Configure Azure backsync automatically
Configuring Sync Workflow to back-synchronize Azure AD Objects to Active Roles automatically using the Active Roles Synchronization Service Console
Pre-requisites to configure the back-synchronization:
- The hybrid environment must have Azure AD Connect installed and configured.
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The user account used to perform back sync configuration must have the following privileges:
- User Administrator
- Privileged Role Administrator
- Exchange Administrator
- Application Administrator
- The Windows Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) module version 2.0.0.131 or later must be installed for the backsync feature to work successfully.
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Directory Writers Role must be enabled in Azure Active Directory. To enable the role use the following script:
$psCred=Get-Credential
Connect-AzureAD -Credential $psCred
$roleTemplate = Get-AzureADDirectoryRoleTemplate | ? { $_.DisplayName -eq "Directory Writers" }
# Enable an instance of the DirectoryRole template
Enable-AzureADDirectoryRole -RoleTemplateId $roleTemplate.ObjectId
- For the back-synchronization to work as expected, the user in ARS must have write permissions for edsvaAzureOffice365Enabled, edsaAzureContactObjectId and edsvaAzureObjectID. The user must also have a local administrator privileges where the ARS synchronization service is running.
To configure Azure backsync in Active Roles Synchronization Service
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In the upper right corner of the Synchronization Service Administration Console, select Settings | Configure Azure BackSync.
The Configure BackSync operation in Azure with on-premises Active Directory objects dialog box is displayed.
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In the dialog box that opens:
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Enter the Azure domain valid Account ID credentials, and click Test Office 365 Connection.
- Specify whether you want to use a proxy server for the connection. You can select one of the following options:
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Use WinHTTP settings: Causes the connector to use the proxy server settings configured for Windows HTTP Services (WinHTTP).
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Automatically detect: Automatically detects and uses proxy server settings.
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Do not use proxy settings: Specifies to not use proxy server for the connection.
On successful validation, the success message that the Office 365 Connection settings are valid is displayed.
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Enter the valid Active Roles account details and click Test Active Roles Connection.
On successful validation the success message that the Active Roles connection settings are valid is displayed.
- Click Configure BackSync.
The Azure App registration is done automatically. The required connections, mappings, and workflow steps are created automatically.
On successful configuration the success message is displayed.
If the Azure BackSync settings are already configured in the system, a warning message is displayed to confirm if you want to override the existing backsync settings with the new settings. If yes, click Override BackSync Settings. Else, click Cancel to retain the existing settings.
Configuring Sync Workflow to back-synchronize manually
Configuring Sync Workflow to back-synchronize Azure AD Objects to Active Roles manually
Prerequisites to configure the back-synchronization manually:
- The hybrid environment must have Azure AD Connect installed and configured.
- Synchronization Service Component must be installed and configured for Active Roles.
- Azure AD configuration and the Administrator Consent for Azure AD application through web interface must be complete.
- Azure AD built-in policy must be enforced for the container where the back-synchronization is performed.
- For the back-synchronization to work as expected, the user in ARS must have write permissions for edsvaAzureOffice365Enabled, edsaAzureContactObjectId, edsvaAzureObjectID, and edsvaAzureAssociatedTenantId. The user must also have a local administrator privileges where the ARS synchronization service is running.
To configure sync workflow to back-synchronize users and groups perform the following steps:
Step 1: Create Connection to Azure AD in the hybrid environment
Create a connection to Azure AD using the Azure AD Connector. The configuration requires the Azure domain name, the Client ID of an application in Azure AD, and the Client Key to establish the connection with Azure AD.
To configure an application:
- Create an Azure Web application (or use any relevant existing Azure Web Application) under the tenant of your Windows Azure Active Directory environment.
The application must have "Application Permissions" to "read" and "write" directory data in Windows Azure Active Directory.
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NOTE: Alternatively, to assign the required permissions to the application by running a Windows PowerShell script, see the Creating a Windows Azure Active Directory connection section in the Synchronization Service Administration Console. |
- Open the application properties and copy the following:
- Client ID
- Valid key of the application
- You need to supply the copied client ID and key when creating a new or modifying an existing connection to Windows Azure Active Directory in the Synchronization Service Administration Console.
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NOTE: The Web Application that is created or is already available for Sync Service Azure AD Connector, is different from the application that is created while configuring Azure AD using Active Roles Web interface. Both the applications must be available for performing back-sync operations. |
Step 2: Create Connection to Active Roles in the hybrid environment
Create a connection to Active Roles using the Active Roles Connector. The configuration requires the local domain details and Active Roles version used. Define the scope to select the container from which the objects for synchronization must be selected.
Step 3: Create Sync Work flow
Create a Sync Workflow using the Azure AD and Active Roles connections. Add a Synchronization step to Update Azure User/Group to Active Roles User/Group.
Set the edsvaAzureAssociatedTenantId attribute in Active Roles user/group to azure tenant id. If edsvaAzureAssociatedTenantId attribute is not configured , an error is logged in the event viewer for each object.
Configure the Forward Sync Rule to synchronize the following:
Step 4: Create Mapping
Create a Mapping Rule which identifies the user/group in Azure AD and on-premises AD uniquely and map the specified properties from Azure AD to Active Roles appropriately.
For example, the property userprincipalname can be used to map users between on-premises AD and Azure AD in a federated environment.
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NOTE:
- Based on the environment, make sure to create the correct Mapping rule to identify the user or group uniquely. In-correct mapping rule may create duplicate objects and the back-sync operation may not work as expected.
- Initial configuration and execution of back-sync operation for Azure AD users ID is a one-time activity.
- In Federated or Synchronized environments, Azure AD group creation is not supported. The group is created in Active Roles and is synchronized eventually to Azure using Microsoft Native tools, such as AAD Connect. To manage the Azure AD group through Active Roles, you must perform periodic back- synchronization to on-premise AD.
- Sync engine must be configured to synchronize the data back to AD based on the frequency of groups creation.
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Configuring Sync Workflow to back-synchronize AD contacts
To configure sync workflow to back-synchronize contacts perform the following steps:
Step 1: Create Connection to Office 365 in the hybrid environment
Create a connection to Office 365 using the Microsoft Office 365 Connector. The configuration requires Microsoft Online Services ID, Password, Proxy server (if required) and Exchange Online services.
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NOTE: Back synchronization of contacts uses Microsoft Office 365 Connector to establish connection to Office 365. Back synchronization of users and groups uses the Azure AD Connector to establish connection to Azure AD. |
Step 2: Create Connection to Active Roles in the hybrid environment
Create a connection to Active Roles using the Active Roles Connector. The configuration requires the local domain details and Active Roles version used. Define the scope to select the container from which the objects for synchronization must be selected.
Step 3: Create Sync Workflow
Create a Sync Workflow using the Office 365 and Active Roles connections. Add a Synchronization step to Update Office 365 Contacts to Active Roles Contacts. Configure the Forward Sync Rule to synchronize the following:
Step 4: Create Mapping
Create a Mapping Rule, which identifies the contact in Office 365 and on-premises AD uniquely and map the specified properties from Office 365 to Active Roles appropriately.
NOTE:
- Based on the environment, make sure to create the correct Mapping rule to identify the contacts uniquely. In-correct mapping rule may create duplicate objects and the back-sync operation may not work as expected.
- In Federated or Synchronized environments, Office 365 contact creation is not supported. The contact is created in Active Roles and is synchronized eventu- ally to Office 365 using Microsoft Native tools, such as AAD Connect. To manage the Office 365 contact through Active Roles, you must perform periodic back-synchronization to on-premise AD.
Changes to Azure O365 Policies in Active Roles after 7.4.1
Active Roles 7.4.3 introduces support for Azure Multi tenant model. Multiple tenants can be configured on the Web Interface. Using this feature, the Azure objects from multiple tenants can be managed from the web interface.
The previous custom policies related to Azure Roles and licenses, and OneDrive are not valid and the policy evaluation is skipped after an import or upgrade. Active Roles 7.4.3 introduces a new Azure/Office 365 Tenant Management policy that encompasses all the previous Azure related policies such as Azure Roles and Licenses, and OneDrive policies. Configure the latest Azure/Office 365 Tenant Selection policies to proceed further. The Web Interface notifies the user if any older policies are applied on the OU. Deprovisioning policy for Azure license retention is invalid and must be created again and applied. For more information on the new policy, see Office 365 and Azure Tenant Selection.