Microsoft Active Directory Reviews

Name: Microsoft Active Directory
Brand: Microsoft
Rating: 4.3 (42 reviews)

4.3 out of 5

42 reviews
97% willing to recommend

139 followers

What is Microsoft Active Directory?

Active Directory stores information about objects on the network and makes this information easy for administrators and users to find and use. Active Directory uses a structured data store as the basis for a logical, hierarchical organization of directory information.

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Microsoft Active Directory is the #6 ranked solution in top Active Directory Management solutions and #7 ranked solution in top Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions. PeerSpot users give Microsoft Active Directory an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Microsoft Active Directory is most commonly compared to Microsoft Entra ID: Microsoft Active Directory vs Microsoft Entra ID. Microsoft Active Directory is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 65% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 21% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Active Directory

January 2025

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Featured reviews

Rajitha Abhisheka

Senior Systems Engineer at Virtual IT Group - Australia

We have been using the solution for years and have adjusted our deployments to new environments. When Office 356 was introduced in 2015, there was some confusion about how to authenticate users with on-premises active directories where identities and authorizations for several applications were managed. We introduced Azure AD for use with the solution to integrate Office 365 with our client's environments. This created a conflict because every user now had two usernames and two passwords. To mitigate the conflict in those days, we used AD FS to set a 15-minute time interval which would sync on-premises AD with Azure AD. Information from a user reset in AD would push to Azure AD within a few seconds so this allowed users to log in to Office 365 email from anywhere in the world. By 2019, AD FS was a legacy system so we moved to Azure AD Connect which can be installed on an on-premises domain controller. Connect accomplishes the same things as AD FS but includes additional features for syncing.

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Roberta Politano

Infrastructure Senior Specialist at IVG

The solution's group policy is a normal way to deploy configuration and helps deploy to a wider environment. The solution is deployed both on-premises and on the cloud. I would recommend the solution to other users based on their infrastructure. Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

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Ashutosh Naik

Technical Analyst at Hexaware Technologies Limited

For stability, on a scale where one is not stable and ten is very stable, I rate this solution a seven since there are issues. The solution has its own set of issues concerning patches, compatibility issues, and a few more things. The few other issues are something that actually depends, in a sense, that every month, they roll out the patches, and then they try to close the vulnerabilities, creating issues. So, maybe encryption, and also there are many things.

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Microsoft Active Directory mindshare

Product category:

As of February 2025, the mindshare of Microsoft Active Directory in the Single Sign-On (SSO) category stands at 3.0%, up from 1.9% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Single Sign-On (SSO)

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Single Sign-On (SSO)	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft Active Directory vs Microsoft Entra ID	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft Active Directory vs Cisco Duo	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft Active Directory vs Ping Identity Platform	Feb 1, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Microsoft Entra ID	4.3	27.3%	94%	218 interviews Add to research
Fortinet FortiAuthenticator	4.0	7.9%	87%	59 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Microsoft Active Directory is valued for its user-friendly interface, integration with Microsoft products, cloud compatibility via Azure AD Connect, and strong group policy management. It enhances user and group policy management, authentication, and synchronization with on-premises and cloud environments. Features such as single sign-on, security management, centralized ID creation, and seamless integration with third-party apps make it highly effective in managing user access, policies, and permissions in large organizations.

"The solution is stable."
"I find the product makes it easier to enhance various tools with Microsoft Active Directory."
"I advise consideration of this solution. The overall product rating is ten out of ten."

Room for Improvement

Microsoft Active Directory faces challenges in user interface design and security patching with a dated interface and complex configuration requiring expert assistance. Integration with Mac, IOS, and other solutions could be enhanced. Log management lacks user-friendliness, with limited availability and time zone conversions. The on-prem functionality shows little innovation due to the shift towards cloud solutions. Synchronization, stability, reporting, scalability, and support require attention, with demands for improved group management, MFA, and seamless cloud integration.

"Sometimes support takes long to engage and resolve, extending over weeks or even months."
"Perhaps the synchronization could be simpler and more controllable. There are some features that need improvements in terms of ease of use and frequency of updates."
"I have encountered a few stability issues."

ROI

Users have expressed satisfaction with Microsoft Active Directory's investment return. While some do not calculate ROI directly, it is considered financially worthwhile. It provides significant value and streamlines user management, saving time by avoiding manual user creation on each server. Permissions are efficiently managed with a few clicks. The system is seen as an integral part of infrastructure, despite not yielding a direct financial return, and contributes to operational efficiency alongside other directories.

Pricing

Microsoft Active Directory's pricing for enterprises varies, with licensing models usually handled per user and server. Office 365 users sometimes have free licenses. Educational programs may offer free licenses. While some rate pricing as moderate or slightly expensive, others view it as reasonable, with costs tied to Microsoft Windows or Azure. Large-scale operations and organizations often face higher costs, prioritizing data security. Region-specific pricing exists, with licensing typically annual or subscription-based, rated between four and seven out of ten for affordability.

"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."

Popular Use Cases

Microsoft Active Directory is primarily used for identity and access management, providing single sign-on capabilities, and managing domains, users, groups, and policies. Organizations use it to streamline user authentication, integrate with Office 365, and manage IT infrastructure across on-premises and cloud environments. It supports resource access control, user account management, and serves as a centralized authentication mechanism for applications. Many organizations utilize Microsoft Active Directory to enhance security and manage resources efficiently.

Service and Support

Microsoft Active Directory's customer service and support experience varies. Some users find technical support average, with response times being slow and dependent on representative expertise. Online resources and forums are often utilized before contacting support. Premium services provide better assistance but at a cost. While some rate the support highly, others experience poor quality or delays. Effective support varies based on the request type, with some areas being more responsive than others.

Deployment

Many users find Microsoft Active Directory's initial setup straightforward and quick, often completed within a few hours to days. It offers visual installation options that are user-friendly. However, complexity increases with existing setups or customizations. Engineers note that understanding organizational needs and proper planning are crucial. Larger deployments may require longer timeframes and more personnel. Overall, Active Directory's ease of setup varies with familiarity and project scope.

Scalability

Microsoft Active Directory is highly scalable, accommodating both small and large enterprises, with configurations handling thousands of users. Scalability ratings vary, but many commend its resource management capabilities while noting potential compatibility issues with other applications. There's a preference for hybrid solutions involving Azure Directory for extensive scalability. Some users reported challenges with complexity in scaling across regions. Others require additional tools for optimal network monitoring, but Active Directory remains a fundamental tool for various organizational needs.

Stability

Microsoft Active Directory receives high ratings for its stability, with users frequently noting its robustness and reliability. Users rate its stability between seven and ten out of ten, acknowledging occasional minor issues but emphasizing its effectiveness. Multiple domain controllers contribute to its reliability. Users appreciate its performance without crashes or downtime. Some users mention that patches and updates address vulnerabilities, and foreseeability in scaling can enhance its stability and adaptability to organizational growth.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Microsoft Active Directory Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

21%

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

Educational Organization

Retailer

Healthcare Company

Comms Service Provider

Energy/Utilities Company

University

Construction Company

Hospitality Company

Transportation Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Non Profit

Renewables & Environment Company

Insurance Company

Consumer Goods Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Media Company

Outsourcing Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Compare Microsoft Active Directory with alternative products

Learn more about Microsoft Active Directory

This data store, also known as the directory, contains information about Active Directory objects. These objects typically include shared resources such as servers, volumes, printers, and the network user and computer accounts.

Security is integrated with Active Directory through logon authentication and access control to objects in the directory. With a single network logon, administrators can manage directory data and organization throughout their network, and authorized network users can access resources anywhere on the network. Policy-based administration eases the management of even the most complex network.