How to Migrate from On-Prem Active Directory to Entra ID
Migrating from Active Directory to Entra ID follows a staged sequence: establish hybrid identity with Entra Connect, move workloads that depend on AD (file shares, printing, app authentication) to cloud equivalents, migrate devices from domain-join to Entra-join, and only then retire domain controllers. The single most important principle: hybrid is a transition state, not a destination — organizations that stall there carry the cost and attack surface of both worlds.
- Phase 1: Entra Connect sync — one identity, cloud authentication enabled
- Phase 2: dependency drain — file servers to SharePoint/Azure Files, GPOs to Intune, LDAP apps to modern auth
- Phase 3: device cutover — Entra-joined machines, Autopilot for new hardware
- Phase 4: domain controller retirement with a verified rollback window
- The blockers that are real: legacy LOB apps with hardcoded LDAP/Kerberos — identified in discovery, not at cutover
The full article breaks down each phase with realistic timelines for a 25-user vs 100-user organization, the pre-flight checklist we run before any cutover, and the three dependencies that most often surprise organizations mid-migration.
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