Active Directory provides the means to manage the identities and relationships that make up your organization’s network.
The Active Directory technology has been enhanced to a strong technical architecture, which was established in early NT, and expanded in Windows Server 2008.The function extended from the single management to the big and complex domain structure expanded through the site and forest, which reach the goal that the Microsoft hope to resolve how to serve the multi-national corporations. Compared with similar products, the deep integration of AD and the Microsoft products extended the functions of the Active Directory from the side. For example, if Exchange Server built on AD, an integrated Email-solution could be attained. If ISA Server created on AD, an integrated Firewall-solution could be attained. An intranet centralized office solution could be attained when Office and SharePoint on AD. Similarly, they all could be integrated with AD, such as SQL Server database, SMS, RRAS, CA, RASDIUS, IIS, Cluster, WSUs and even DHCP Server, to achieve centralized management. Additionally, some of them work only when integrated with AD. The Microsoft products based on the AD technology can resolve most problems the enterprise will meet with.
Improvements in Active Directory deliver key strategic benefits for medium and large enterprises, enabling greater administrator and user productivity. Expanding on the foundation established in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 improves the versatility, manageability, and dependability of Active Directory. Organizations can benefit from further reductions in cost while increasing the efficiency in which they share and manage the various elements of the enterprise.