What is Active Directory?

• Active Directory Definition

  Active Directory Definition

  Active Directory is an important part of IT infrastructure. It can be used to manage devices, users, domains, and objects within a network. Organizations use Active Directory for its seamless identity and access management capabilities. It can allow users to gain authenticated and authorized access to devices, applications, and systems across the cloud and on-premises reliably and conveniently.
• What are Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)?

  What are Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)?

  Active Directory Domain Services are the core components of Active Directory. AD DS can help network administrators authenticate users and determine which network devices should be made accessible for those users. AD DS offers additional features such as LDAP, Single-Sign-on (SSO), SSL, access rights management, and more.
• Key features of Active Directory Domain Services

  Key features of Active Directory Domain Services

  Certificate Services: Create, manage, and share encryption certificates using Domain Services. This helps users exchange information securely over the internet.

  Lightweight Directory Services (LDS): AD LDS is a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol Service (LDAP) that makes the Domain Services more versatile and flexible.

  Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS): ADFS allows employees to access multiple devices, applications, and systems with a single login credential. This Single Sign-On solution enhances the user experience.

  Rights Management Services (RMS): AD RMS provides tools to help administrators manage security services to secure their data. These technologies include authentication, certifications, encryption, and more.
• Hierarchical structure of Active Directory Domain Services

  Hierarchical structure of Active Directory Domain Services

  Domain services of Active Directory include a hierarchical structure consisting of the following:

  • Domains: A domain consists of objects such as users, devices, groups, and databases. This tree-like structure has standard domains and subdomains.
  • Trees: A collection of domains is known as a tree. Trees are grouped together in a logical hierarchy.
  • Forest: A forest contains a group of trees and is considered the highest structure within an AD. Trees within a forest share domain configurations, catalogs, schemas, application information, and more.
  • Organizational units: Organizational units organize groups and computers within a network.
  • Containers: Containers are similar to organizational units. However, containers cannot link generic Active Directory with Group Policy Object (GPO).
• How does Active Directory work?

  How does Active Directory work?

  Once the Active Directory Domain Services is installed on a server, it becomes a domain controller (DCs). This server stores the entire AD database, including objects, trees, and their relationships.

  Changes, such as password update, addition, or deletion of data when implemented to the directory of a single DC, are automatically replicated to other DCs to ensure they get updated.

  Administrators can use a thick-client GUI (graphical user interface) to manage Active Directory. The interface can also be used to click and drag objects within AD and modify settings.
• What is AD management and monitoring, and why is it important?

  What is AD management and monitoring, and why is it important?

  Active Directory management is the process of managing permissions and access rights of user groups and accounts with the help of systems, tools, and different processes.

  AD monitoring involves close observation of the AD environment using different technologies to ensure the performance and health of AD and its components.

  Both management and monitoring of Active Directory is important to ensure the safety of the environment, appropriate management of user and user groups, and high-level performance of devices across the environment.
• What can an Active Directory monitoring or management tool offer?

  What can an Active Directory monitoring or management tool offer?

  From managing user access to identifying and troubleshooting performance issues, an Active Directory monitoring or management tool is designed to provide the following features depending on whether the Active Directory solution is built to help you manage or monitor:

  Managing user permissions and access rights: By simplifying user provisioning and deprovisioning, improving your ability to demonstrate regulatory compliance, and more easily manage user rights, an Active Directory management tool can help streamline user management.

  Track Active Directory replication issues: An Active Directory monitoring tool can help track successful replications between domain controllers. The monitoring tools provide a replication summary allowing admins to view the overall replication status.

  Review Domain Controller performance: Using AD monitoring tools, administrators can quickly view, sort, and search the role and status of each domain controller separately, such as Domain Name and Infrastructure Manager.

  View Active Directory site details: AD monitoring tools can provide detailed information about the site link IP ranges and subnets of remote sites by drilling down to each site.

  Monitor AD health and performance: Active Directory is the backbone of several organizations, and it becomes important to monitor AD regularly. An Active Directory monitoring tool can help you identify issues with AD performance and health that can lead to slowdowns in various processes and end-user productivity.

  In summary, an Active Directory monitoring or management tool offers companies of any size a comprehensive set of features to ensure the stability, security, and efficient management of their Windows-based network infrastructure. These tools play a crucial role in maintaining a well-functioning and secure Active Directory environment, which is essential for the smooth operation of a modern enterprise.