What is Active Directory?

What is Active Directory?

Active Directory is a directory service developed by Microsoft that is used to manage and authenticate users, devices, and resources in a networked environment. It is a centralized database that stores information about network resources such as user accounts, computer accounts, printers, applications, and more. Active Directory provides a way to organize and manage these resources in a hierarchical structure, which helps to simplify network administration and ensure that users have appropriate access to the resources they need.

Some of the key features of Active Directory include:
User and Group Management: Active Directory allows administrators to create and manage user accounts and groups, and define policies for access control and password management.

Device Management: Active Directory can also be used to manage devices such as computers, servers, and mobile devices, and apply policies such as security settings, software updates, and access control.

Single Sign-On: Active Directory supports single sign-on (SSO) authentication, which allows users to log in once and access multiple resources without having to re-enter their credentials.

Group Policy: Active Directory provides a way to manage and enforce policies across an organization's network, such as security policies, application settings, and more.

Overall, Active Directory is a powerful tool for managing and securing resources in a networked environment. It is widely used in enterprise environments and is an essential part of Microsoft's ecosystem of enterprise products and services.

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