Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync (formerly Azure AD Connect cloud sync) is Microsoft's cloud-managed service for synchronizing on-premises Active Directory objects to Microsoft Entra ID, reaching general availability in February 2021. Instead of a full sync engine hosted on-premises, it uses a lightweight provisioning agent that needs only outbound connectivity, while Microsoft's cloud service handles configuration, scheduling, and failover across multiple agents. Microsoft positions it as the strategic replacement for the older Microsoft Entra Connect sync engine, including for disconnected multi-forest scenarios Entra Connect cannot handle natively. Like Entra Connect, it ships free with any Microsoft Entra ID tenant, with no separate SKU or purchase path.
Security & Identity Modernization
Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync (formerly Azure AD Connect cloud sync) is Microsoft's cloud-managed service for synchronizing on-premises Active Directory objects to Microsoft Entra ID, reaching general availability in February 2021. Instead of a full sync engine hosted on-premises, it uses a lightweight provisioning agent that needs only outbound connectivity, while Microsoft's cloud service handles configuration, scheduling, and failover across multiple agents. Microsoft positions it as the strategic replacement for the older Microsoft Entra Connect sync engine, including for disconnected multi-forest scenarios Entra Connect cannot handle natively. Like Entra Connect, it ships free with any Microsoft Entra ID tenant, with no separate SKU or purchase path.
