Forum Discussion

Brass Contributor

Jun 19, 2025

Solved

Azure AD Join (Entra Join) vs Hybrid Azure AD Join vs Azure AD Registration (Workplace Join)

I still find it hard to understand the differences between Azure AD Join (Entra Join) vs Hybrid Azure AD Join vs Azure AD Registration (Workplace Join).

I know Azure AD Registration (Workplace Join) is supposed to be nest for Personal devices (BYOD) but if you have security as an important part of your business why would you want to allow this? You could end up with a billion random machines in your Entra. What's the benefit of this?

Also, if I have a Hybrid environment and I have booth cloud and on prem apps that do auth via both on prem (for on prem apps linked to AD) and Entra for cloud do I need to be Hybrid Azure AD Joined to support on prem an cloud? Or will a person working from a Azure AD Joined machine still be able to access on prem resources like file servers and any app that uses AD groups for auth, access provisioning etc?

JoseJ
Jan 13, 2026
There are three common ways to migrate Windows devices to Microsoft Entra ID Join:
Traditional Method: Reset Device and Re-Provision using Windows Autopilot (data protected with OneDrive)
This approach wipes and resets the device, then re-provisions it as a cloud-only Entra ID–joined device using Windows Autopilot. To avoid data loss, user files are synced to OneDrive first.
Simple flow
Sync user folders (Desktop, Documents, Pictures) to OneDrive
Add devices to Autopilot and trigger a device reset
Device boots into Windows Autopilot
User signs in using Entra ID credentials
Device auto-configures security policies, applications, and compliance settings
OneDrive restores user files after sign-in
What users experience
New Windows setup experience
Applications reinstall
Settings and preferences reset
Files are restored, but desktop look-and-feel is new
Pros
Clean and secure approach, Microsoft-recommended
Ideal for device refresh or security rebuild
Fully automated provisioning
Limitations
Requires device reset
Limited end-to-end logging/monitoring of the full migration activity (depends on how you implement it)
User downtime typically 1–3 hours
User profile/settings are not preserved
Requires strong OneDrive adoption
2. Manual Method: Leave Domain and Join Entra ID (no reset, but profile migration required)
IT manually unjoins the device from Active Directory and joins it to Entra ID without resetting Windows.
Simple flow
Unjoin device from on-prem AD
Join device to Entra ID
Back up LAPS and BitLocker recovery keys
User signs in with Entra ID (new Windows profile is created)
Manually copy user data and limited settings (browser data, some app settings)
Update device ownership (if DEM is used)
Remove local admin rights if needed (depending on join method and policy)
What users experience
New Windows profile
Files may be copied manually (often requires permission mapping to access the old profile)
Applications might need reconfiguration
Some settings are lost
Pros
No full device reset
Often faster than Autopilot reset
Does not depend on OneDrive
Limitations
Manual and error-prone
Requires old profile permission/SID mapping to move data correctly
Risk of data/settings loss
Limited logging/monitoring and harder troubleshooting
Not scalable for large environments
3. Modern Method: Migrate using Opsole Migrate (no reset, minimal downtime)
Opsole Migrate enables an in-place migration from AD/Hybrid join to Entra ID Join without resetting the device, while preserving the existing user profile and minimizing downtime.
Simple flow
Deploy Opsole Migrate remotely (Intune or GPO)
Run migration under IT scheduling or user self-service
Device is disjoined from AD and joined to Entra ID
User profile is preserved, including BitLocker and LAPS continuity
User signs in and continues working with minimal interruption
What users experience
No reset
Same desktop, files, apps, and settings
Minimal interruption (typically 10–15 minutes, device-dependent)
Pros
No device reset and no new user profile
Minimal downtime
Detailed logging and monitoring by phase
Scalable for large enterprises
Well-suited for business-critical users and large fleets
Why customers prefer this approach
Minimal disruption to daily work
No retraining or confusion
Faster completion for larger device fleets (100+ devices)
Lower support ticket volume

3 Replies

JoseJ
Brass Contributor
Jan 13, 2026

There are three common ways to migrate Windows devices to Microsoft Entra ID Join:
Traditional Method: Reset Device and Re-Provision using Windows Autopilot (data protected with OneDrive)
This approach wipes and resets the device, then re-provisions it as a cloud-only Entra ID–joined device using Windows Autopilot. To avoid data loss, user files are synced to OneDrive first.
Simple flow
Sync user folders (Desktop, Documents, Pictures) to OneDrive
Add devices to Autopilot and trigger a device reset
Device boots into Windows Autopilot
User signs in using Entra ID credentials
Device auto-configures security policies, applications, and compliance settings
OneDrive restores user files after sign-in
What users experience
New Windows setup experience
Applications reinstall
Settings and preferences reset
Files are restored, but desktop look-and-feel is new
Pros
Clean and secure approach, Microsoft-recommended
Ideal for device refresh or security rebuild
Fully automated provisioning
Limitations
Requires device reset
Limited end-to-end logging/monitoring of the full migration activity (depends on how you implement it)
User downtime typically 1–3 hours
User profile/settings are not preserved
Requires strong OneDrive adoption
2. Manual Method: Leave Domain and Join Entra ID (no reset, but profile migration required)
IT manually unjoins the device from Active Directory and joins it to Entra ID without resetting Windows.
Simple flow
Unjoin device from on-prem AD
Join device to Entra ID
Back up LAPS and BitLocker recovery keys
User signs in with Entra ID (new Windows profile is created)
Manually copy user data and limited settings (browser data, some app settings)
Update device ownership (if DEM is used)
Remove local admin rights if needed (depending on join method and policy)
What users experience
New Windows profile
Files may be copied manually (often requires permission mapping to access the old profile)
Applications might need reconfiguration
Some settings are lost
Pros
No full device reset
Often faster than Autopilot reset
Does not depend on OneDrive
Limitations
Manual and error-prone
Requires old profile permission/SID mapping to move data correctly
Risk of data/settings loss
Limited logging/monitoring and harder troubleshooting
Not scalable for large environments
3. Modern Method: Migrate using Opsole Migrate (no reset, minimal downtime)
Opsole Migrate enables an in-place migration from AD/Hybrid join to Entra ID Join without resetting the device, while preserving the existing user profile and minimizing downtime.
Simple flow
Deploy Opsole Migrate remotely (Intune or GPO)
Run migration under IT scheduling or user self-service
Device is disjoined from AD and joined to Entra ID
User profile is preserved, including BitLocker and LAPS continuity
User signs in and continues working with minimal interruption
What users experience
No reset
Same desktop, files, apps, and settings
Minimal interruption (typically 10–15 minutes, device-dependent)
Pros
No device reset and no new user profile
Minimal downtime
Detailed logging and monitoring by phase
Scalable for large enterprises
Well-suited for business-critical users and large fleets
Why customers prefer this approach
Minimal disruption to daily work
No retraining or confusion
Faster completion for larger device fleets (100+ devices)
Lower support ticket volume
- rrash
  Occasional Reader
  Jan 19, 2026
  Quick question – for remote users, what is the easiest way to migrate from AD to Entra ID Join without wipe and reimage?

Surya_Narayana

MCT

Jun 19, 2025

Hi lfk73 , check this

Azure AD Registration (Workplace Join) — for BYOD

Security Concerns: Why allow this?

You're right — letting users register their personal laptops or phones can open the door to unmanaged, potentially insecure endpoints.

Why organizations might still use it:

Access from anywhere: Users might need access to web-based resources (like Outlook or SharePoint) from their personal devices.
Conditional Access: You can enforce MFA, device compliance, limited access (e.g., no downloads) even on these registered devices.
Self-service password reset, SSO, and device-based Conditional Access become available.

How to manage security:

Use Conditional Access to restrict what registered devices can access (e.g., block access to sensitive apps).
Use Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to detect risky behavior.
Use compliance policies (e.g., block jailbroken phones, require PINs).

If you're strict on device control, you can disable self-registration and require only joined (not just registered) devices.

Hybrid Azure AD Join — for hybrid environments

Used when:

Devices are joined to on-prem AD for legacy apps/file shares.
You also want them visible and manageable in Entra ID for cloud apps.

Use Case:

Authenticate to on-prem resources with Kerberos/NTLM.
Use cloud features (SSO to M365, Conditional Access, etc.)

It’s the default for enterprises with existing AD environments.

Azure AD Join (Entra Join) — Cloud-native devices

Used when:

You have cloud-first devices (e.g., autopilot-deployed Windows 11 laptops).
Users sign in using Entra credentials only — no on-prem domain join.

What about access to on-prem resources?

By default, Azure AD Joined devices can't directly access:

File shares
Print servers
Apps using Kerberos/NTLM or AD-integrated security

Unless you:

Have line-of-sight to a domain controller (via VPN).
Use Azure AD Kerberos (newish feature) for things like Windows Hello or file shares.
Implement Hybrid Identity tools like Azure AD App Proxy for legacy app publishing.

So if your users need access to both on-prem and cloud resources, and your infra is not fully cloud-migrated yet:

Hybrid Azure AD Join is usually required.

TL;DR – Which to use when?

Scenario	Recommended Join Type
Corporate devices, cloud-first	Azure AD Join
Corporate devices, on-prem + cloud	Hybrid Azure AD Join
BYOD (phones/laptops), limited access	Azure AD Registration
Want strict device control	Disable Azure AD Registration

Final Guidance

Don’t allow Azure AD Registration freely unless you layer in strong Conditional Access policies.
If you need both on-prem and cloud app access, Hybrid Azure AD Join is your best bet.
If moving toward full cloud-native infra, Entra Join (Azure AD Join) is the future — but legacy app support must be addressed.