What is Active Directory (AD)? And what are key functionalities of Active Directory in a given organization?
Microsoft created Active Directory (AD), a directory service that is used to manage and arrange resources on a network. It is a database that contains data on network resources like users, computers, printers, and other items like printers and users. Administrators can more effectively and securely manage resource access by centralizing authentication and permission for resources using the AD.
Some of the key functionalities of Active Directory in a given organization includes, but not limited to:
1. Authentication: Users can enter into the network using their username and password and access resources based on their permissions thanks to Active Directory’s central authentication service.
2. Authorization: Additionally, Active Directory offers authorization services, which let administrators restrict access to resources based on user or group membership and give them particular permissions.
3. Group Policy: Administrators can control settings and configurations across numerous workstations in an organization using Active Directory Group Policy, which saves time and effort by ensuring that configurations are consistent.
4. Management of network resources: Users, computers, printers, and other network devices can all be managed and organized in one place thanks to Active Directory.
5. Directory-based identity-related services: Active Directory offers services including Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), which offers a mechanism to access and manage directory information, and certificate services, which enable the use of digital certificates to authenticate and protect network interactions.