AZ-800 Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure Exam

Enable and Manage Staged Rollout in Azure AD Connect

The staged rollout feature in Azure AD Connect lets you move from a federated identity provider to managed authentication in Microsoft Entra ID in a controlled way. You can pilot synchronization and authentication changes with a small group of users before applying them to your entire organization. This approach reduces the risk of widespread issues by allowing you to catch and fix problems early. It also gives your IT team time to adjust settings based on real-world feedback during the pilot phase.

To configure staged rollout, follow these key configuration steps:

• Sign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center with your administrator credentials.
• Search for Microsoft Entra Connect and go to the staged rollout section.
• Select Enable Staged Rollout for managed user sign-in and toggle On the certificate-based authentication option.
• Add user groups to the pilot, keeping each group under 200 members to avoid time-outs.

During the pilot, it’s crucial to monitor and adjust based on real-time data. Use these tools to track progress:

• Synchronization Logs: Show the status of each sync cycle, including errors and warnings.
• Azure AD Sign-in Reports: Provide insights into sign-in patterns, failure rates, and user behavior.
  By reviewing telemetry, you can refine configuration parameters, improve performance, and enhance the overall user experience before moving to full deployment.

The staged rollout offers several benefits and considerations to keep in mind:

• Benefits:
  • Controlled Deployment: Gradually roll out changes to limit impact.
  • Improved Reliability: Identify and fix issues in a smaller environment.
• Considerations:
  • Choose pilot groups wisely so they represent a variety of user roles.
  • Keep privileged accounts as cloud-only to reduce exposure from on-premises compromises.

Once pilot testing is successful, complete the transition with these final steps:

• Convert domains from federated to managed authentication in Microsoft Entra ID.
• Continue monitoring sync health and sign-in activity during the full rollout.
• Disable the staged rollout feature to finalize the deployment and streamline your environment.

Conclusion

Staged rollout in Azure AD Connect provides a controlled path to switch from federated to managed authentication by piloting changes with a small user set. Through careful configuration, ongoing monitoring, and timely adjustments, you can ensure a smooth transition. By following best practices for group selection, telemetry review, and final deployment steps, you minimize risk and deliver a reliable authentication experience for your organization.