Understanding Active Directory. Azure Active Directory

Active Directory Web Services (AD) is Microsoft’s primary identity management and directory service that enables centralized single-sign-on (SSO) for applications and services, supporting infrastructure components such as DNS, DHCP, IPsec, Wi-Fi, NPS, and VPN. On-premises AD DS installed on a server can be promoted to a domain controller for domain management with features including Group Policy, fine-grained password policy, Active Directory Admin Center, and more.

Azure Active Directory is Microsoft’s cloud-based Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) solution for identity, access management, and security. It allows users, groups, apps, and devices to be registered with Azure to enable SSO access to apps and Microsoft 365 accounts. With Azure AD Connect installed on-premises, local usernames and passwords can be synced up to Azure AD to support a hybrid network Active Directory.

For over 20 years, Professional Labs has provided expertise for all Active Directory and AD DS releases. Our team has the knowledge and experience to design, deploy, and troubleshoot complex AD deployments across an enterprise, ensuring secure and efficient network management.

How Network Active Directory Streamlines Administration and Security

AD DS runs on domain controllers (DCs); organizations typically have multiple DCs with a directory copy for the entire domain. Any changes to the directory on one domain controller are replicated to the others to ensure all information stays current. A Global Catalog server is a DC that stores a complete copy of all objects in its domain directory and a partial copy of all objects in other domains in the forest.

Although desktops, laptops, and other Windows devices can be part of an Active Directory environment, they do not run AD DS. AD DS relies on several protocols and standards, including LDAP, Kerberos, and DNS. It’s important to note that Active Directory is only for on-premises Microsoft environments, and cloud-based Microsoft environments use Azure Active Directory instead. AD and Azure AD are separate but can work together to some extent in hybrid deployments where an organization has both on-premises and cloud-based IT environments.

Safeguard Your Enterprise with Azure Advanced Protection

• Real-time security at enterprise scale: Leverage the power and scale of the cloud to safeguard against the increasing frequency, severity, and sophistication of security threats.
• Quick threat detection: Azure Advanced Protection monitors the behavior of users, devices, and resources to detect anomalies in real time, helping you detect threats quickly.
• Focused issue resolution: Stay focused on what’s important with a clear, efficient, and convenient feed that surfaces the right issues on a simple attack timeline. Azure Advanced Protection ensures that you can resolve issues quickly and with minimal disruption to your business.

Simplifying Administration and Enhancing Security with Active Directory

• Centralized management: Active Directory service simplifies life for administrators by providing centralized user and rights management and control over computer and user configurations through the AD Group Policy feature.
• Single sign-on: Users benefit from Active Directory’s single sign-on feature, which allows them to authenticate once and seamlessly access any resources in their authorized domain.
• Collaboration: Files are stored in a central repository, allowing easier user collaboration and sharing.
• Improved security: Active Directory enhances security for organizations by providing centralized control over user access and permissions and enforcing security policies across the network.
• Business continuity: Active Directory helps ensure business continuity by backing up files properly and allowing for easy recovery during a disaster.

Efficiently Troubleshoot Active Directory Issues with Professional Lab

Active Directory is a crucial network component, controlling access to essential resources in your organization. Professional Labs can help identify vulnerabilities in your Active Directory structure that could lead to security breaches or poor end-user experiences. With Professional Labs, you can:

• To ensure proper access control and security, generate reports on highly privileged groups, such as domain admins.
• Monitor for AD replication errors that could impact the consistency and reliability of your Active Directory service.
• Identify expensive LDAP queries that could slow down Active Directory performance.
• Detect and troubleshoot DNS and name resolution problems to ensure smooth network operation.
• Investigate poor Exchange performance that underlying Active Directory issues may cause.
• By leveraging Professional Labs Active Directory monitoring capabilities, you can ensure that your network is secure, reliable, and performing optimally.