Entra ID Connect (Azure AD Connect) Staging Mode

Identity management, one of the cornerstones of digital transformation, is an element that increases the efficiency and security of organizations. Microsoft Entra ID Connect (Azure AD Connect), local directories Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is a critical tool that synchronizes with . In this article, Entra ID Connect'of Staging Mode We will discuss in detail what the feature is, what it is used for, and the advantages this mode provides for businesses.

What is Entra ID Connect (Azure AD Connect) Staging Mode?

Staging Mode, Entra ID Connect'of (Azure AD Connect) is a feature set and a secondary one that is ready to effectively take over the primary synchronization duties Entra ID Connect This mode plays an important role in ensuring that synchronization processes continue uninterrupted and secure.

Working Principle of Staging Mode

Staging ModeWorking in Entra ID Connect The server actually works in a “passive” mode and does not apply any changes. Instead, it completes all synchronization operations and keeps the changes ready for the next step. Entra ID Connect In case the server is offline or encounters a problem, Staging ModeThe server in can quickly switch to the “active” role and take over the synchronization operations.

Staging Mode, This mode is particularly advantageous for organizations with large-scale and complex synchronization requirements. It enables testing of synchronization processes, execution of planned maintenance work, and provisioning for redundancy against unexpected outages.

Entra ID Connect (Azure AD Connect) Staging Mode Usage Areas:

  1. High Availability and Disaster Recovery: Staging Modeis vital in high availability and disaster recovery scenarios. Main Entra ID Connect when the instance goes offline for any reason, Staging ModeWe can activate the secondary server in .
  2. Safe Updates and Maintenance: During software updates and system maintenance, Staging ModeExample in main Entra ID Connect It can continue synchronization operations while its instance is being updated or maintained. This prevents service interruptions and ensures continuity.
  3. Synchronization Tests: Before applying new policies or synchronization rules, Staging Modeprovides an ideal environment for pre-testing configurations and changes. This allows changes to be tested safely without affecting the production environment.

Operations Performed While Entra ID Connect (Azure AD Connect) Staging Mode is Active

Entra ID Connect (Azure AD Connect) Staging ModeIn , the server is not performing active synchronization tasks, but is ready to handle all synchronization operations. In this mode, the server performs the following operations:

  1. Import:
    • In Staging Mode Entra ID Connect server, On-Premises Active DirectoryImports objects and their properties from . During this process, the latest states of the objects in the local directory are retrieved and stored in the synchronization engine's database.
  2. Synchronization:
    • Operations are performed on the imported data according to synchronization rules. At this stage, objects Azure ADConversion rules are applied for how to sync to (Entra ID).
    • Relationships and dependencies between objects are resolved, and this data is made available for the next stages of the synchronization process.
  3. Export:
    • In Staging Mode, the Entra ID Connect server does not perform the export. Instead, it “rests” the sync results in a database. If the server is activated, these pending changes are pushed to Azure AD or On-Premises ADis applied to.
    • It, Staging ModeIt allows to act as a security and testing feature so that changes can be evaluated and approved before being implemented into the live environment.

Entra ID Connect (Azure AD Connect) Staging Mode Enable and Disable Process

Staging Mode can be enabled during the Entra ID Connect installation process or when changing the configuration of an Entra ID Connect instance. Enabling this mode adds a layer of redundancy to your organization’s synchronization process and allows testing of updates or changes.

You can activate it in the last step of the initial installation of the Enra ID Connect (Azure AD Connect) server, or you can perform the action afterwards.

In the Ready to Configure step, we can activate Staging Mode with the “Enable staging mode: When selected, synchronization will not export any data to AD to Azure AD” option.

After the installation, we can still perform the relevant operations. Azure AD Connect using your console Staging Mode we can activate or deactivate it.

We open the Azure AD Connect application installed on our server.

We continue with the Configure button.

From the Azure AD Connect application, we come to the “Configure staging mode” step

We log in with our Entra ID account information.

Enable staging modeYou can activate or deactivate it with the e option.

Note: When the Enable Staging Mode option is checked, your server will not perform the Export operation because it is in Staging mode. If you want it to be the primary server and want it to perform Export, the relevant option should not be checked.

We can verify our operations with Powershell.

Import-Module ADSync
Get-ADSyncScheduler

If Staging Mode is not active, “StagingModeEnabled” must be set to False.

Entra ID Connect (Azure AD Connect) Staging Mode is a flexible and reliable solution that addresses the complex identity management needs of modern businesses. This mode is a critical tool for delivering uninterrupted service, managing risks, and ensuring business continuity. With Staging Mode, organizations can seamlessly manage Azure Active Directory integration and thus optimize workflows across digital identities.

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