Azure AD Connect account usage

Azure AD Connect uses 3 accounts in order to synchronize information from on-premises or Windows Server Active Directory to Azure Active Directory. These accounts are:

• AD DS Connector account: used to read/write information to Windows Server Active Directory

• ADSync service account: used to run the synchronization service and access the SQL database

• Azure AD Connector account: used to write information to Azure AD

In addition to these three accounts used to run Azure AD Connect, you will also need the following additional accounts to install Azure AD Connect. These are:

• Local Administrator account: The administrator who is installing Azure AD Connect and who has local Administrator permissions on the machine.

• AD DS Enterprise Administrator account: Optionally used to create the “AD DS Connector account” above.

• Azure AD Global Administrator account: used to create the Azure AD Connector account and configure Azure AD. 

• SQL SA account (optional): used to create the ADSync database when using the full version of SQL Server. This SQL Server may be local or remote to the Azure AD Connect installation. This account may be the same account as the Enterprise Administrator. Provisioning the database can now be performed out of band by the SQL administrator and then installed by the Azure AD Connect administrator with database owner rights.

Cannot Start Azure ATP or Defender for Identity Services when using gMSA

Description:

You are deploying Azure Advanced Threat Protection (AATP) or Microsoft Defender for Identity (MDI) in your Multi-Domain Single-Forest IT environment. You plan to use gMSA account for the Defender for Identity services account when communicating to Active Directory. 

You have created a new universal group or domain local group and add all of the Domain Controllers in the Forest to that group. You also have created the gMSA account and configured that group to be able to retrieve password and use the gMSA account.

However when you configure MDI to use the gMSA account, the Sensor Services on the Domain Controllers cannot be start.

Resolution:

Make sure you have Restarted the Domain Controllers that you put inside the new universal or domain local group. After the Domain Controller restart, try to login and notice that Azure ATP Sensor Services will be able to start properly. Delayed start is expected for Azure ATP services.

How to Add NT Service\All Services group to Active Directory User Rights Assignment

Description:

You want to use a group Managed Service Account (gMSA) on multiple domain in your forest. You also have Group Policy that managed the User Rights Assignment setting on Active Directory. You need to add NT Service\All Services to those User Rights Assignment policy.

Resolution:

1. Open up Group Policy Manager, and edit the Group Policy. Example is the “Default Domain Controller Policy” if you want to modify the user Rights Assignment at Domain Controllers.
2. Navigate down to “Computer Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > User Rights Assignment”
3. Edit the “Log on as a service” properties and ensure the box next to “Define these policy settings:” is ticked. Click “Add User or Group” and manually type “NT SERVICE\ALL SERVICES” (Do Not Click Browse)
4. Click OK twice
5. Close the Group Policy Manager

Error when Configuring Azure AD Connect - Authorization Manager check failed

Description:

When you configure your Azure AD Connect, you encounter Authorization Manager check failed error message.

It said "An error occurred while retrieving the Active Directory Schema. The error are: AuthorizationManager check failed."

Resolution:

Try to manually installing the Microsoft certificate:

1.  Go to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Azure Active Directory Connect\AdSyncConfig\AdSyncConfig.psm1
2. Right click the file, and open properties
3. Go to 'Digital Signatures' tab and open the details for the certificate
4. Click View certificate
5. Click Install certificate for local machine
6. Manually choose to store certificates at 'Trusted publishers'
7. Click Ok to close the certificate wizard.
8. Go Back to the Azure AD Connect Wizard > Click Previous > and Click Next again.

Error when configuring Azure AD Connect at MSOnline.Format.ps1xml file

Description:

When you configure your Azure AD Connect, you encounter Authorization Manager check failed error message.

It said " Unable to retrieve the Azure Active Directory configuration. Errors occurred while reading the format data file: Microsoft.PowerShell, , C:\Program Files\Microsoft Active Directory Connect\AADPowerShell\MSOnline.Format.ps1xml: The file was skipped because of the following validation exception: AuthorizationManager check failed."

Resolution:

Try to manually installing the Microsoft certificate:

1.  Go to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Azure Active Directory Connect\AADPowerShell\MSonline.Format.ps1xml
2. Right click the file, and open properties
3. Go to 'Digital Signatures' tab and open the details for the certificate
4. Click View certificate
5. Click Install certificate for local machine
6. Manually choose to store certificates at 'Trusted publishers'
7. Click Ok to close the certificate wizard.
8. Go Back to the Azure AD Connect Wizard > Click Previous > and Click Next again.