Understanding AD to Entra ID Sync Options

• Entra Cloud Sync is the newest model for synchronizing complex Active Directory organizations into Entra ID.
• The newer approach makes the most sense for large organizations looking to onboard small, freestanding subsidiaries into their Entra ID tenancy.
• The model offers increased performance, reliability, and integrity checks but currently has technical limitations.
• The two sync models can be used concurrently, but Cloud Sync is likely to replace the original model in time.

Entra Connect Sync is Microsoft’s older software for synchronizing on-premises Active Directory (AD) to Entra ID (previously named Azure Active Directory [AAD]), enabling managed access to both cloud services and on-premises resources, based on AD. Understanding the capabilities of Entra Cloud Sync compared to the original Entra Connect Sync (previously named AAD Connect) should help larger customers decide when they should be using cloud sync and when and where they should continue to use the original synchronization software.