20. Functions of Active Directory
Active
Directory provides the following functions:
●
Centralizes control
of network resources
By centralizing control of resources such as servers, shared files, and printers, only authorized users can access resources in Active Directory.
By centralizing control of resources such as servers, shared files, and printers, only authorized users can access resources in Active Directory.
●
Centralizes and
decentralizes resource management
Administrators have Centralized Administration with the ability to delegate administration of subsets of the network to a limited number of individuals giving them greater granularity in resource management.
Administrators have Centralized Administration with the ability to delegate administration of subsets of the network to a limited number of individuals giving them greater granularity in resource management.
●
Store objects
securely in a logical structure
Active Directory stores all of the resources as objects in a secure, hierarchical logical structure.
Active Directory stores all of the resources as objects in a secure, hierarchical logical structure.
●
Optimizes network
traffic
The physical structure of Active Directory enables you to use network bandwidth more efficiently. For example, it ensures that, when users log on to the network, the authentication authority that is nearest to the user, authenticates them reducing the amount of network traffic.
The physical structure of Active Directory enables you to use network bandwidth more efficiently. For example, it ensures that, when users log on to the network, the authentication authority that is nearest to the user, authenticates them reducing the amount of network traffic.