The increasing number of hybrid infrastructures, where corporate resources are distributed between on-premises data centers and public clouds, creates significant challenges for identity and access management. Ensuring a seamless user experience and a single point of control for administrators becomes a priority. Microsoft Entra ID serves as a key component of this strategy, allowing the integration of on-premises directories with cloud services, providing centralized management, enhanced security, and optimized access to all company resources.
Identity synchronization: Entra Connect
The foundation for integrating on-premises Active Directory with Microsoft Entra ID is the Entra Connect tool (formerly Azure AD Connect). It ensures the synchronization of users, groups, and contacts between the on-premises directory and cloud-based Entra ID. This allows users to employ single credentials for accessing both internal and cloud applications, such as Microsoft 365, SaaS services, and custom applications integrated with Entra ID. Entra Connect supports various synchronization scenarios, including password hash synchronization (PHS), pass-through authentication (PTA), and federation with Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS).
| Synchronization method | Advantages | Disadvantages | Use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Password Hash Synchronization (PHS) | Simple setup, high availability, independent of on-premises AD | Passwords stored in Entra ID (hashes), does not support Smart Card login | Most organizations requiring simple integration and high availability |
| Pass-through Authentication (PTA) | Passwords not stored in Entra ID, compatible with on-premises password policies | Requires constant availability of on-premises agents, dependent on on-premises AD | Organizations with strict password storage requirements but not wanting federation |
| Federation (AD FS) | Full integration with on-premises AD FS, Smart Card login support, advanced authentication capabilities | Complexity of setup and maintenance, requires its own AD FS infrastructure | Large enterprises with complex authentication requirements already using AD FS |
Access management and security in hybrid environments
Microsoft Entra ID significantly enhances security in hybrid environments through Conditional Access and multi-factor authentication (MFA) features. Conditional Access allows for the creation of flexible policies that define the conditions under which a user can access resources. For example, MFA can be required for access to sensitive data if a user logs in from an unknown device or from outside the corporate network. Entra ID also provides device management tools (Microsoft Intune), allowing the registration and management of both corporate and personal devices, ensuring their compliance with security policies before granting access to resources.
For monitoring and protecting identities in a hybrid environment, Entra ID integrates with Microsoft Defender for Identity, which detects anomalies and attacks on on-premises domain controllers, as well as with Microsoft Sentinel, which aggregates security logs from various sources for centralized threat analysis.
Cloud workplaces and VDI with Entra ID
For modern hybrid work environments, Entra ID is the foundation for implementing cloud workplaces and VDI solutions. Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365, tightly integrated with Entra ID, allow users to securely access personalized virtual desktops and applications from any device and location. Entra ID provides Single Sign-On (SSO) to these cloud workplaces, simplifying authentication and improving the user experience. Management of these workplaces, including policy application and application deployment, is handled via Intune, which uses Entra ID as the identity source.
This integration allows businesses to quickly adapt to changing needs, scaling the number of virtual workplaces without significant capital expenditures on on-premises infrastructure, while maintaining a high level of security and centralized access management.
How SL Global Service addresses this
The SL Global Service team helps Ukrainian businesses effectively implement and optimize Microsoft Entra ID for hybrid environments, ensuring seamless integration of on-premises and cloud resources. SGS engineers begin with a detailed IT audit of the client’s current infrastructure and needs to develop an optimal cloud architecture that includes Entra ID as the central identity management element.
We leverage our expertise with Microsoft Azure (specifically Entra ID, Defender, Sentinel, Intune) to configure Entra Connect, ensuring reliable identity synchronization. We implement comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, including setting up multi-factor authentication (MFA) and Conditional Access policies to protect access to all corporate resources. For this, Microsoft Defender, Microsoft Sentinel, as well as third-party solutions such as CrowdStrike and Cisco XDR, are applied to create multi-layered protection.
In the realm of VDI and cloud workplaces, the SGS team implements Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365, integrating them with Entra ID for centralized user and application management. This allows clients to quickly scale workplaces, providing secure remote access. We also provide 24/7 managed cloud services, including Entra ID monitoring using Azure Monitor and Microsoft Sentinel, to promptly detect and respond to potential threats. Our DevOps approach, which includes Terraform and Azure DevOps, enables the automation of identity infrastructure deployment and management, ensuring consistency and reducing risks.
To ensure effective identity management in a hybrid environment, a clear integration and security strategy is critical. We recommend starting with an assessment of the current identity architecture and developing a roadmap for the phased implementation and optimization of Microsoft Entra ID, engaging experts to ensure system reliability and security.