Active Directory (AD) is a directory service developed by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It is included in most Windows Server operating systems as a set of services. Active Directory was initially released with the Windows 2000 Server edition, and has been enhanced in subsequent Windows Server editions. Active Directory stores information about objects, including users, computers, applications, and services, in a central database and provides administrators with an interface to manage them. It also provides authentication, authorization, user and group management, access control, policy enforcement, and auditing capabilities.
How does it work?
Active Directory works by using a hierarchical model that organizes objects into a tree-like structure. These objects can be users, computers, printers, applications, or services. The directory service assigns each object a unique identifier (called a Security ID or SID) and stores its attributes in a database. The hierarchical model allows administrators to assign policies and privileges to different groups and individual users.
When a user attempts to access a resource, the Active Directory is consulted first to verify that the user has the appropriate permissions. It then uses Kerberos, an authentication protocol, to allow access to the requested resource if the user credentials are valid. Additionally, Active Directory allows administrators to manage user accounts and resources centrally. This means they can create, modify, and delete users, groups, and other objects from any computer on the network.
The benefits of using Active Directory include centralized security and policy administration, secure authentication and access control, easier management of user accounts, and improved network performance. By providing a single platform for managing user accounts and resources across multiple locations, Active Directory simplifies network administration and helps improve the overall security of corporate networks.
