Microsoft Entra Connect Custom Sync Rules

This document covers how to create custom sync rules for Microsoft-Entra-Connect. This can be useful to sync specific fields from Active Directory to Entra ID

Prerequisites

Administrative access to the server with Azure AD Sync installed

Process

Syncing the Account’s Department Field to Exchange

This is useful when you want to create dynamic distribution groups based on a user’s department

1. Log into the server with Azure AD Sync installed

2. Open Synchronization Rules Editor

3. Click “Add a Rule”

   1. Fill in the details on the General page
      • Name: Sync Department to CustomAttribute1
      • Description: Set according to your standards, such as a reference to a help ticket number
      • Connected System: the local domain
      • Connected System Object Type: User
      • Metaverse Object Type: Person
      • Link Type: Join
      • Precedence: 50 or the next number up, if 50 is taken
   2. Proceed to the Transformations Page
   3. Click Add Transformation
      • FlowType: Direct
      • Target Attribute: ExtensionAttribute1
      • Source: Department
      • Leave the other settings as-is

4. Open PowerShell as an admin

5. Run an initial Sync

   Start-ADSyncSyncCycle -PolicyType Initial

You can now create or edit rules based on departments by using the CustomAttribute1 field in Exchange Online