check before: 2025-09-30
Product:
Entra, Microsoft 365 admin center, Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft Graph
Platform:
Developer, Online, US Instances, World tenant
Status:
Change type:
Admin impact, New feature, Updated message, User impact
Links:
Details:
Summary:
Microsoft Entra's cross-cloud synchronization, in public preview and opt-in, automates user lifecycle management across Microsoft commercial, US Government, and China clouds. General availability is late September to early October 2025. It requires specific licenses, admin enablement, and supports configuration via portal, PowerShell, and API.
Details:
Updated October 2, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
Introduction
We're introducing cross-cloud synchronization in Microsoft Entra to help organizations streamline user lifecycle management across Microsoft's commercial, US Government, and China cloud environments. This feature automates creating, updating, and deleting users across supported cloud pairs and is currently in public preview. It is off by default and must be explicitly enabled by administrators.
When this will happen
General availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCCH, DoD): The capability is currently in public preview and will be rolled out to general availability between late September 2025 (previously early September) and early October 2025 (previously mid-October).
Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
Created:
2025-07-30
updated:
2025-10-02
Task Type
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Docu to Check
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MS How does it affect me
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MS Preperations
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MS Urgency
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MS workload name
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summary for non-techies**
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Direct effects for Operations**
User Lifecycle Management Disruption
Without proper preparation, enabling cross-cloud synchronization may lead to unintended user account creations, updates, or deletions, causing confusion and access issues for users.
- roles: IT Administrators, End Users
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/identity/app-provisioning/known-issues?pivots=cross-tenant-synchronization" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/identity/app-provisioning/known-issues?pivots=cross-tenant-synchronization, https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/identity/multi-tenant-organizations/cross-tenant-synchronization-configure?pivots=cross-cloud-synchronization
Licensing Compliance Issues
If the necessary licenses are not in place before enabling the feature, organizations may face compliance issues and potential service disruptions.
- roles: Compliance Officers, IT Administrators
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/identity/multi-tenant-organizations/cross-tenant-synchronization-configure?pivots=cross-cloud-synchronization
Increased Administrative Overhead
Enabling cross-cloud synchronization without adequate preparation may lead to increased administrative tasks to manage user accounts and resolve issues arising from synchronization errors.
- roles: IT Administrators, Support Staff
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/identity/app-provisioning/known-issues?pivots=cross-tenant-synchronization" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/identity/app-provisioning/known-issues?pivots=cross-tenant-synchronization
Configutation Options**
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Opportunities**
Streamlined User Lifecycle Management
Cross-cloud synchronization allows for automated user lifecycle management across multiple Microsoft cloud environments, which can significantly reduce manual administrative tasks and errors associated with user provisioning and de-provisioning.
- next-steps: Assess current user management processes and identify potential areas for automation using cross-cloud synchronization. Develop a plan to implement the feature once it becomes generally available.
- roles: IT Administrators, HR Managers, Compliance Officers
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/identity/app-provisioning/known-issues?pivots=cross-tenant-synchronization, https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/identity/multi-tenant-organizations/cross-tenant-synchronization-configure?pivots=cross-cloud-synchronization
Enhanced Security and Compliance Monitoring
With provisioning and audit logs provided by Microsoft Entra, organizations can enhance their security posture by closely monitoring user activities across cloud environments, ensuring compliance with internal policies and regulations.
- next-steps: Review current security monitoring tools and processes. Plan integration of Entra's audit logs into existing monitoring systems for improved visibility and compliance tracking.
- roles: Security Officers, Compliance Officers, IT Administrators
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/identity/app-provisioning/known-issues?pivots=cross-tenant-synchronization, https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/identity/multi-tenant-organizations/cross-tenant-synchronization-configure?pivots=cross-cloud-synchronization
Optimized Resource Allocation
By automating user management across clouds, organizations can optimize resource allocation, ensuring that licenses and user accounts are effectively managed without unnecessary duplication or overspending.
- next-steps: Conduct a license usage audit to identify current license allocations and potential savings. Prepare a strategy to leverage cross-cloud synchronization for better license management.
- roles: Finance Managers, IT Administrators, Operations Managers
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/identity/app-provisioning/known-issues?pivots=cross-tenant-synchronization, https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/identity/multi-tenant-organizations/cross-tenant-synchronization-configure?pivots=cross-cloud-synchronization
Potentional Risks**
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Data Protection**
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IT Security**
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Hypothetical Work Council Statement**
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DPIA Draft**
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explanation for non-techies**
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** AI generated content. This information must be reviewed before use.
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change history
| Date | Property | old | new |
| 2025-10-02 | MC Messages | Updated September 12, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
Introduction We're introducing cross-cloud synchronization in Microsoft Entra to help organizations streamline user lifecycle management across Microsoft's commercial, US Government, and China cloud environments. This feature automates creating, updating, and deleting users across supported cloud pairs and is currently in public preview. It is off by default and must be explicitly enabled by administrators. When this will happen General availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCCH, DoD): The capability is currently in public preview and will be rolled out to general availability between late September 2025 (previously early September) and mid-October 2025 (previously mid-September). | Updated October 2, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
Introduction We're introducing cross-cloud synchronization in Microsoft Entra to help organizations streamline user lifecycle management across Microsoft's commercial, US Government, and China cloud environments. This feature automates creating, updating, and deleting users across supported cloud pairs and is currently in public preview. It is off by default and must be explicitly enabled by administrators. When this will happen General availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCCH, DoD): The capability is currently in public preview and will be rolled out to general availability between late September 2025 (previously early September) and early October 2025 (previously mid-October). |
| 2025-10-02 | MC Last Updated | 09/12/2025 19:03:16 | 2025-10-02T18:33:30Z |
| 2025-10-02 | MC Summary | Microsoft Entra introduces cross-cloud synchronization in public preview, enabling automated user lifecycle management across Microsoft commercial, US Government, and China clouds. It is opt-in, requires specific licenses, admin enablement, and supports configuration via the Entra portal, PowerShell, and Microsoft Graph API. General availability is late September to mid-October 2025. | Microsoft Entra's cross-cloud synchronization, in public preview and opt-in, automates user lifecycle management across Microsoft commercial, US Government, and China clouds. General availability is late September to early October 2025. It requires specific licenses, admin enablement, and supports configuration via portal, PowerShell, and API. |
| 2025-09-13 | MC MessageTagNames | New feature, User impact, Admin impact | Updated message, New feature, User impact, Admin impact |
| 2025-09-13 | MC Summary | Microsoft Entra introduces cross-cloud synchronization in public preview, enabling automated user lifecycle management across Microsoft commercial, US Government, and China clouds. It is off by default, requires explicit admin enablement, a Microsoft Entra ID Governance license, and supports configuration via portal, PowerShell, and Graph API. | Microsoft Entra introduces cross-cloud synchronization in public preview, enabling automated user lifecycle management across Microsoft commercial, US Government, and China clouds. It is opt-in, requires specific licenses, admin enablement, and supports configuration via the Entra portal, PowerShell, and Microsoft Graph API. General availability is late September to mid-October 2025. |
| 2025-09-13 | MC Last Updated | 07/30/2025 01:59:11 | 2025-09-12T19:03:16Z |
| 2025-09-13 | MC Messages | Introduction
We're introducing cross-cloud synchronization in Microsoft Entra to help organizations streamline user lifecycle management across Microsoft's commercial, US Government, and China cloud environments. This feature automates creating, updating, and deleting users across supported cloud pairs and is currently in public preview. It is off by default and must be explicitly enabled by administrators. When this will happen General availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCCH, DoD): The capability is currently in public preview and will be rolled out to general availability between early September and mid-September 2025. | Updated September 12, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
Introduction We're introducing cross-cloud synchronization in Microsoft Entra to help organizations streamline user lifecycle management across Microsoft's commercial, US Government, and China cloud environments. This feature automates creating, updating, and deleting users across supported cloud pairs and is currently in public preview. It is off by default and must be explicitly enabled by administrators. When this will happen General availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCCH, DoD): The capability is currently in public preview and will be rolled out to general availability between late September 2025 (previously early September) and mid-October 2025 (previously mid-September). |
| 2025-09-13 | MC Title | Microsoft Entra: Cross-cloud synchronization now available | (Updated) Microsoft Entra: Cross-cloud synchronization now available |
| 2025-09-13 | MC End Time | 10/12/2025 09:00:00 | 2025-11-24T08:00:00Z |
Last updated 1 week ago ago
