Types of Active Directory Explained Easily
Organizations across the globe use Active Directory to maintain their on-premise Windows domain network. For many, this involves a complex process of managing users, groups, and resources, and understanding the nuances of Active Directory migration is crucial. Moreover, it is not a new system as seen from the fact that back in Windows 2000 Active Directory it’s been around managing servers. So naturally over time, we have seen many versions and more specifically different types of Active Directory. Which are used to fulfill various business needs from traditional on‑premises management to modern, cloud-based identity and access solutions.
So let us decipher the difference between the AD types starting with ADDS
Active Directory Domain Service Type
This is the classic on-premise directory service that has been part of AD since the beginning. Admins use it to perform all sorts of tasks including the management of user accounts, adding new computer devices, forming new groups, etc. All this forms the necessary foundation for organizations that keep a Windows Domain environment for their identity infrastructure.
Admins use it to perform all sorts of tasks including the management of user accounts, adding new computer devises, forming new groups and so on. Sometimes admins even have to migrate AD objects from one domain to another.
Some Key Features that Qualify AD DS as an Active Directory type are:
Centralized Management: Admins get access to a unified command and control center to perform their management duties through a single database.
Replication and Redundancy: More often than not organizations tend to use multiple domain controllers so that the service remains available during adverse events. This is an essential quality of a domain service that AD DS fulfills.
Security and Authentication: No organization wants its critical data to leak or get infiltrated with ransomware. This is prevented via direct integration with the Kerberos and LDAP to allow secure user logins and error-free access controls.
Some Use Cases of Active Directory Domain Service
One major area where ADDS makes a direct impact is the network resources. An admin can set up strict entry requirements for both entities and information coming in and out of a domain. As the starting point for all management activity AD DS contains provisions for policy, DNS integration, and much more. ADDS is not the only system there is a miniature version of this system let’s learn about it.
Type of AD Lightweight Directory Services
Many veteran admins may remember it being called AD Application Mode it was named as such because of the due to its lightweight structure which could serve as a standalone directory service for apps that require one. Microsoft later changed its name to ADLDS so that there is a better representation of its purpose as an independent LDAP‑compliant directory.
Some Key Features of AD LDS include:
Domain-free Existence: Organizations need not deploy a full domain infrastructure as the lightweight service allows independent existence with no domain requirement.
Scalability: Like its more feature-full counterpart the AD LDS also allows multiple instances on the same server.
App Integration: The biggest reason for organizations to choose this over the regular domain service is the ability to use directory-enabled applications.
The primary use case of an Active Directory of this type is when an organization needs a cost miniaturization directory service that works without the baggage of managing a custom domain.
Active Directory Federation Service
AD FS is not a full service in itself but rather can be thought of as a capacity extender to the more pronounced AD DS.
With federation Services enabled in any of the following types of Active Directory, it is able to use the SSO (Single Sign On) feature across organization boundaries.
It works by issuing account-specific security tokens. These tokens are made as per industry standards like SAML, OAuth, and OpenID Connect.
With these admins can be assured that their AD is secure enough to deliver a smooth user experience.
Here is a list of key features you need to watch out for if you want to ensure that your AD type is Active Directory Federation Service.
Federated Identity Management: This means users only have to login once all the resources and services they need become accessible no need to enter credentials multiple times.
Interoperability: ADFS can not only work with Microsoft services but extend beyond to include non-Microsoft apps as well.
Security Tokens: Tokens are unique and actively generated that expire after use to ensure security above all else.
A simple use case that highlights the importance of Active Directory Federation Service best is in organizations that collaborate with external partners. Admins can use AD FS and avoid the construction of a whole new credential set. Speaking of credentials they often require proprietary certificates dont worry as there is a type of Ad just for that.
Active Directory Certificate Services
AD CS is the component responsible for issuing and maintaining the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) within an organization. So everything from issuing to revoking and all the management activities that take place in between are managed by these services. Moreover, admins need not worry about the security part as every time a new certificate request arises a corresponding security mechanism does the identity verification part automatically.
Like other types of Active Directory services, this too has its own set of features which are explained below:
Digital Certificate Management: Certificates can be issued to users, computers, groups, and other major AD components whenever required.
Works with Other ADs: This service works with AD DS to provide a secure email, file encryption, and VPN connection
Superior Security: Every certificate passes through industry-standard cryptographic protection so that no sensitive data is ever exposed.
Active Directory Digital services are applicable in scenarios where businesses have to conduct digitally signed communication.
AD Rights Management Services
The Active Directory RMS (no longer under active development) is designed to work as a protector for sensitive information. It does so by enforcing strict boundaries on who has what access and for how long. Essentially controlling the scope of organizational data access at the user level.
Information Protection: Applies encryption and usage restrictions to digital content.
Policy Enforcement: Allows IT admins to set granular rights for viewing, editing, or printing documents.
Integration: Works with AD DS and other services to secure information across the organization.
Use Cases for this Active Directory type.
Organizations handling confidential information use AD RMS to prevent unauthorized sharing or modification of sensitive data.
What Type of Active Directory is Purely Cloud Based?
Microsoft used to call it Azure Active Directory until 2023 when it was renamed to Entra ID. This is an entirely cloud-based identity and access management system. Organizations use it to conduct authentication of users and authorization for Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and other SAAS applications. If you want a cloud equivalent of Active Directory, Entra ID is the service for it. However, transitioning from an on-premises AD to Entra ID can be challenging, often requiring careful planning and the use of ADMT replacement tools.
What key features does Entra ID provide:
Modern Authentication: You can have passwordless, multifactor authentication for safe access.
Integrates with Ease: A universal sign-on feature allows seamless access to all cloud applications.
When to go for Entra ID instead of regular types of Active Directory
It is best utilized if you have an organization that operates across many different geographies. If your workforce is majorly remote use SaaS applications on multi-cloud environments and dont want to disrupt existing deployments.
Hybrid AD Environment
Organizations increasingly wish they could have a type of Active Directory in a hybrid state. So that their critical data is in a self-managed system. While still using the vast resources and services available on the cloud. This combines AD DS with Microsoft Entra ID and can be done using tools like Microsoft Entra Connect. However, the security of the data must not be forgotten so one must make sure to remove SID history after migration.
Benefits of a Two Type System
Flexibility: Admins can switch between the two environments whenever they like. for example, some legacy systems (it can be hardware that is tightly intertwined with local AD) that lack a direct cloud equivalent are often kept on-premise. While being used as a service via the Entra ID.
Unified Identity: Users can move across all environments freely without credential restrictions or other roadblocks.
Easier Full Migration: As Hybrid systems have a part of their infra on the cloud it becomes a lot easier to do a full cloud transiti
on. Moreover one must not forget to maintain a secure system so one must find disabled computers in the Active Directory. This is to keep an eye on the system.
Despite the many benefits of a Hybrid system, it is not for everyone. Building a hybrid system and maintaining it is expensive and if not planned carefully can go against any advantages an organization hopes to achieve.
Conclusion
Here we saw that Microsoft had made numerous changes and released many different types of Active Directory over the years. From the many on-premise solutions like AD DS, AD LDS, AD FS, AD CS, and AD RMS to cloud-based equivalents under the rebranded Microsoft Entra ID. Which is the flagship and the destination for all modern identity management. So if your organization needs help during this transition use SysTools Migrator for Active Directory to Entra ID migration. It is the best-in-class solution to move your on-premise setup to the cloud.