Recommend a solution for authorizing access to on-premises resources
5 minutes
5 Questions
When designing a solution for authorizing access to on-premises resources in a hybrid Azure environment, several key components must be considered. Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) serves as the foundation for identity management, enabling seamless integration between cloud and on-premises systems…When designing a solution for authorizing access to on-premises resources in a hybrid Azure environment, several key components must be considered. Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) serves as the foundation for identity management, enabling seamless integration between cloud and on-premises systems. For authorizing access to on-premises resources, the recommended solution involves implementing Azure AD Connect to synchronize identities between on-premises Active Directory and Azure AD. This creates a unified identity platform where users maintain consistent credentials across both environments. Password Hash Synchronization or Pass-through Authentication should be configured based on security requirements. For enhanced security, Azure AD Application Proxy provides a robust solution for publishing on-premises web applications to external users. This eliminates the need for VPN connections while maintaining secure access through Azure AD authentication and conditional access policies. Implementing Azure AD Conditional Access policies ensures that access requests are evaluated based on user identity, device compliance, location, and risk level before granting authorization to on-premises resources. For privileged access scenarios, Azure AD Privileged Identity Management (PIM) should be deployed to provide just-in-time administrative access with approval workflows and audit trails. Hybrid Azure AD Join allows devices to be registered in both on-premises AD and Azure AD, enabling single sign-on experiences and device-based conditional access policies. For applications using Kerberos authentication, Azure AD Kerberos enables cloud-based authentication to on-premises resources through Azure AD. Network connectivity should be established using Azure ExpressRoute or Site-to-Site VPN to ensure secure communication between Azure services and on-premises infrastructure. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) should be implemented consistently across both environments to maintain a unified authorization model. Regular access reviews using Azure AD Access Reviews help ensure that permissions remain appropriate over time.
Recommend a Solution for Authorizing Access to On-Premises Resources
Why This Is Important
In hybrid cloud environments, organizations must ensure that users and applications can securely access on-premises resources while maintaining centralized identity management. Understanding how to recommend appropriate authorization solutions is critical for the AZ-305 exam and real-world Azure architecture scenarios.
What Is On-Premises Authorization?
On-premises authorization refers to the mechanisms and solutions that control access to resources located within an organization's local data centers or private networks. When integrating with Azure, this involves extending cloud identity services to traditional infrastructure.
Key Solutions for On-Premises Authorization
1. Azure AD Connect - Synchronizes on-premises Active Directory with Azure AD - Enables Password Hash Synchronization (PHS), Pass-through Authentication (PTA), or Federation - Provides seamless single sign-on (SSO) experience
2. Azure AD Application Proxy - Publishes on-premises web applications to external users - Provides secure remote access with conditional access policies - No VPN or inbound firewall changes required
3. Azure AD Domain Services (Azure AD DS) - Provides managed domain services like LDAP, Kerberos, and NTLM - Enables legacy applications to authenticate using domain credentials - No need to manage domain controllers
4. Self-Hosted Integration Runtime - Connects Azure Data Factory or Synapse to on-premises data sources - Enables secure data movement between cloud and on-premises
5. VPN Gateway or ExpressRoute - Establishes secure network connectivity between Azure and on-premises - Required for many hybrid authorization scenarios
How It Works
The typical flow involves: 1. User authenticates against Azure AD 2. Azure AD validates credentials (possibly synced from on-premises AD) 3. Authorization tokens are issued based on group memberships and roles 4. On-premises resources accept these tokens through configured trust relationships 5. Access is granted based on authorization policies
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on This Topic
Scenario Recognition: - Legacy LDAP/Kerberos apps → Consider Azure AD DS - Web applications needing external access → Azure AD Application Proxy - Hybrid identity synchronization → Azure AD Connect - Conditional Access requirements → Azure AD with Application Proxy
Key Decision Factors: - Does the solution require VPN? Application Proxy does not - Is it a legacy app requiring LDAP? Use Azure AD DS - Do users need SSO? Consider PHS with Seamless SSO - Is federation with existing ADFS needed? Choose Federation option
Common Exam Traps: - Don't confuse Azure AD DS with traditional AD DS - Application Proxy is for web apps, not for all application types - Pass-through Authentication validates passwords on-premises in real-time - Password Hash Sync stores password hashes in Azure AD
Remember These Points: - Azure AD Application Proxy requires a connector installed on-premises - Azure AD DS is a managed service requiring no domain controller management - ExpressRoute provides private connectivity but is more expensive than VPN - Conditional Access policies enhance security for all these solutions
Quick Reference Table
| Requirement | Recommended Solution | |-------------|---------------------| | External access to web apps | Azure AD Application Proxy | | LDAP/Kerberos authentication | Azure AD DS | | Identity synchronization | Azure AD Connect | | Secure network tunnel | VPN Gateway or ExpressRoute |