Member-only story
Understanding Microsoft Active Directory and its Integration with AWS
Microsoft Active Directory (AD) is a powerful and widely used directory service that enables centralized management of users, computers, and other resources within an organization. Found on any Windows Server with Active Directory Domain Services, AD provides a secure and organized way to manage access across networks. In this article, we will explore the fundamentals of Microsoft AD, its structure, and how to extend its capabilities to the cloud with AWS Directory Services.
What is Microsoft Active Directory?
At its core, Microsoft Active Directory is a database of “objects” such as user accounts, computers, printers, file shares, and security groups. These objects are organized hierarchically, enabling centralized security and access management across an organization.
Key Components of Active Directory
Objects: These include user accounts, computers, and other network resources.
Organizational Units (OUs): OUs allow administrators to group users and resources in logical containers for easier management and policy application.
Trees and Forests:
- A Tree is a collection of one or more domains (groups of users and resources) that share a contiguous namespace.
- A Forest is a collection of multiple trees that share common global policies and schema but may have different…