Microsoft Active Directory

Active Directory (AD) provides the means to manage the identities and relationships that make up your network. It gives you the functionality to centrally configure and administer system, user, and application settings. Integrated with Windows Server, Active Directory provides significant features:

Active Directory Domain Services - The central location for configuration information, authentication, and information about all of the objects stored in the Active Directory forest that allows efficient management of users, groups, computers, printers, and applications.

Active Directory Rights Management Services - Ensures that only those individuals who need to view a file can do so, both inside the organization and outside.

Active Directory Certificate Services - Provides enhanced security by binding the identity of a person, device, or service to their own private key that is stored in Active Directory.

Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services - Enables controlled access to Active Directory for directory-enabled applications while reducing overhead and increasing security.