Microsoft Active Directory Reviews

Microsoft Active Directory is appreciated for its value, financial worth, and key role within infrastructure, complementing systems like Google Directory. It significantly reduces time spent on manual user creation and streamlines user access control, enhancing efficiency by allowing centralized user management. Permissions are easily granted to groups or folders with minimal effort, generating notable value despite a lack of direct financial return. Overall, organizations experience considerable benefits through its implementation.

Enterprise users find Microsoft Active Directory's pricing based on a licensing model with costs largely influenced by number of users and infrastructure needs. Costs vary by region and sector with educational institutions sometimes receiving free licenses. Many perceive Active Directory's pricing as reasonable, with affordability ratings from four to seven out of ten. The licensing model often includes bundled purchases with the Microsoft Windows package, minimizing additional costs for Active Directory itself.

• "On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a four out of ten."
• "Microsoft Active Directory is not an expensive solution."
• "My company makes payments every quarter towards the licensing costs of the product."

Network administrators and IT professionals use Microsoft Active Directory for identity and access management, domain control, single sign-on, and security across multiple platforms. Companies implement it for user, group, and machine management, centralizing permissions, and authentication processes for both on-premises and cloud environments. Active Directory integrates with Microsoft services, managing user lifecycles, policies, devices, and facilitating infrastructures during mergers or restructuring projects, ensuring efficient, secure access control that aligns with organizational IT infrastructures.

Customer support for Microsoft Active Directory varies in effectiveness, with some users experiencing slow response times. Many users prefer online resources and forums, finding them useful for problem-solving. Technical support can be inconsistent, relying on the assigned technician's skills. Premium support is available but costly. Some users find local partners more helpful. Overall, the reported experience ranges from good to lacking, depending on the type of issue and support tier accessed.

Users find Microsoft Active Directory's initial setup generally straightforward, often quick, but dependent on environment and familiarity. For some, especially those migrating or requiring customization, the process can become complex. On-premises deployments involve specific configurations, taking hours to several days, though basic installations are faster. Engineers with prior knowledge usually encounter fewer challenges. A well-documented guide aids the process, but organizational policies may influence complexity and time required. Some advocate for deployment assistance due to varying implementation needs.

Microsoft Active Directory exhibits strong scalability, serving various user counts across organizations. Many users rate its scalability high, noting easy integration and migration. While some experienced issues in extensive setups, such as load balancing, others successfully managed large user bases. Organizations highlight its adaptability and ability to handle growth. Though some suggest enhancements, its scalability is often praised, with users expressing satisfaction in handling large organizational needs and planning future expansions.

Microsoft Active Directory is frequently described as stable with high scalability ratings, often scoring between eight and ten for stability. Users highlight its reliable performance, though some mention occasional issues related to patches and compatibility. Many users report no major performance issues, experiencing continuous operation without crashes or downtime. Some users note the importance of future-proofing design considerations for stability. Generally, stability is emphasized as a strong point of Microsoft Active Directory.