Welcome to the Active Directory category page, your comprehensive guide to mastering the world of identity management in Windows Server. Active Directory (AD) is a Microsoft technology used for managing identities and computer resources securely. Here, you will find resources ranging from the basic concepts to advanced implementations. Discover how to manage user accounts, groups, and access controls; configure Group Policy; and deploy domain controllers (DC). Whether you’re a systems administrator, an IT professional, or an enthusiastic learner, this page is your gateway to understanding and leveraging AD efficiently.
Last Update: Mar 13, 2024
Active Directory is Microsoft’s on-premises identity and access management (IAM) service. In this article, learn how Active Directory (AD) makes it easier for IT to manage an organization’s IT resources. Active Directory is especially useful for companies that have to manage lots of endpoints and servers. What is Active Directory and why is it used?…
FSMO roles are a crucial piece in Active Directory functionality. Learn about their purpose, types, and how they work together in this guide. Windows Server Active Directory multi-master model A multi-master enabled database, such as Active Directory, provides the flexibility of allowing changes to occur at any domain controller (DC) in the enterprise, but it…
Last Update: Sep 04, 2024
Learn all there is to know about how Active Directory (AD) replication works. This guide covers the basics of how domain controllers (DCs) replicate all of your user accounts, passwords, computers, and other objects in your environment. Learn about how sites define the logical layout of your network and how the tools and features in…
Last Update: Dec 18, 2024
In this guide, we’ll show you how to install Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) and the basics of working with it so you can manage Active Directory. Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) is built as an add-on for the Microsoft Management Console (MMC), and it’s the go-to tool for IT Pros to manage…
The Active Directory Administrative Center (ADAC) is a powerful, modern tool for managing Active Directory. Learn how to use it efficiently with our step-by-step guide and tips. What is Active Directory Administrative Center (ADAC)? The Active Directory Administrative Center (ADAC) is a tool designed for IT administrators and IT Pros to manage Active Directory. Users,…
Last Update: Mar 23, 2025
While there are numerous paid solutions available, many IT professionals overlook the relative abundance of free Active Directory tools that can streamline management tasks. Besides making your CFO happy, these tools offer robust features that can simplify complex administrative tasks and enhance security. In this blog post, we’ll explore why IT pros should consider integrating…
Last Update: Jan 14, 2025
In this guide about Active Directory (AD) security, we’re going to detail five steps that IT admins need to follow to secure Active Directory environments in an organization. There are many best practices you’ll need to be familiar with to ensure Active Directory security, including restricting the use of privileged accounts, monitoring Windows Event Log…
In this article, I’ll show you how to list Active Directory users with PowerShell. While you can also list Active Directory (AD) users in Active Directory Users and Computers, PowerShell provides a much faster way. Check out how to list Active Directory Users with ADUC on Petri if you would prefer to perform this action…
Last Update: May 05, 2025
In this article, I’m going to show you how to check FSMO roles and which domain controllers (DC) hold the FSMO roles in Active Directory (AD). FSMO roles are assigned to specific domain controllers and are designed to prevent conflicts once data is replicated. You can also quickly transfer FSMO and seize FSMO roles using…
Last Update: Sep 23, 2024
In this guide, we’ll show you how to install the Active Directory PowerShell module on almost any version of Windows. Installing the Active Directory (AD) module in PowerShell offers IT pros convenient and secure remote access to administer their AD environments, all without having to interactively log into their domain controllers. Microsoft does not recommend…
Last Update: May 09, 2025
Microsoft’s Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) is a legacy Windows tool that IT admins can use to manage account passwords of domain-joined computers. The company has finally updated LAPS this year and plans to bring it natively into Windows in 2023. In this article, I’ll explain how to use LAPS and how it can help…
Last Update: May 06, 2025
The Get-ADComputer PowerShell cmdlet is a powerful tool for managing AD computers. It can be used to retrieve information about computer objects, search for computer objects based on specific criteria, and perform various actions on computer objects. What is Get-ADComputer used for? Get-ADComputer is a PowerShell cmdlet that retrieves one or more computers from Active…
Last Update: May 05, 2025
In this article, I’m going to show you how to check FSMO roles and which domain controllers (DC) hold the FSMO roles in Active Directory (AD). FSMO roles are assigned to specific domain controllers and are designed to prevent conflicts once data is replicated. You can also quickly transfer FSMO and seize FSMO roles using…
Cayosoft has released its 2025 Active Directory Insights report that includes findings from a Petri Media survey of over 1,000 IT and security professionals. The report shows that more than 88% of enterprise hybrid Active Directory environments contain critical security vulnerabilities. Active Directory (AD) is a key element in enterprise environments because it allows IT…
Cayosoft started life as a license management solution for Microsoft 365 and it gradually evolved into a comprehensive backup, protection, and administration product for Active Directory (AD) and Microsoft Entra ID. In this episode of Petri Dish, Petri’s Editorial Director, Russell Smith, talks to Cayosoft CEO and founder Bob Bobel about managing complexity in Identity…
This guide explores how SharePoint and Copilot intersect, providing practical applications and considerations for IT professionals managing complex enterprise environments. SharePoint and Copilot convergence As organizations continue to digitize and embrace AI capabilities, discovering how they can augment and support enterprise platforms is a crucial evolution point. Microsoft Copilot – the AI-led virtual assistant built…
Last Update: Mar 23, 2025
In this article, we’ll explore what you need to take into account when moving workloads that require a directory service like Active Directory (AD) on Amazon Web Services (AWS). As we’ll see, there are currently two options for deploying Active Directory-dependent workloads on AWS, using AWS Managed Active Directory or self-hosting Active Directory on AWS…
Navigating Group Policy issues can be challenging in an Active Directory environment, but the gpresult command is a powerful tool for diagnosing and resolving these problems. This article helps you to effectively use gpresult to troubleshoot Group Policy information, ensuring your system configurations are applied correctly and efficiently. Using GPResult for Basic Troubleshooting Let me…
Microsoft is preparing to retire the event alerts feature in its Purview Audit solution. The company announced on the Microsoft 365 Admin Center that this change will take effect in March 2025. Microsoft Purview Audit is an auditing solution designed to support organizations in conducting forensic and compliance investigations. It provides high-bandwidth access to audit…
Group Policy WMI Filtering is a powerful feature that allows administrators to apply Group Policy Objects (GPOs) and Group Policy preferences based on specific attributes of target computers, servers, and users. By leveraging Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) queries, IT professionals can create highly targeted and dynamic GPOs that respond to the unique needs of their…
Last Update: Jan 14, 2025
In this guide about Active Directory (AD) security, we’re going to detail five steps that IT admins need to follow to secure Active Directory environments in an organization. There are many best practices you’ll need to be familiar with to ensure Active Directory security, including restricting the use of privileged accounts, monitoring Windows Event Log…
Active Directory groups are essential tools for managing and organizing users, computers, and other resources within a Windows domain. This article will provide an in-depth exploration of Active Directory (AD) groups, including their types, purposes, and best management practices. Whether you’re a seasoned IT professional or just beginning your journey with Active Directory, this guide…