Active Directory Overview
Active Directory (AD) is a directory service developed by Microsoft that helps organize and manage IT resources within a network [cite: 2026-02-12]. It provides a centralized platform for administering users, computers, and services—making it easier to control access, enforce security policies, and maintain consistency across your environment.
As an Assistant Technical Manager, I specialize in deploying and managing AD infrastructures to improve both the security and efficiency of enterprise IT operations.
Key Roles in Active Directory
🔹 Domain Controller (DC)
Authenticates and authorizes users and devices in a domain. Successfully led the project to upgrade all domain controllers to Windows Server 2025 [cite: 2026-01-21].
🔹 AD Domain Services (AD DS)
The primary component of AD, responsible for storing directory data and handling authentication and authorization [cite: 2026-02-12].
🔹 Azure Entra ID (Hybrid)
Specialized in large-scale Microsoft 365 tenant-to-tenant migrations involving 6.3 TB of data for 270 users [cite: 2026-01-23].
🔹 AD Certificate Services (AD CS)
Issues and manages digital certificates to secure communications and enable PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) [cite: 2026-01-22].
🔹 AD Federation Services (AD FS)
Enables Single Sign-On (SSO) across disparate systems and external organizational boundaries.
🔹 AD Rights Management (AD RMS)
Protects sensitive enterprise data by enforcing granular usage and access restrictions.