If you have Office 365 synching your on premise Active Directory is important?   

As we blast into the tech future year to year, the cloud software and connectivty is going to continue to grow.   Ensureing that you have continuity to the cloud is important as you may migrate into it each year.  Setting up the local Active Directory to synch with Microsoft Office 365 gives you a strong advantage that when you remote on premise severs, your business day will not be disrupted with an shutdown of an AD Server.

Synchronizing your local Active Directory (AD) with Office 365 offers several key benefits including the streamlining of IT operations and enhance user experience.

Benefits includes:

Single Sign-On: Users can access both on-premises and cloud resources with a single set of credentials, reducing the need to remember multiple passwords.

Centralized Management: User accounts, groups, and policies can be managed centrally in your local AD, and changes are automatically synchronized to Office 365. This simplifies administration and ensures consistency.

Improved Security: Synchronization can include password policies and multi-factor authentication, enhancing overall security.

Seamless User Experience: Users experience a seamless transition between on-premises and cloud services, improving productivity and reducing support calls.

 

Office 365 has many upgraded and advanced security features that are well improved from an on premise Active Directory server.

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):
MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to verify their identity through multiple methods1.
Block Legacy Authentication Protocols:
Legacy authentication protocols are more vulnerable to attacks. Disabling them helps prevent unauthorized access1.
Use Conditional Access Policies:
Implement policies that require specific conditions to be met before granting access, such as location or device compliance1.
Regularly Review and Update Security Settings:
Periodically review your security settings and update them as needed to address new threats1.
Limit Admin Access:
Restrict administrative privileges to only those who need them and use separate accounts for administrative tasks1.
Monitor and Audit Activities:
Regularly monitor and audit user activities to detect and respond to suspicious behavior promptly2.
Implement Security Defaults:
Use Azure Active Directory’s security defaults to enforce baseline security settings across your organization1.