Migrate/Sever ADConnect

Question

Greetings All, I am in the process of getting rid of our physical servers and moving everything into AAD (Entra). We do not have an on-premise Exchange server but do have an on-premise active directory that does sync with Enta via ADConnect. I'm wondering if its possible to move all users and their mailboxes into Entra only thus bypassing the ADConnect process.

Answer 1

Considering that you already have Entra Connect in place - there is no need to "bypass" it. If you want to configure all currently synchronized users to cloud only users, follow https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/843619/convert-on-prem-ad-connect-synched-users-to-cloud

If mailboxes are hosted elsewhere (e.g., on-premises Exchange or third-party services), you'll need to migrate them:

• Use the Microsoft 365 Exchange Admin Center for mailbox migration (e.g., cutover, staged, or hybrid migration).
• If mailboxes are already in Microsoft 365, no migration is needed—verify they’re properly accessible post-sync removal.

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hth

Marcin

Answer 2

Hi @Shaun Healy ,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A platform!

Based on your description, you can move everything to Entra (Azure Active Directory) without using ADConnect, but there are a few steps and considerations to be aware of:

1. Export all user data from your local Active Directory. This includes user accounts, groups, and any other relevant information.
2. Manually create users in Entra. If you have a large number of users, you can automate this process using PowerShell scripts or the Azure portal.
3. Since you don't have an on-premises Exchange server, you can migrate mailboxes directly to Exchange Online. You can use tools such as the Exchange Online PowerShell module to create mailboxes and migrate data.
4. After successfully migrating and verifying all users and mailboxes, you can disable ADConnect. This will stop synchronization between your on-premises AD and Entra.
5. After ensuring that everything is running smoothly in Entra, you can deactivate your on-premises Active Directory.

Notes: This process requires careful planning and execution to avoid data loss and ensure a smooth transition.

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Please feel free to contact me for any updates. And if this helps, don't forget to mark it as an answer.

Best,

Jake Zhang