Delta syncing is a powerful feature in Azure Active Directory (AD) that allows you to synchronize only the changes made to your on-premises AD to Azure AD, rather than the entire directory. This can greatly reduce the time and resources required for synchronization, making it an ideal solution for organizations with large and frequently-changing directories. In this article, we will walk you through the process of setting up delta syncing with Azure AD.
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Step 1: Install Azure AD Connect
The first step in setting up delta syncing is to install Azure AD Connect, the tool that allows you to synchronize your on-premises AD with Azure AD. You can download and install Azure AD Connect from the Microsoft Download Center.
Step 2: Configure Azure AD Connect
Once Azure AD Connect is installed, you will need to configure it to connect to your on-premises AD and Azure AD. This process involves specifying the credentials for your on-premises AD, as well as the Azure AD tenant that you want to synchronize with. You will also need to specify the synchronization options that you want to use, such as the filtering and mapping of attributes.
Step 3: Set up Delta Syncing
Once Azure AD Connect is configured, you can set up delta syncing. This is done by enabling the “Delta Synchronization” option in the Azure AD Connect wizard. Once this option is enabled, only the changes made to your on-premises AD will be synchronized with Azure AD.
Step 4: Test and Monitor Synchronization
After you have set up delta syncing, you should test the synchronization to make sure that it is working as expected. You can do this by checking the synchronization status in the Azure AD Connect wizard, as well as by checking the Azure AD portal to see if the changes made to your on-premises AD are reflected in Azure AD.
Conclusion:
Delta syncing with Azure AD is a powerful and efficient way to synchronize your on-premises AD with Azure AD. By only synchronizing the changes made to your on-premises AD, you can greatly reduce the time and resources required for synchronization. With Azure AD Connect and a little bit of configuration, setting up delta syncing is a straightforward process.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I set up delta syncing with other identity providers besides on-premises AD?
No, Azure AD Connect only supports synchronizing with on-premises AD.
How often does delta syncing occur?
Delta syncing occurs every 3 hours by default, but this can be configured to occur more or less frequently in Azure AD Connect.
Will delta syncing impact the performance of my on-premises AD?
The impact on performance will depend on the number of changes made to your on-premises AD and the frequency of synchronization. However, delta syncing typically has a much lower impact on performance compared to full synchronization.
Can I sync only specific changes to Azure AD using delta sync?
Yes, you can use filtering options in Azure AD Connect to specify which changes should be synced to Azure AD.