Azure Cloud Sync for Data Access and Management Made Easy

Azure Cloud Sync makes data access and management a breeze, allowing you to centralize your data and access it from anywhere.

With Azure Cloud Sync, you can sync data across different locations, including on-premises, cloud, and edge locations. This ensures that your data is always up-to-date and accessible.

Azure Cloud Sync supports various protocols, including SMB, NFS, and HDFS, making it easy to integrate with existing systems and applications. This flexibility is a game-changer for businesses with complex data infrastructures.

By using Azure Cloud Sync, you can reduce data duplication and inconsistencies, which can lead to errors and data loss. This is especially important for businesses that rely on accurate and up-to-date data to make informed decisions.

Azure AD Connect can synchronize a lot of data from your on-premises AD, including user accounts, groups, and credential hashes. Most attributes of the user accounts, such as the User Principal Name (UPN) and security identifier (SID), are synchronized.

However, some objects and attributes are not synced, including SidHistory attributes for users and groups, Group Policy objects (GPOs), and the contents of the Sysvol folder. You can exclude specific objects and attributes from the sync if you choose to.

Here's a list of what's not synced:

To manage your Azure AD, it's best to use Azure AD functionality rather than trying to sync data from your on-premises AD. This will give you more control and security.

You can establish cloud-only administrators using predefined roles like Global Administrator, Application Administrator, and Compliance Administrator. These roles are designed to manage specific aspects of your Azure AD organization.

A Global Administrator can modify any administrative setting, so it's recommended to assign this role to no more than five people in your organization. This will help prevent security risks.

To add an extra layer of security, consider using multifactor authentication (MFA) and privileged identity management (PIM) for administrators. This will make it harder for unauthorized users to access sensitive areas.

When it comes to groups, you can create cloud-only groups like security groups, distribution groups, and Microsoft 365 groups. Microsoft 365 groups can secure items, function as a distribution list, and even act as a data repository backed by SharePoint and shared mailboxes.

You can use Microsoft 365 groups in every team in Microsoft Teams. Just be sure to avoid group sprawl in the cloud and on-premises by regularly reviewing and cleaning up unnecessary groups.

Azure AD Connect allows you to synchronize user accounts, groups, and credential hashes from your on-premises AD.

The tool can sync most attributes of user accounts, such as the User Principal Name (UPN) and security identifier (SID).

However, there are some objects and attributes that are not synchronized. Specifically, you can exclude certain objects and attributes from the sync if you choose to.

SidHistory attributes for users and groups are also not synchronized.

Group Policy objects (GPOs) are not synchronized either.

The contents of the Sysvol folder are not synchronized by Azure AD Connect.

Computer objects for computers joined to the on-premises AD environment are not synced.

Organization unit (OU) structures are not synchronized by the tool.

To ensure a secure Azure cloud sync, it's essential to follow best practices. This includes understanding and following best practices for using Azure AD Connect, which is crucial for any tool that touches Active Directory and Azure AD.

Limiting who has local administrative rights on the server is key. This is especially important when running Azure AD Connect, as it should be protected like a domain controller.

Make sure the service account for the tool has only the rights it needs. This will help prevent any potential security breaches.

Protect the server where Azure AD Connect runs by limiting the accounts that can log in interactively. This will help prevent unauthorized access.

Controlling physical access to the server is also crucial. This includes limiting who has access to the server in person.

Strictly adhere to best practices for password complexity and expiration. This will help prevent password-related security issues.

By following these best practices and security guidelines, you can ensure a secure Azure cloud sync and protect your IT ecosystem.

To configure Azure File Sync, you must use Geo-Redundant Storage to ensure data doesn't have a point of failure. This involves replicating your on-premises share structure in the storage files.

Create an Azure File by logging onto the Azure portal, clicking the new resource button, and selecting the Azure File on the list that pops up. Define the resource group, location, and name of the Azure File Sync, and hit the create button.

To configure server endpoints, install the storage sync agent on your on-premises server, and register and sign in to access Microsoft Azure by providing your credentials. After signing in, select the resource group, storage account, and subscription you already created.

You can use Azure AD Connect to synchronize identity data between your on-premises Active Directory environment and Azure AD. This allows users to access both on-premises applications and cloud services like Microsoft 365 with the same credentials.

To use Azure AD Connect, you'll need to download the agent software and install it on a server that acts as a bridge between Azure AD and AD. This server will connect Active Directory to Azure AD, making it easier to manage your users and groups.

Azure AD Connect is included for free with your Azure subscription, and it offers features like federation integration and health monitoring. However, today we'll focus on its best-known capability: synchronization.

You can also use the "Azure AD cloud synchronization" service, which is another option for synchronizing users and groups between Active Directory and Azure AD. This service is available in the Azure Active Directory admin center, and you can access it via the URL https://aad.portal.azure.com.

Here are the key differences between Azure AD Connect and Azure AD cloud synchronization:

Azure AD Connect cloud sync is a good option when you need to synchronize multiple overall AD structures with an Azure subscription, especially if the overall structures are not connected to Azure.

To create the Azure File, you must log onto the Azure portal and click on the new resource button at the top of the page. Type in the tab “file sync” and then select the Azure File on the list that pops up.

The storage account must be prepared to receive all the data from the on-premises file servers by using Geo-Redundant Storage. This ensures that all the synchronized data doesn’t have a point of failure.

To replicate your on-premises share structure in the storage files, create the account and then replicate your share structure. After that, you can create the Azure File.

To configure the server endpoints, you should install the storage sync agent on your on-premises server. You need to install the AzureRM module first, and if you already have the module on your servers, run the Update-Module AzureRM.

The sync group is the glue that glues together the server and cloud endpoints to replicate and synchronize. To create the sync group, sign in on the Microsoft Azure portal, open the Azure File resource, click the “sync groups” button, and click the “+ sync group” button.

To add the server endpoints, click the add server endpoint button, select the registered path you want to synchronize data, and click the create button.

Carefully curate which groups you sync to Azure AD. This is because the default configuration will synchronize all user and group objects from your on-premises AD to Azure AD.

Not all of your on-premises groups will actually serve any useful purpose in the cloud. Many of them might even have outlived their usefulness on-premises.

Group sprawl is a common problem, and regular group cleanup is smart for both productivity and security reasons.

There are two basic types of AD groups: security groups, which act as the trustee for securing an item, and distribution groups, which simplify communications addressing.

Use the sync engine's filtering capability to exclude any groups that are not relevant to your cloud environment.

Before making changes to the filtering, remember to temporarily disable the scheduled sync task so that your changes don't get implemented before you can verify that they are correct.