AD Connect Server 2019 is a solution designed to synchronize your on-premises Active Directory (AD or AWS Managed Active Directory with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD. This synchronization enables a unified identity for users across platforms such as Office 365, Azure, and various SaaS applications integrated with Azure AD. By bridging on-premises and cloud directories, AD Connect Server 2019 facilitates seamless user authentication and access management. Key Features and Functionality: - Single Sign-On (SSO: Integrates with Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS to provide SSO capabilities for Office 365 users, supporting methods like password hash synchronization, pass-through authentication, and federation with ADFS or PingFederate. - Flexible Synchronization Options: Offers filtering based on domains, organizational units (OUs, or attributes, allowing precise control over which objects are synchronized. - Password Hash Synchronization: Ensures that password hashes from the on-premises AD are synchronized to Azure AD, enabling users to maintain the same password across both environments while managing it in a single location. - Password Writeback: Allows users to change or reset their passwords in the cloud, with changes written back to the on-premises AD, ensuring consistent password policies. - Device Writeback: Enables devices registered in Azure AD to be written back to the on-premises AD, supporting conditional access scenarios. - Accidental Deletion Prevention: Includes safeguards to protect the cloud directory from unintended mass deletions by limiting the number of deletions per synchronization run. Primary Value and User Solutions: AD Connect Server 2019 addresses the challenge of managing identities across hybrid environments by providing a cohesive synchronization between on-premises AD and Azure AD. This integration allows organizations to: - Enhance User Experience: Users benefit from a consistent identity and seamless access to both on-premises and cloud-based applications, reducing the need for multiple credentials. - Simplify IT Management: IT administrators can manage user identities and access policies centrally, streamlining operations and reducing administrative overhead. - Strengthen Security: By enforcing consistent password policies and enabling features like password and device writeback, organizations can maintain robust security postures across their hybrid environments. In summary, AD Connect Server 2019 serves as a vital tool for organizations seeking to unify and streamline identity management across on-premises and cloud platforms, enhancing both operational efficiency and security.