What is Active Directory?
Microsoft Active Directory (AD) is Microsoft’s directory service application, designed to be the foundation for all of Microsoft’s network-based applications. It is based on LDAP (light weight directory application protocol), the internet standard for directory services.

An Active Directory environment is a hierarchical framework of objects where the objects fall into three main categories:

• Resources such as printers and computers
• Services such as email
• Users, including individual user accounts and groups

The Active Directory provides information on these objects, organizes the objects and controls access to and sets security for these objects. Active Directory is the “glue” that ties a network and all its resources together.

What Can Active Directory Do for Your Organization?
Active Directory is used to:

• Serve as the Foundation for Other Applications - Active Directory is required for Microsoft Exchange, and is also designed to work seamlessly with your other network-based applications, such as SQL, file servers, print servers, and more.
• Simplify Logins - Active Directory stores all of the information for each of your user’s IDs and passwords, enabling users to access all resources in the network with a single login.
• Manage, Grant and Revoke Rights - Through Active Directory you can centrally manage all users and resources, determining exactly who has the rights to access each resource. For example, User A may have the right to access human resources information but not sales data.
• Provide Authentication - When one of your system’s users logs in, Active Directory will authenticate them to prove they are who they say they are (based on their password) and will determine which resources they have the right to access.
• Secure Your Passwords - Active Directory uses heavy encryption to secure your system’s information. In addition, it also allows you to set password policies (for example, passwords must be a certain length or contain certain characters) to ensure users don’t choose passwords that are overly obvious.

Plus, Active Directory is simple to set up, use and administer. It is a solid, mature product that works well in a wide variety of settings.

Getting Active Directory Up and Running in Your Organization
As experts in Microsoft’s enterprise-wide applications, Coyote Creek Consulting has extensive experience with Microsoft Active Directory. We can help you with all aspects of Active Directory, including Active Directory assessments, installations, upgrades or migrations.

Back to Technology Services