Rippling

Overview

Yes, Rippling automatically syncs its Human Resources Information System (HRIS) data to both on-premises Active Directory (AD) and cloud-based Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) without requiring manual data entry. This synchronization is a core function of its integrated platform, designed to ensure that employee identity and access are consistently driven by HR events. The mechanism behind this is an event-based, API-driven provisioning model. When a change is made to an employee's record in the Rippling HRIS—which acts as the authoritative 'source of truth'—an immediate API call is triggered to create, update, or disable the corresponding user account in the connected directory service. This process leverages Microsoft's own 'Entra ID API-driven provisioning' framework, ensuring a robust and real-time connection between the HR system and the identity infrastructure.

Key Features

This automated synchronization covers the entire employee lifecycle, commonly known as the Joiner-Mover-Leaver (JML) process. For 'Joiners,' a new employee's account is automatically created in AD or Entra ID as soon as they are onboarded in Rippling, with the creation timed to their official start date. For 'Movers,' any change to an employee's profile in Rippling—such as a name change, promotion, or departmental transfer—automatically triggers a real-time update to their user profile in the directory service. For 'Leavers,' the offboarding process in Rippling immediately disables or suspends the user's AD/Entra ID account, a critical security step that prevents unauthorized access after employment ends. Rippling typically suspends accounts rather than deleting them to preserve data for auditing purposes and to allow for potential reactivation. Administrators can also customize attribute mappings to control precisely which data fields from Rippling flow to specific attributes in AD or Entra ID.

Technical Specifications

The integration is flexible and supports various IT infrastructures. For organizations with on-premises Active Directory, Rippling uses the 'Microsoft Entra Connect provisioning agent,' a lightweight component installed in the customer's environment that acts as a bridge between Rippling's cloud platform and the local AD. For cloud-native organizations, Rippling offers a direct, native integration with Microsoft Entra ID. The platform also accommodates hybrid environments, where it can provision users to the on-premises AD, which are then synchronized to Microsoft Entra ID using standard Microsoft tools like Microsoft Entra Connect Sync or Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync. This flexibility allows organizations to adopt Rippling's automation without needing to overhaul their existing identity infrastructure.

How It Works

The mechanism behind this is an event-based, API-driven provisioning model. When a change is made to an employee's record in the Rippling HRIS—which acts as the authoritative 'source of truth'—an immediate API call is triggered to create, update, or disable the corresponding user account in the connected directory service. This process leverages Microsoft's own 'Entra ID API-driven provisioning' framework, ensuring a robust and real-time connection between the HR system and the identity infrastructure.

Use Cases

For 'Joiners,' a new employee's account is automatically created in AD or Entra ID as soon as they are onboarded in Rippling, with the creation timed to their official start date. For 'Movers,' any change to an employee's profile in Rippling—such as a name change, promotion, or departmental transfer—automatically triggers a real-time update to their user profile in the directory service. For 'Leavers,' the offboarding process in Rippling immediately disables or suspends the user's AD/Entra ID account, a critical security step that prevents unauthorized access after employment ends.

Limitations and Requirements

Despite its comprehensive nature, the integration has specific requirements and a significant limitation. To use the feature, an organization must have a Microsoft Entra ID Premium P1 or P2 license. On the Rippling side, the corresponding 'Azure connector SKU' must be enabled. The most notable limitation, as confirmed by both Rippling and Microsoft documentation, is that the integration currently only supports the provisioning of user objects. It cannot automatically create or manage groups in Active Directory. This is due to a restriction in Microsoft's API for this specific type of integration. Therefore, while the entire lifecycle of individual user accounts is automated, the management of AD group memberships must still be handled manually or through other tools. This distinction between user provisioning and group management is a critical consideration for IT administrators planning to implement the system.

Comparison to Alternatives

Summary

In conclusion, Rippling does provide robust, automated, and one-way synchronization of user data from its HRIS to Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID, eliminating manual entry for user account management. This is achieved via an API-driven model that supports on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments and automates the full Joiner-Mover-Leaver lifecycle. The primary benefits are increased efficiency, improved data accuracy, and enhanced security. However, organizations must be aware of the specific licensing requirements and the key limitation that the automation does not extend to the management of Active Directory groups.