Learn more about Active Directory

Microsoft’s Active Directory provides IT professionals with a framework for deploying authentication and authorization mechanisms across their Microsoft-based networks. IT administrators use Active Directory as a backbone for an organization’s understanding of who’s who and who has access to what.

Frequently asked questions
Active Directory is a directory service developed by Microsoft. It combines services and a database, connecting users with the resources they need on their network to accomplish their work. The database acts as a directory in that it contains all the critical information governing an organization’s environment. Stored data includes sensitive information regarding each user account. For example, which machines and users have permission to connect, and what data they can access within the system. The services of the Active Directory include such functions as user authentication and authorization.