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Active Directory Domain Services Overview
- Article
- 08/16/2022
- 2 minutes to read
In this article
Applies to: Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012
A directory is a hierarchical structure that stores information about objects on the network. A directory service, such as Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), provides the methods for storing directory data and making this data available to network users and administrators. For example, AD DS stores information about user accounts, such as names, passwords, phone numbers, and so on, and enables other authorized users on the same network to access this information.
Active Directory stores information about objects on the network and makes this information easy for administrators and users to find and use. Active Directory uses a structured data store as the basis for a logical, hierarchical organization of directory information.
This data store, also known as the directory, contains information about Active Directory objects. These objects typically include shared resources such as servers, volumes, printers, and the network user and computer accounts. For more information about the Active Directory data store, see Directory data store.
Security is integrated with Active Directory through logon authentication and access control to objects in the directory. With a single network logon, administrators can manage directory data and organization throughout their network, and authorized network users can access resources anywhere on the network. Policy-based administration eases the management of even the most complex network. For more information about Active Directory security, see Security overview.
Active Directory also includes:
A set of rules, the schema, that defines the classes of objects and attributes contained in the directory, the constraints and limits on instances of these objects, and the format of their names. For more information about the schema, see Schema.
A global catalog that contains information about every object in the directory. This allows users and administrators to find directory information regardless of which domain in the directory actually contains the data. For more information about the global catalog, see Global catalog.
A query and index mechanism, so that objects and their properties can be published and found by network users or applications. For more information about querying the directory, see Searching in Active Directory Domain Services.
A replication service that distributes directory data across a network. All domain controllers in a domain participate in replication and contain a complete copy of all directory information for their domain. Any change to directory data is replicated to all domain controllers in the domain. For more information about Active Directory replication, see Active Directory Replication Concepts.
Understanding Active Directory
This section provides links to core Active Directory concepts:
- Active Directory Structure and Storage Technologies
- Domain Controller Roles
- Active Directory Schema
- Understanding Trusts
- Active Directory Replication Technologies
- Active Directory Search and Publication Technologies
- Interoperating with DNS and Group Policy
- Understanding Schema
For a detailed list of Active Directory concepts, see Understanding Active Directory.
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In this article
Throughout the past few years, technological advancements have enabled enterprises to do much more. Companies no longer have to worry about space issues or other bottlenecks when integrating more resources into their toolset. The cloud has efficiently provided many robust functionalities without hogging more and more physical areas or being heavy on the pocket. On-premise resources also have much more advantages to offer than before.
As much as the technology has gotten better and the resources have gotten more powerful, managing them is still a significant challenge on its own. In the case of computer networking, administrators have to constantly find optimal strategies that offer the best performance and no compromise on security. Such strategies can focus entirely on cloud or on-premises resources, or even a hybrid of both. Additionally, managing users can also turn messy if not for helpful tools like Active Directory.
This article looks closely at Active Directory, its inner workings and protocols, and what it has to offer. It will go through its pros and cons and try to paint a picture of its effectiveness. It will help you decide if Active Directory is the network solution you are looking for or not.
What Does Network Management Look Like
In today’s age of constant connectivity and the internet’s critical role in almost everything, network resources form one of the main backbones of a company’s operations. The network enables users to access IT resources highly needed for their everyday responsibilities. Network management involves monitoring and managing these network resources to ensure smooth access and services.
Administrators use software and hardware to gather and analyze data and ensure that systems can deliver without hiccups. It involves making sure that the infrastructure is reliable, secure, and configured as needed. Network administrators also have to update and update the resources so that the network performance stands uncompromised.
Network management involves using a wide array of tools and applications for its purposes. There are whole operating systems, like Windows Server, dedicated to effectively managing network resources and matters like user access. It can handle on-premise resources along with cloud resources and provide many additional functionalities like security protocols. Enterprises can either choose to handle their network management on their own or outsource it to a dedicated firm.
Understanding Active Directory & Its Main Features
A network operating system by Microsoft, the Active Directory (AD) service is an integral part of its Windows Server. Administrators use it to monitor and control user information from a central place. The central repository of AD is globally distributed, and one can disperse the information to the whole enterprise or as many people needed. It stores information about not just users but also devices that require access to the network.
Information on the AD is intended to be as far-reaching as possible to serve as a central place of reference for anyone in the enterprise. Once all the information is added, it is possible to query the AD to find out any kind of information, like the location of a device or email address. AD maintains the data to fit the hierarchical structure of the enterprise and enforces permissions accordingly. Through AD, an enterprise can easily manage all kinds of users and how they can use the network and its resources.
Information management on the AD involves identifying objects uniquely by terming them as such and assigning each a globally unique identifier (GUID). Each object is to be uniquely identifiable and locatable to qualify as one. The inner structure of AD is built on three main concepts:
- Domains: A network domain is a collection of objects within an AD network. It can consist of a single user or multiple users, such as hardware components like printers. Every domain has a database that maintains the information of the particular collection of objects, a unique identifier, security services, and policies.
- Trees: Also called domain trees, these are hierarchical structures that consist of domains at every node. The primary domain serves as the root, and each domain added to the main domain serves as a child. Such a structure is easy to maintain when it comes to permissions. A child domain can allow access from another domain allowed by its parent domain (a relationship called ‘trust’).
- Forests: Multiple domain trees come together to form a forest. All the domain trees in a forest share a common schema and configuration settings. The trees ‘trust’ each other as a whole, and forests are connected through ‘transitive trusts.’ It involves the root domains of multiple forests trusting each other and, therefore, letting their child domains trust each other too.
While AD is primarily intended for on-premise networks, its cloud counterpart offers the same functionality for cloud networks. It is a separate service called Azure AD but can work in conjunction with AD to help manage hybrid network resources. There are many helpful guides to help you set up an Active Directory domain on popular cloud services.
The Pros & Cons Of Active Directory
AD can serve as a fantastic tool to easily control user access and privileges and effectively enforce a hierarchical structure without much hassle. However, it is essential to consider potential drawbacks and weigh the pros against the cons, like with any service. Given below are some prominent advantages and disadvantages of the AD service:
Pros:
- Centralized Control & Monitoring: The AD service offers a central place for administrators to control almost all things related to user access and network permissions.
- Seamless User Experience: Users get to enjoy smooth access once the AD infrastructure is set and all permission policies have been enforced. Even with cloud services, AD makes sure that users don’t fact lag in accessing resources.
- A Different Type For Every Different Need: There are many alternative versions of AD available for different scenarios, like AD Federation Services, Azure AD Directory Application Proxy, etc.
- Far-reaching Policies With Group Policy Objects: GPOs are policy objects that help enforce global policies like password limits and system behavior. Microsoft offers a dedicated Group Policy Editor to help easily set up the policies and what level they will be enforced on.
Cons:
- Can Prove Expensive: A global infrastructure like AD can get pretty pricey to set up and maintain. Apart from that, once set up, changing its configurations is also expensive.
- Network Becomes Excessively Dependent on AD: With AD services handling the whole network and its capabilities, the network will also die if the AD shuts off for some reason.
- Security Risks: AD has several security risks, like root domains exposing the whole structure to vulnerabilities, unwanted permission inheritance, vulnerabilities due to inactive accounts, etc.
Your Network Managed Effectively With Active Directory
Efficient network management is a crucial element to eliminating any resource-related productivity challenges. Various tools can help administrators in all kinds of tasks related to maintaining a healthy network and monitoring it consistently. Microsoft’s Active Directory service is one of the most trusted tools and is widely used on an enterprise level.
While Active Directory faces some challenges in implementation and security, they can be overcome by intelligent planning and a clear idea of the network requirements. Once an enterprise deals with these drawbacks sufficiently, Active Directory can prove a most helpful resource.