Active Directory

Active Directory (AD) is a directory service developed by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It provides centralized authentication, authorization, and management of users, computers, and other resources within a network. AD uses a hierarchical structure of domains, trees, and forests to organize objects and enforce security policies.

Also known as: AD, Windows Active Directory, Microsoft Active Directory, ActiveDirectory, AD DS

Why learn Active Directory?

Developers should learn Active Directory when working in enterprise environments that use Windows-based infrastructure, as it is essential for managing user access, group policies, and network resources. It is particularly important for roles involving system administration, security, or integration with Microsoft technologies like Azure, Exchange, or SharePoint.

Learning Resources

• docs: Microsoft Docs: Active Directory Domain Services
• course: Coursera: Active Directory and Windows Server
• video: YouTube: Active Directory Tutorial for Beginners
• course: Pluralsight: Managing Active Directory with PowerShell