Microsoft Office 365 Administration Inside Out (Includes Current Book Service), Second Edition

Chapter 4. Directory synchronization basics

Directory structure

Data uniqueness

Understanding directory synchronization

As a new Office 365 administrator, one of the first things you need to understand and implement is directory synchronization. In fact, unless you plan to have only 10 to 20 users in your tenant, directory synchronization, and an understanding of its impact on the entire Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) experience, will be critical to a successful implementation and a continued positive Office 365 experience.

In simplest terms, directory synchronization is the process of duplicating your on-premises Active Directory objects (such as users, groups, and contacts) in Azure AD. It is, however, a bit more complex than that. There ...