Microsoft Entra Connect: Complete Guide, Version History, and Latest Updates (September 2025)

Microsoft Entra Connect is a critical identity synchronization and hybrid identity management tool that helps organizations integrate their on-premises Active Directory (AD) with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD). Whether you are running a hybrid environment or planning a cloud migration strategy, Entra Connect ensures seamless user identity synchronization, password hash sync, and secure single sign-on (SSO) capabilities.

In this blog, we will explore:

What Microsoft Entra Connect is and why it’s important
Key features and benefits
Version release history with the latest 2.5.79.0 update (September 2025)
New improvements, bug fixes, and security enhancements
Best practices for upgrading and managing Entra Connect

What is Microsoft Entra Connect?

Microsoft Entra Connect (previously called Azure AD Connect) is a synchronization tool that enables organizations to:

Sync on-premises Active Directory users, groups, and devices with Microsoft Entra ID.
Enable hybrid identity by allowing users to access both cloud and on-prem applications with a single identity.
Support authentication methods such as Password Hash Synchronization (PHS), Pass-through Authentication (PTA), and Federation with Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS).
Ensure secure certificate-based authentication and API-based app authentication.

This makes Entra Connect the backbone of hybrid identity management in enterprise environments.

Key Benefits of Microsoft Entra Connect

Seamless Identity Synchronization – Keep user accounts, attributes, and passwords in sync between on-prem AD and Entra ID.
Hybrid Identity Support – Provide a consistent login experience across on-prem and cloud applications.
Security Compliance – Use FIPS-compliant cryptographic algorithms, TPM-based certificates, and auto-rotating authentication certificates.
Automatic Upgrade – Entra Connect updates itself to the latest stable version, minimizing manual upgrade efforts.
High Availability – Supports staging mode for disaster recovery and rollback scenarios.

Microsoft Entra Connect 2.5.79.0 (Released September 1, 2025)

Release Date: September 1, 2025
Auto-upgrade Rollout: Begins September 4, 2025 (phased rollout)
Release Status: Available in Microsoft Entra Admin Center

✅ Added Features

Improved TPM-Backed Certificate Handling
- During Application-Based Authentication setup, Entra Connect now validates TPM-backed certificates (Trusted Platform Module).
- If TPM signing fails, it automatically falls back to software-based certificates.
- Ensures smooth authentication setup without manual intervention.
Automatic Removal of Failed Certificates
- If an Application-Based Authentication setup fails after generating a certificate, the unused certificate is now automatically removed.
- Prevents security risks caused by orphaned certificates.

Bug Fixes

FIPS-Enabled Server Compatibility

Fixed setup failures in environments where FIPS mode is enforced.
Entra Connect now uses FIPS-compliant cryptographic algorithms, ensuring compatibility in strict compliance environments.

Tip: FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) is a Windows security setting enforcing strong cryptography.

Certificate Auto-Rotation Reporting Fix

Previously, certificate auto-rotation was incorrectly shown as active even when the scheduler was suspended.
Now, the View/Export Current Configuration Wizard reflects accurate status.

Audit Log Improvements

Removed unnecessary admin audit events generated during automatic certificate operations.
Admin audit logs now only show actual administrator-initiated actions, making audit trails cleaner and more reliable.

Why You Should Upgrade to the Latest Entra Connect Version

Upgrading to the latest Entra Connect build (2.5.79.0) ensures:

Better Security – Automatic cleanup of failed certificates reduces attack surfaces.
Improved Stability – FIPS mode compatibility and scheduler-aware reporting prevent configuration errors.
Smarter Automation – TPM-based certificate handling eliminates manual troubleshooting.
Cleaner Audit Logs – Focused audit trails make compliance reporting easier.

Pro Tip: Always test new versions in a staging environment before upgrading production servers.

Best Practices for Microsoft Entra Connect Management

Enable Automatic Upgrade – Ensure you’re always on the latest version with critical security patches.
Monitor Sync Health – Use the Microsoft Entra Connect Health portal to monitor sync activity and troubleshoot issues.
Plan for Redundancy – Configure a staging server for high availability.
Review Audit Logs – Regularly review synchronization logs to detect suspicious activities.
Update Authentication Certificates – Verify that auto-rotation is enabled and monitored.

Conclusion

Microsoft Entra Connect continues to be the foundation of hybrid identity by securely synchronizing identities between on-premises AD and Microsoft Entra ID.

The September 2025 (2.5.79.0 release) introduces improved TPM-backed authentication, automatic certificate cleanup, FIPS compliance fixes, and better reporting—ensuring organizations achieve higher security, smoother operations, and easier compliance management.

By keeping your Entra Connect deployment updated, you future-proof your hybrid identity strategy and maintain seamless access across cloud and on-premises environments.