Azure AD Password Writeback Enablement and Implementation

Azure AD Password Writeback is a feature that enables organizations to synchronize passwords from Azure AD to their on-premises Active Directory. This feature is available in Azure AD Premium.

To enable Azure AD Password Writeback, you need to meet the system requirements, which include having Azure AD Premium, Azure AD Connect, and a domain controller in your on-premises environment.

Azure AD Password Writeback uses a cloud-based service to collect password changes from Azure AD and then writes them back to your on-premises Active Directory. This process happens in real-time, allowing for seamless password synchronization.

The password writeback process involves the use of a cloud-based service that collects password changes from Azure AD and then writes them back to your on-premises Active Directory.

To use Azure AD Password Writeback, you'll need to have one of the following licenses assigned on your tenant.

You'll need at least one of the following licenses: Azure AD Premium P1, Azure AD Premium P2, Enterprise Mobility + Security E3 or A3, Enterprise Mobility + Security E5 or A5, Microsoft 365 E3 or A3, Microsoft 365 E5 or A5, or Microsoft 365 Business.

Azure AD Password Writeback requires a specific license to function properly, so make sure you have one of the above licenses assigned to your tenant.

Here are the licenses you need to have:

To configure Azure AD, you'll need to sign in to your Azure AD Connect server and start the Azure AD Connect configuration wizard. This is the first step in enabling password writeback in Azure AD.

Select "Configure" on the Welcome page, and then choose "Customize synchronization options" from the Additional tasks page. This will allow you to tailor the synchronization process to your organization's needs.

On the Connect to Azure AD page, enter a global administrator credential and select "Next". This will authenticate the connection and enable the next steps in the configuration process.

The next page will ask you to click "Next" on the Connect directories and Domain/OU filtering pages. This is a straightforward step that ensures the correct directories and filtering options are selected.

To enable password writeback, check the box next to "Password writeback" on the Optional features page and select "Next". This will initiate the synchronization process and configure password writeback in Azure AD.

To configure Microsoft Entra permissions, you'll need to have one of the required licenses assigned to your tenant, which includes Azure AD Premium P1, Azure AD Premium P2, or Microsoft 365 Business, among others.

First, ensure you're logged in with the Domain Administrator account credentials to the "Active Directory Users and Computers" console.

You'll need to click on "View" at the top and select "Advanced features" to access the necessary settings.

To configure account permissions, right-click on the root domain object and select "Properties".

In the Properties window, go to "Security" and click on "Advanced" in the bottom.

You'll need to add a permission for the domain account used for Azure AD Connect, which involves selecting "Permissions" > "Add".

To apply the permissions to descendant user objects, scroll down and click on "Descendant User objects" in the "Applies" field drop-down.

You'll need to check the boxes next to "Reset password", "WritelockoutTime", and "Write pwdLastSet" in the Permissions section.

Note that a downtime of 60 minutes or more will be required to update permissions for all the objects in the directory.

Here's a list of required licenses for Azure AD Password Writeback:

Configuring Azure AD Connect is a crucial step in enabling password writeback. This process involves signing in to your Azure AD Connect server and opening the Azure AD Connect configuration wizard.

To configure Azure AD Connect, you'll need to select "Configure" on the Welcome page. Then, in the Additional tasks panel, select "Customize synchronization options" and click "Next".

The Connect Azure AD section requires you to enter the global administrator account credentials in the password field and click "Next". This may take a few seconds for the synchronization to occur.

After the synchronization, the Connect directories panel will open, and you can click "Next". You'll then see the Domain/OU filtering panel, which you should click "Next" on as well.

In the Optional features section, check the box next to "Password writeback" and click "Next". The Ready to configure section will then open, where you should select "Configure" to complete the process.

Here's a summary of the steps:

By following these steps, you'll be able to configure Azure AD Connect and enable password writeback.