooting.

Common synchronization issues may include conflicts in attribute mapping, network problems, or issues with the Active Directory schema. Identifying and resolving these issues can help prevent synchronization problems.

In some cases, you may need to trigger synchronization outside the regular schedule. Azure AD Connect provides options to force synchronization when needed.

Here are some key tools for monitoring and troubleshooting:

Microsoft Entra Connect Health Alerts provide a list of active alerts, including relevant information, resolution steps, and links to related documentation.

Synchronization is a crucial aspect of Azure AD Connect, allowing for seamless identity synchronization between on-premises Active Directory and Azure Active Directory.

Azure AD Connect can achieve this synchronization in a unidirectional or bidirectional manner, giving you flexibility in your configuration. This ensures that user accounts, groups, and attributes are consistent in both environments.

Synchronization can be filtered based on organizational units, domains, and specific attributes, which is essential for organizations with large directories or complex Active Directory structures. This allows you to control which users and groups are synchronized to Azure AD.

Scheduled synchronization can be configured to regularly reflect changes in your on-premises Active Directory in Azure AD, maintaining consistency and minimizing delays in user provisioning and deprovisioning. The initial synchronization process may take some time to complete, especially for large directories.

User synchronization is a crucial aspect of Azure AD Connect.

It ensures that user accounts, groups, and attributes are consistent in both on-premises Active Directory and Azure Active Directory.

Synchronization can be unidirectional, meaning it only goes from on-premises to the cloud, or bidirectional, allowing for more flexibility in your configuration.

This consistency is essential for maintaining the same access rights and group memberships in both locations, minimizing inconsistencies and improving security.

Synchronization schedules can be configured to regularly reflect changes in your on-premises Active Directory in Azure AD, ensuring consistency and minimizing delays in user provisioning and deprovisioning.

The initial synchronization process may take time, especially for large directories, but Azure AD Connect is designed to handle this efficiently.

The agent needs connectivity to Microsoft Entra Connect Health service endpoints during installation and runtime.

Firewalls can block this connectivity by default, so make sure the URLs in the table aren't blocked. Don't disable security monitoring or inspection of these URLs, just allow them as you would allow other internet traffic.

These URLs allow communication with Microsoft Entra Connect Health service endpoints. To check outbound connectivity, you can use the Test-AzureADConnectHealthConnectivity command later in this article.

Azure AD Connect allows you to fine-tune attribute mappings and transformations to ensure user attributes align with your organization's needs.

This is crucial for organizations with specific attribute requirements for their users in Azure AD. Organizations can customize attribute mappings to meet their unique needs.

Attribute transformations enable you to modify or convert user attributes to match Azure AD's requirements. This ensures seamless integration with your on-premises Active Directory.

Previous customizations and security policies can also be taken into account during the attribute mapping and transformation process. This helps maintain consistency across your organization's identity infrastructure.

Azure AD Connect's flexibility in attribute mapping and transformation ensures that your user attributes are accurately synchronized to Azure AD.

Troubleshooting is a vital part of maintaining a healthy hybrid identity environment, and Azure AD Connect provides valuable tools to help you identify and resolve issues.

Azure AD Connect Health is a must-have for monitoring the health and performance of your Azure AD Connect installation, providing insights into synchronization status and alerts for potential issues.

Synchronization logs are a treasure trove of information about the status of your synchronization process, and understanding these logs is essential for troubleshooting common issues like conflicts in attribute mapping, network problems, or issues with the Active Directory schema.

Here are some common synchronization issues you may encounter:

If you need to trigger synchronization outside the regular schedule, Azure AD Connect provides options to force synchronization when needed, giving you more control over your hybrid identity environment.

When implementing Azure AD Connect, it's essential to verify network connectivity and firewall settings. This ensures that the required ports and protocols are allowed through firewalls and that there is reliable communication between your on-premises Active Directory and Azure AD.

A secure and robust network setup is fundamental for a successful implementation. This includes verifying network connectivity and firewall settings.

To maintain a healthy hybrid identity environment, review synchronization results regularly. Ongoing monitoring and review of synchronization results and error reports are essential for timely detection and resolution of issues.

Regularly back up your Azure AD Connect configuration settings and customizations. This ensures that you can quickly restore your synchronization setup in the event of a failure or the need to reinstall Azure AD Connect.

Here are the essential best practices to keep in mind:

Azure AD Connect Health offers a range of features that make identity integration a breeze. With Azure AD Connect, you can simplify user experiences by providing a single set of credentials for both on-premises and cloud services.

Enhanced security is a top priority, and Azure AD Connect delivers. It reduces security risks by providing consistent access controls and authentication across on-premises and cloud-based resources.

User convenience is also a key benefit, with Azure AD Connect allowing users to enjoy a single set of credentials for both on-premises and cloud services.

Optimized productivity is another advantage of Azure AD Connect, which streamlines user provisioning and de-provisioning to improve IT efficiency.

Reduced costs are also a result of using Azure AD Connect, as it removes the requirement for redundant identity infrastructure.

Here are the key benefits of Azure AD Connect in a nutshell:

To set up Azure AD Connect Health, you'll need to have a Azure AD Premium P1 or P2 subscription, as well as a Windows Server 2012 R2 or later operating system.

You'll also need to install the Azure AD Connect Health agent on your Windows Server, which can be done through the Azure AD Connect setup wizard.

The agent will then start sending data to Azure AD Connect Health, which will begin monitoring the health of your Azure AD Connect sync engine.

This includes monitoring the sync status, which is updated every 15 minutes, and alerting you to any issues that might be affecting your sync.

The agent also requires a connection to the Azure AD Connect Health service, which is hosted in Azure, and can be done through a secure connection.

You can view the health of your Azure AD Connect sync engine in the Azure AD Connect Health portal, which provides a real-time view of the sync engine's performance.

Azure AD Connect Health is a monitoring tool that provides real-time insights into the health and performance of Azure AD Connect. It's a game-changer for IT pros who want to ensure a seamless user experience.

With Azure AD Connect Health, you can monitor the synchronization of user accounts, groups, and devices in real-time. This means you can quickly identify and resolve any issues that might be affecting your users.

The tool provides a comprehensive view of the synchronization process, including any errors or warnings that may have occurred. This allows you to take proactive steps to resolve issues before they impact your users.

Azure AD Connect Health also provides a detailed report of all synchronization activities, including successful and failed syncs. This information is invaluable for troubleshooting and identifying trends in your sync process.

To manage your Azure AD Connect Health agents, you'll need to ensure they're installed and running correctly. The agent services to look for on the server are Microsoft Entra Connect Agent Updater and Microsoft Entra Connect Health Agent.

Verify that the agent has been installed by checking for these services. If you completed the configuration, they should already be running.

You'll need Microsoft Entra ID P1 or P2 to use Microsoft Entra Connect Health. If you don't have this, you won't be able to complete the configuration in the Microsoft Entra admin center.

To remove the role assignment for the local account for Microsoft Entra Connect Health, you'll need to complete one or more of the following tasks: remove the role assignment, rotate the password, disable the local account, or delete the local account.

The agent installation process involves double-clicking the .exe file, selecting Install, and signing in with a Microsoft Entra account that has permissions to register the agent. By default, the Hybrid Identity Administrator account has these permissions.

To verify that the agent was installed, look for the following services on the server: Microsoft Entra Connect Agent Updater and Microsoft Entra Connect Health Agent.

You can configure Microsoft Entra Connect Health agents to work with an HTTP proxy. However, keep in mind that netsh WinHttp set ProxyServerAddress isn't supported, and authenticated proxies (using HTTPBasic) aren't supported either.

The configured HTTP proxy address is used to pass through encrypted HTTPS messages. This means your proxy server will need to be able to handle encrypted traffic.

Agent Services to Verify

HTTP Proxy Configuration