Microsoft Releases Latest Entra Connect Version Leveraging Modern Authentication Capabilities. What You Need to Know:

Microsoft has released Entra Connect version 2.5.3.0, delivering an important update to how hybrid identity environments authenticate with Microsoft Entra ID. This release shifts authentication away from stored credentials to a more secure, modern, certificate-based method.

Moving Away from Stored Credentials
Historically, Microsoft Entra Connect used a service account with a stored username and password to authenticate to Microsoft Entra ID. These credentials were encrypted and stored locally on the server.

With version 2.5.3.0, Microsoft introduces Application-Based Authentication, which no longer relies on storing user credentials. Instead, it uses a certificate-backed identity tied to a Microsoft Entra-registered application. This shift reduces the attack surface and aligns with zero trust and cloud security best practices.

How the New Model Works
With the default “Managed by Microsoft Entra Connect” configuration (recommended):

• Entra Connect registers a Microsoft Entra application on your behalf.
• A certificate is automatically created and rotated to authenticate synchronization.
• The certificate is stored in the Current User certificate store.
• If a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is available, it is used to secure the private key, adding hardware-level protection.

This managed setup provides streamlined security without requiring additional admin configuration.

Additionally, Microsoft supports advanced customization via:

• Bring Your Own Application (BYOA): Customers can register and manage their own Entra app for authentication.
• Bring Your Own Certificate (BYOC): Organizations can use a certificate of their choosing instead of the auto-managed one.

These options allow for tighter controls in regulated environments or advanced PKI scenarios but require manual setup and lifecycle management.

Manual Upgrade Required
Version 2.5.3.0 is not eligible for automatic upgrade. It must be manually downloaded and installed. Organizations that do not upgrade:

• May no longer receive automatic future updates
• Remain on outdated and less secure authentication models
• Risk hybrid sync disruption or incompatibility in the near future

Upgrading now positions your environment for continued support and enhanced security.

Important note: New versions of Entra Connect Sync are now only available on the Microsoft Entra Connect blade within Microsoft Entra Admin Center and will no longer be released to the Microsoft Download Centre.

Conclusion
Helient strongly recommends customers review their current Microsoft Entra Connect Server versions and manually upgrade to version 2.5.3.0 to adopt Microsoft’s modern authentication framework. Whether you're using the default managed experience or need assistance implementing BYOA/BYOC securely, Helient's hybrid identity experts are here to help. Contact us today at service@helient.com to get started.