If you are an IT admin managing a hybrid Microsoft environment, 2026 is the year you cannot afford to look away from Microsoft Entra ID. Microsoft is actively retiring on-premises identity tooling, enforcing new security baselines, and pushing organizations firmly toward cloud-native identity management. This post is the first in a series covering everything you need to know — starting with the biggest infrastructure change: the end of Microsoft Entra Connect Sync.
Microsoft is transitioning from Microsoft Entra Connect Sync to the cloud-native Entra Cloud Sync to simplify hybrid identity management and strengthen Zero Trust security, reducing on-premises complexity while improving reliability, security, and day-to-day operations. This is arguably the most impactful change for enterprise IT admins — if you're still running Connect Sync, your migration window notification will arrive via M365 Message Center starting July 2026. Microsoft Community Hub
Upcoming Change - Migrate from Microsoft Entra Connect Sync to Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync
Type: Plan for change
Service category: Entra Connect
Product capability: Entra Connect
As organizations look to strengthen identity security and advance their Zero Trust strategies, many are looking for simpler, more reliable ways to manage hybrid identity. To support these needs, we’re beginning the transition from Microsoft Entra Connect Sync to the cloud‑native Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync - helping reduce on‑premises complexity while improving security, reliability, and day‑to‑day manageability.
This shift is a key step toward a cloud-managed identity future that will provide a more secure, resilient, and easier-to-operate synchronization experience. As part of ongoing modernization efforts, Microsoft’s strategy remains to deliver stronger security, improved reliability, and simpler identity operations.
What's next
Beginning in July 2026, we will begin notifying customers through the M365 Message Center, Entra Connect Health, and targeted emails about their individual transition timelines. The transition will be rolled out in phases, and we will reach out directly to each organization when their assigned transition window begins. This phased approach ensures that we can provide tailored guidance and support to all our customers.
Initial phases: In the first waves, we will focus on tenants for whom Entra Cloud Sync already meets all their identity synchronization needs. If your organization relies on advanced features or has a large directory, you will not be among the initial targeted groups. We will prioritize early transitions for customers with straightforward configurations that are fully supported by Entra Cloud Sync’s current capabilities.
Subsequent phases: As Entra Cloud Sync’s capabilities expand, we will progressively notify the later groups and ensure they can transition successfully once equivalent support is available in Entra Cloud Sync
We are committed to supporting you by providing tooling and documentation for the transition to Entra Cloud Sync.
What's changing
Once your organization is notified of its assigned transition window, you will receive detailed guidance and resources to help you begin the move to Entra Cloud Sync. During this period:
You will need to review your current configuration, assess readiness, and familiarize yourself with Cloud Sync’s capabilities.
You will gain access to the transition tool and step-by-step documentation to support a smooth transition.
You will move and test your synchronization environment in Entra Cloud Sync before any permanent changes are made.
Once your transition to Entra Cloud Sync is successfully completed:
- Entra Cloud Sync will be the primary mechanism for identity synchronization capabilities between Active Directory and Entra ID, replacing the identity sync functionality in Entra Connect tool.
What's not changing
Once you migrate to Cloud Sync, your hybrid authentication features that enable on‑premises credentials to be used for accessing cloud resources will continue to be available after migration on the Connect Sync config wizard.
What should you do right now?
If your organisation is still running Microsoft Entra Connect Sync, here are the three immediate actions to take before your migration window arrives:
- Assess Cloud Sync readiness — Run the Microsoft readiness assessment tool to check if your current configuration is supported by Entra Cloud Sync. Organisations with advanced features or large directories will not be in the first migration wave, but it is never too early to know your gap.
- Watch your M365 Message Center — Starting July 2026, Microsoft will notify each organisation individually with their assigned transition window. Make sure your admin notification email is current and someone is monitoring the Message Center actively.
- Upgrade Entra Connect now — Even before your migration window, upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft Entra Connect and disable hard-match takeover. This protects against SyncJacking attacks independently of when you migrate.
This is Part 1 of a series on Microsoft Entra ID changes in 2026. Coming next: SyncJacking — what it is, how the attack works, and how to fully harden your hybrid environment against it.
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