remove rc4 from identity docs

Author: khdownie

articles/storage/files/storage-files-identity-ad-ds-enable.md

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ description: Learn how to enable Active Directory Domain Services authentication
 author: khdownie
 ms.service: azure-file-storage
 ms.topic: how-to
-ms.date: 06/24/2025
+ms.date: 12/18/2025
 ms.author: kendownie 
 ms.custom: engagement-fy23, devx-track-azurepowershell
 # Customer intent: As an IT administrator, I want to enable Active Directory Domain Services authentication for Azure file shares, so that our domain-joined Windows virtual machines can securely access and manage file shares using existing AD credentials.
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ To enable AD DS authentication over SMB for Azure file shares, you need to regis
 The AzFilesHybrid PowerShell module provides cmdlets for deploying and configuring Azure Files. It includes cmdlets for domain joining storage accounts to your on-premises Active Directory and configuring your DNS servers. The cmdlets make the necessary modifications and enable the feature for you. Because some parts of the cmdlets interact with your on-premises AD DS, we explain what the cmdlets do, so you can determine if the changes align with your compliance and security policies, and ensure you have the proper permissions to execute the cmdlets. Although we recommend using the AzFilesHybrid module, if you're unable to do so, we provide [manual steps](#option-two-manually-perform-the-enablement-actions).
 
 > [!IMPORTANT]
-> AES-256 Kerberos encryption is now the only encryption method supported by the AzFilesHybrid module. If you prefer to use RC4 encryption, see [Option two: Manually perform the enablement actions](#option-two-manually-perform-the-enablement-actions). If you previously enabled the feature with an old AzFilesHybrid version (below v0.2.2) that used RC4 as the default encryption method and want to update to support AES-256, see [troubleshoot Azure Files SMB authentication](/troubleshoot/azure/azure-storage/files-troubleshoot-smb-authentication?toc=/azure/storage/files/toc.json#azure-files-on-premises-ad-ds-authentication-support-for-aes-256-kerberos-encryption).
+> AES-256 Kerberos encryption is the only encryption method the AzFilesHybrid module supports. If you previously enabled the feature with an old AzFilesHybrid version (below v0.2.2) that used RC4 as the default encryption method, we recommend updating to AES-256 immediately. See [Troubleshoot Azure Files SMB authentication](/troubleshoot/azure/azure-storage/files-troubleshoot-smb-authentication?toc=/azure/storage/files/toc.json#azure-files-on-premises-ad-ds-authentication-support-for-aes-256-kerberos-encryption).
 
 ### Prerequisites
 
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ Set-AzStorageAccount `
 
 #### Enable AES-256 encryption (recommended)
 
-To enable AES-256 encryption, follow the steps in this section. If you plan to use RC4 encryption, skip this section.
+To enable AES-256 encryption, follow the steps in this section.
 
 > [!IMPORTANT]
 > In order to enable AES-256 encryption, the domain object that represents your storage account must be a computer account (default) or service logon account in the on-premises AD domain. If your domain object doesn't meet this requirement, delete it and create a new domain object that does. Also, you must have write access to the `msDS-SupportedEncryptionTypes` attribute of the object.
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ Set-ADAccountPassword -Identity <domain-object-identity> -Reset -NewPassword $Ne
 ```
 
 > [!IMPORTANT]
-> If you were previously using RC4 encryption and update the storage account to use AES-256, you should run `klist purge` on the client and then remount the file share to get new Kerberos tickets with AES-256.
+> If you were previously using RC4 encryption and updated the storage account to use AES-256 (recommended), you should run `klist purge` on the client and then remount the file share to get new Kerberos tickets with AES-256.
 
 ### Debugging
 

articles/storage/files/storage-files-identity-ad-ds-overview.md

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ description: Learn about Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) authentication
 author: khdownie
 ms.service: azure-file-storage
 ms.topic: how-to
-ms.date: 10/16/2025
+ms.date: 12/18/2025
 ms.author: kendownie
 # Customer intent: "As a system administrator, I want to enable on-premises Active Directory Domain Services authentication for Azure file shares, so that I can manage access permissions seamlessly while leveraging existing AD credentials for secure file access."
 ---
@@ -21,12 +21,11 @@ If you're new to Azure Files, we recommend reading the [planning guide](storage-
 
 ## Supported scenarios and restrictions
 
-- To use identity-based authentication with Azure Files, share-level RBAC permissions must be assigned. You can do this in two ways:
+- To use identity-based authentication with Azure Files, you must assign share-level RBAC permissions. You can do this in two ways:
   - **[Default share-level permission](storage-files-identity-assign-share-level-permissions.md#share-level-permissions-for-all-authenticated-identities):** This option applies RBAC at the share level for all authenticated users. With this configuration, you don't need to sync your on-premises AD DS identities to Microsoft Entra ID.
   - **[Granular share-level permissions](storage-files-identity-assign-share-level-permissions.md#share-level-permissions-for-specific-microsoft-entra-users-or-groups):** If you want to assign RBAC at the share level to specific users or groups, the corresponding identities must be synchronized from your on-premises AD DS to Microsoft Entra ID using [Microsoft Entra Connect](/entra/identity/hybrid/connect/whatis-azure-ad-connect) or [Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync](/entra/identity/hybrid/cloud-sync/what-is-cloud-sync). Groups created only in Microsoft Entra ID won't work unless they contain synced user accounts. Password hash synchronization isn't required.
 - Client OS requirements: Windows 8 / Windows Server 2012 or later, or Linux VMs such as Ubuntu 18.04+ and equivalent RHEL/SLES distributions.
-- You can manage Azure file shares with Azure File Sync.
-- Kerberos authentication is available with Active Directory using [AES 256 encryption](/troubleshoot/azure/azure-storage/files-troubleshoot-smb-authentication?toc=/azure/storage/files/toc.json#azure-files-on-premises-ad-ds-authentication-support-for-aes-256-kerberos-encryption) (recommended) and RC4-HMAC. AES 128 Kerberos encryption isn't yet supported.
+- Kerberos authentication is available with Active Directory using [AES 256 encryption](/troubleshoot/azure/azure-storage/files-troubleshoot-smb-authentication?toc=/azure/storage/files/toc.json#azure-files-on-premises-ad-ds-authentication-support-for-aes-256-kerberos-encryption) (recommended). AES 128 Kerberos encryption isn't yet supported.
 - Single sign-on (SSO) is supported.
 - By default, access is limited to the Active Directory forest where the storage account is registered. Users from any domain in that forest can access the file share contents, provided they have the appropriate permissions. To enable access from additional forests, you must configure a forest trust. For details, see [Use Azure Files with multiple Active Directory forests](storage-files-identity-multiple-forests.md).
 - Identity-based authentication isn't currently supported for NFS file shares.
@@ -49,17 +48,17 @@ Before you enable AD DS authentication for Azure file shares, make sure you comp
 
     You can enable the feature on a new or existing on-premises AD DS environment. Identities used for access must be synced to Microsoft Entra ID or use a default share-level permission. The Microsoft Entra tenant and the file share that you're accessing must be associated with the same subscription.
 
-- Domain-join an on-premises machine or an Azure VM to on-premises AD DS. For information about how to domain-join, see [Join a Computer to a Domain](/windows-server/identity/ad-fs/deployment/join-a-computer-to-a-domain).
+- Domain-join an on-premises machine or an Azure VM to on-premises AD DS. See [Join a Computer to a Domain](/windows-server/identity/ad-fs/deployment/join-a-computer-to-a-domain).
 
     If a machine isn't domain joined, you can still use AD DS for authentication if the machine has unimpeded network connectivity to the on-premises AD domain controller and the user provides explicit credentials. For more information, see [Mount the file share from a non-domain-joined VM or a VM joined to a different AD domain](storage-files-identity-mount-file-share.md#mount-the-file-share-from-a-non-domain-joined-vm-or-a-vm-joined-to-a-different-ad-domain).
 
 - Select or create an Azure storage account. For optimal performance, we recommend that you deploy the storage account in the same region as the client from which you plan to access the share.
 
-    Make sure that the storage account containing your file shares isn't already configured for identity-based authentication. If an AD source is already enabled on the storage account, you must disable it before enabling on-premises AD DS.
+    Make sure that the storage account containing your file shares isn't already configured for identity-based authentication. If an identity source is already enabled on the storage account, you must disable it before enabling on-premises AD DS.
 
     If you experience issues in connecting to Azure Files, see [troubleshoot Azure Files mounting errors on Windows](https://azure.microsoft.com/blog/new-troubleshooting-diagnostics-for-azure-files-mounting-errors-on-windows/).
 
-- If you plan to enable any networking configurations on your file share, we recommend you read the [networking considerations](./storage-files-networking-overview.md) article and complete the related configuration before enabling AD DS authentication.
+- If you plan to enable any networking configurations on your file share, read the [networking considerations](./storage-files-networking-overview.md) article and complete the related configuration before enabling AD DS authentication.
 
 ## Regional availability
 

articles/storage/files/storage-files-identity-auth-domain-services-enable.md

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ description: Learn how to enable identity-based authentication over Server Messa
 author: khdownie
 ms.service: azure-file-storage
 ms.topic: how-to
-ms.date: 10/16/2025
+ms.date: 12/18/2025
 ms.author: kendownie
 ms.custom: engagement-fy23, devx-track-azurecli, devx-track-azurepowershell
 # Customer intent: As a cloud administrator, I want to enable identity-based authentication for SMB Azure file shares using Microsoft Entra Domain Services, so that users can securely access file shares using their Microsoft Entra credentials.
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@ ms.custom: engagement-fy23, devx-track-azurecli, devx-track-azurepowershell
 
 [!INCLUDE [storage-files-aad-auth-include](../../../includes/storage-files-aad-auth-include.md)]
 
-This article focuses on enabling Microsoft Entra Domain Services (formerly Azure Active Directory Domain Services) for identity-based authentication with Azure file shares. In this authentication scenario, Microsoft Entra credentials and Microsoft Entra Domain Services credentials are the same and you can use them interchangeably.
+This article focuses on enabling Microsoft Entra Domain Services (formerly Azure Active Directory Domain Services) for identity-based authentication with Azure file shares. In this authentication scenario, Microsoft Entra credentials and Microsoft Entra Domain Services credentials are the same, and you can use them interchangeably.
 
-We strongly recommend that you review the [How it works section](./storage-files-active-directory-overview.md#how-it-works) to select the right AD source for your storage account. The setup is different depending on the AD source you choose.
+We recommend that you review the [How it works section](./storage-files-active-directory-overview.md#how-it-works) to select the right identity source for your storage account. The setup is different depending on the identity source you choose.
 
 If you're new to Azure Files, we recommend reading our [planning guide](storage-files-planning.md) before reading this article.
 
 > [!NOTE]
-> Azure Files supports Kerberos authentication with Microsoft Entra Domain Services with RC4-HMAC and AES-256 encryption. We recommend using AES-256.
+> Azure Files supports Kerberos authentication with Microsoft Entra Domain Services with AES-256 encryption (recommended).
 >
 > Azure Files supports authentication for Microsoft Entra Domain Services with full or partial (scoped) synchronization with Microsoft Entra ID. For environments with scoped synchronization, administrators should be aware that Azure Files only honors Azure RBAC role assignments granted to principals that are synchronized. Role assignments granted to identities not synchronized from Microsoft Entra ID to Microsoft Entra Domain Services are ignored by the Azure Files service.
 
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ To enable Microsoft Entra Domain Services authentication over SMB with the [Azur
 
 # [PowerShell](#tab/azure-powershell)
 
-To enable Microsoft Entra Domain Services authentication over SMB with Azure PowerShell, install the latest Az module (2.4 or newer) or the Az.Storage module (1.5 or newer). For more information about installing PowerShell, see [Install Azure PowerShell on Windows with PowerShellGet](/powershell/azure/install-azure-powershell).
+To enable Microsoft Entra Domain Services authentication over SMB with Azure PowerShell, install the latest Az module (2.4 or newer) or the Az.Storage module (1.5 or newer). See [Install Azure PowerShell on Windows with PowerShellGet](/powershell/azure/install-azure-powershell).
 
 To create a new storage account, call [New-AzStorageAccount](/powershell/module/az.storage/New-azStorageAccount), and then set the **EnableAzureActiveDirectoryDomainServicesForFile** parameter to **true**. In the following example, replace the placeholder values with your own values. (If you use the previous preview module, the parameter for enabling the feature is **EnableAzureFilesAadIntegrationForSMB**.)
 
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ Set-AzStorageAccount -ResourceGroupName "<resource-group-name>" `
 
 # [Azure CLI](#tab/azure-cli)
 
-To enable Microsoft Entra authentication over SMB with Azure CLI, install the latest CLI version (version 2.0.70 or newer). For more information about installing Azure CLI, see [Install the Azure CLI](/cli/azure/install-azure-cli).
+To enable Microsoft Entra authentication over SMB with Azure CLI, install the latest CLI version (version 2.0.70 or newer). See [Install the Azure CLI](/cli/azure/install-azure-cli).
 
 To create a new storage account, call [az storage account create](/cli/azure/storage/account#az-storage-account-create), and set the `--enable-files-aadds` argument. In the following example, replace the placeholder values with your own values. (If you were using the previous preview module, the parameter for feature enablement is **file-aad**.)
 
@@ -135,9 +135,9 @@ az storage account update -n <storage-account-name> -g <resource-group-name> --e
 
 ## Recommended: Use AES-256 encryption
 
-By default, Microsoft Entra Domain Services authentication uses Kerberos RC4 encryption. We recommend configuring it to use Kerberos AES-256 encryption instead by following these instructions.
+We recommend configuring your storage account to use Kerberos AES-256 encryption by following these instructions.
 
-This action requires running an operation on the Active Directory domain that's managed by Microsoft Entra Domain Services to reach a domain controller and request a property change to the domain object. The cmdlets below are Windows Server Active Directory PowerShell cmdlets, not Azure PowerShell cmdlets. Because of this distinction, you must run these PowerShell commands from a client machine that's domain-joined to the Microsoft Entra Domain Services domain.
+This action requires running an operation on the domain that's managed by Microsoft Entra Domain Services to reach a domain controller and request a property change to the domain object. The cmdlets below are Windows Server Active Directory PowerShell cmdlets, not Azure PowerShell cmdlets. Because of this distinction, you must run these PowerShell commands from a client machine that's domain-joined to the Microsoft Entra Domain Services domain.
 
 > [!IMPORTANT]
 > The Windows Server Active Directory PowerShell cmdlets in this section must be run in Windows PowerShell 5.1 from a client machine that's domain-joined to the Microsoft Entra Domain Services domain. PowerShell 7.x and Azure Cloud Shell won't work in this scenario.
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ Get-ADUser $userObject -properties KerberosEncryptionType
 ```
 
 > [!IMPORTANT]
-> If you were previously using RC4 encryption and update the storage account to use AES-256, run `klist purge` on the client and then remount the file share to get new Kerberos tickets with AES-256.
+> If you were previously using RC4 encryption and updated the storage account to use AES-256 (recommended), run `klist purge` on the client and then remount the file share to get new Kerberos tickets with AES-256.
 
 ## Next step