Active Directory (AD)

About Active Directory (AD)

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.

FUNDAMENTALS

Datacenter networking servers

What is Active Directory: The Ultimate Guide

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?…

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Understanding the 5 FSMO Roles in Active Directory

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…

Datacenter networking servers

Active Directory Replication: A Guide for IT Pros

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…

GETTING STARTED

Windows

How To Install Active Directory Users And Computers (ADUC): A Step-by-Step Guide

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…

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How To Use The Active Directory Administrative Center

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,…

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The Ultimate List of Free Active Directory Tools

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…

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5 Steps to Secure Active Directory

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…

TUTORIALS

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How to List Active Directory Users with PowerShell

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…

Datacenter networking servers

How to Check FSMO Roles in Active Directory

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…

PowerShell

How to Install Active Directory PowerShell Module

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…

LATEST

Windows

How to Use Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) with Active Directory and Azure AD

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…

PowerShell

Get-ADComputer: The PowerShell Command for Managing Active Directory Computers

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…

Datacenter networking servers

How to Check FSMO Roles in Active Directory

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…

Cloud Computing

88% of Hybrid AD Environments Have Critical Vulnerabilities, Survey Finds

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…

Security

Cayosoft: Unraveling the Future of Identity and Access Management

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…

Microsoft SharePoint

A Guide to Using Microsoft Copilot With SharePoint

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…

Network Security

AWS Managed Active Directory vs. Self-Hosted AD: Which Solution is Best For Your Company?

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…

Windows 11 2022 Update

Troubleshooting Group Policy with GPResult: A Complete Guide

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…

Cloud Computing

Microsoft to Phase Out Event Alerts in Purview Audit – How to Prepare for the Change

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…

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Understanding Group Policy WMI Filtering

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…

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5 Steps to Secure Active Directory

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…

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Unlocking the Power of Active Directory Groups: A Comprehensive Guide

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…

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