AZ-800 Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure Exam

Configure and Synchronize Hybrid Identity Components

Integrating Microsoft Entra ID, Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), and Microsoft Entra Domain Services creates a unified hybrid identity solution. This integration ensures consistent authentication and policy enforcement whether resources run on‐premises or in Azure. By connecting these systems, organizations can maintain a single set of credentials and access controls across environments. Overall, a well‐configured hybrid identity reduces administrative overhead and enhances security.

To synchronize on‐premises identities with the cloud, deploy Azure AD Connect. This tool imports user accounts, group memberships, and password hashes from AD DS into Microsoft Entra ID. Common hybrid identity deployment methods include:

• Site-to-site VPN connections connecting Azure workloads with on-premises AD DS
• Replica domain controllers hosted on Azure VMs for on-premises synchronization
• Standalone AD DS environments on Azure VMs without on-premises ties

Enabling Azure AD Domain Services then provides managed domain features such as domain join, LDAP, and Kerberos/NTLM authentication. After provisioning, validate that authentication flows work by joining a test VM to the managed domain and signing in with cloud-synchronized credentials. Next, confirm that legacy applications can query directory data and authenticate via LDAPS or Kerberos.

Maintaining group policy consistency is crucial for smooth operations. You can create and link Group Policy Objects (GPOs) within Azure AD DS just like on-premises AD DS. Use the Group Policy Management console to verify that GPOs apply correctly to both on‐premises and cloud-joined machines. Testing policy changes on a pilot group helps catch issues before widespread deployment.

Managed domains in Microsoft Entra Domain Services offer several benefits:

• Automatic updates and backups remove the need to manage domain controllers
• Seamless integration with existing Microsoft Entra tenants reduces complexity
• Support for legacy authentication (LDAP, NTLM, Kerberos) helps migrate old applications

In summary, configuring and synchronizing hybrid identity components streamlines authentication, simplifies policy management, and delivers reliable access across on‐premises and Azure environments.