What is Azure AD Connect and why do you need it
Azure AD Connect is a tool that deals with linking an organization’s on-prem identity with Azure AD and simplifying identity management across a hybrid or cloud infrastructure. It allows you to provide a unified identity for users with applications integrated with Azure AD. Some of its main features are:
- Pass-through authentication
- Password hash synchronization
- Synchronization services
- Federation services
- Health monitoring
Apart from providing a unified identity for users, Azure AD Connect offers advantages, like offering a single tool for synchronization, integration, and authentication. Since on-prem data is being synced with cloud, users can access services from both cloud and on-prem with a single set of credentials. Features like single sign-on and multi factor authentication simplify access for users without compromising on the security of user data.
Issues with Azure AD Connect and how you can resolve them
Synchronization is one of the main functions of Azure AD Connect and makes Azure AD a seamless deployment tool for organizations. Admins and users can have issues while installing or using the same, which can cause problems with synchronization of resources from on-prem and cloud. However, Azure AD has troubleshooting options to resolve the same. Here are the issues with Azure AD Connect and solutions to resolve them.
1. Installation issue:
These mainly occur in the installation wizard, some of which are:
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Incorrect configuration: Along with this, users won’t also be able to reach their proxy due to which the proxy connectivity is to be checked.You can resolve this by running the following command on PowerShell:
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri https://adminwebservice.microsoftonline.com/ProvisioningService.svc
PowerShell uses the configuration in machine.config to contact the proxy. The settings in winhttp/netsh shouldn’t affect these cmdlets.
- Credential validation issue: When you are unable to validate your credentials, check if the machine.config is correctly configured.
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Unable to reach MFA endpoint: This occurs if the endpoint cannot be reached and your Global Admin has enabled MFA.
2. Synchronization issue:
Problems with connectivity, configuration, or the AD infrastructure can cause on-prem AD not to sync with Azure AD with Azure AD Connect.To help you fix the synchronization issue, please check this page.
Synchronization issues can also occur due to the lested concerns in Azure AD.
- Password Synchronization: This occurs due to one of the following conditions.
1) The Synchronize now check box wasn’t selected.
2) You enabled password synchronization after directory sync occurs.
3) A full directory sync hasn’t been completed yet.
To fix this, start by enabling the password synchronization if you haven’t enabled it yet. Start the Azure AD sync appliance Configuration Wizard, and then scroll screens until you see the option to enable password synchronization.
For more information, click this link. - Certificate expiration: A certification is required by Azure AD Connect to be able to establish a connection between your on-prem AD and Azure AD. If it has crossed expiration, you will be required to renew the same. Use this link to see how you can renew the certificate.
- Incorrect DNS configuration: Use this link to understand and resolve this issue.