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Kazem Mirabedini - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Specialist at ddrteam
Real User
It's stable and consistent, so it doesn't have any bugs or issues
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is user-friendly, and I like using Microsoft products. I think there is no other choice for Active Directory. Microsoft Windows Server Active Directory is the best."
  • "The interface hasn't changed much over the years. It's suitable for my tastes, but that doesn't mean everybody likes it."

What is our primary use case?

I'm a network administrator for three companies, and each has between 10 and 30 users. The largest has 28. And I use virtualization based on VMware ES 6 to separate my servers. I use Windows Server 2019 for Active Directory and DNS. Most of my services are based on Microsoft services on the servers, except KerioControl.

Most of the users work in digital marketing. The biggest issue is installing and integrating graphical software, like Adobe and Office.

How has it helped my organization?

Our CRM application is built on SQL Server, and we use Microsoft Windows Server for that. This CRM solution manages all our customer data on that kind of server. We get a tremendous benefit from that application and use Windows Server.

What is most valuable?

The solution is user-friendly, and I like using Microsoft products. I think there is no other choice for Active Directory. Microsoft Windows Server Active Directory is the best.

Active Directory hasn't changed much between Windows Server 2008 and 2019. The protocols and rules are the same, and I think it's the best part of it. It's stable and consistent, so it doesn't have any bugs or issues.

What needs improvement?

The interface hasn't changed much over the years. It's suitable for my tastes, but that doesn't mean everybody likes it.

Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Active Directory
March 2025
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Active Directory. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
845,040 professionals have used our research since 2012.

For how long have I used the solution?

I first used Active Directory on Windows Server 2008, and then I switched. I upgraded all my servers to Windows Server 2019. 

I've changed jobs from network administrator to DevOps engineer. We are a team, and we work in cabling and some kind of passing activities most of the time. We typically work alone and manage our networks separately, but team members come to me as an advisor when they have issues.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Active Directory is stable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I use Active Directory on a lot of powerful hardware, and Windows Server was compatible with all of them.

How was the initial setup?

I rate Windows Server Active Directory 10 out of 10 for ease of setup. The setup is easy. It's an installer, and you click "next."  I don't like it, but it's straightforward. 

Most recently, I did it for my customers three months ago. After that, I installed ES 6 and other services that I said. It was done in a day or two because I also installed Veeam Backup and Replication.

What other advice do I have?

I rate Windows Server Active Directory nine out of 10. If you are planning to use the solution, I would take advantage of group policies. Everyone who wants to use Active Directory must be careful to include group policies.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Winston Lewis - PeerSpot reviewer
Assistant Manager - IT and Innovation at a financial services firm with 51-200 employees
Real User
Top 10
Essential solution with excellent log-on service
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution's initial setup is straightforward."
  • "They should improve the solution's old computer cleanup tool."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution to log in to our systems.

How has it helped my organization?

It has proved to be an essential solution for our organization.

What is most valuable?

The solution's most valuable feature is its log-on service.

What needs improvement?

They should improve the solution's old computer cleanup tool.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using the solution for a few years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the solution's stability as a ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I rate the solution's scalability as an eight. We have around 70 users of the solution at our organization. We plan to add 20 more users.

How was the initial setup?

The solution's initial setup is straightforward.

What was our ROI?

The solution's ROI is worth it.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution's price is reasonable.

What other advice do I have?

I advise others to keep the solution up to date. For example, if they use Windows Server 2018, the domain should match the level. If not, it could introduce a risk to their systems.

I rate the solution as a nine.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Active Directory
March 2025
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Active Directory. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
845,040 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Philip Kitheka - PeerSpot reviewer
Enterprise Systems Specialist at KCB Bank Group
Real User
Top 10
Offers its users to use its authentication and authorization capabilities
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution's technical support is good."
  • "Microsoft Active Directory fails to provide MFA. MFA, which is also known as multi-factor authentication on top of the password and username, is what I would like to see in the product's future releases."

What is our primary use case?

My company uses Microsoft Active Directory as an identity and access management solution. The tool is used for its authentication capabilities in my company.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features of the solution are its capabilities in areas like authentication and authorization, which include aspects like configuring permissions on folders and assigning permissions to security groups configured in Microsoft Active Directory.

What needs improvement?

I feel that Microsoft Active Directory is a superior solution to the other products available in the market.

Microsoft Active Directory fails to provide MFA. MFA, which is also known as multi-factor authentication on top of the password and username, is what I would like to see in the product's future releases.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Microsoft Active Directory for more than ten years.

How are customer service and support?

The solution's technical support is good.

How was the initial setup?

The product's initial setup phase was straightforward as it can be done within the operating system, after which you can take care of the configuration part to complete the setup process.

The solution is deployed on a hybrid cloud model.

What other advice do I have?

Microsoft Active Directory is an excellent product.

I rate the overall tool a ten out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Amjad Ali - PeerSpot reviewer
Enterprise Technical Support at a government with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 20
A solution with great audit, authentication and authorization features
Pros and Cons
  • "Audit, authentication and authorization are the best features."
  • "There is room for improvement."

What is our primary use case?

We use Active Directory as a single sign-on when integrating it into applications.

What is most valuable?

Audit, authentication and authorization are the best features.

What needs improvement?

There is room for improvement. Microsoft is always working to improve their solutions and features.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable solution. Microsoft Active Directory is the bread and butter for Microsoft, so they're always working on improvements.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a scalable solution. Our organization has more than 45,000 users and nearly 300 users in our IT sector. We have a dedicated team for maintenance and segregate responsibilities into different departments.

How are customer service and support?

We always use tech support from Microsoft. If we can solve it internally by ourselves, we do, but if there are other issues related to Active Directory, we create a ticker and reach out to them. I rate the technical support an eight out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is not complex but depends on the organization's policies.

What other advice do I have?

I rate this solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Markus Günther - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Architect Active Directory at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Top 10
Can be used to manage computer accounts and build roles and permissions
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is easy to install and has good reliability."
  • "The solution could be made more safe by using authentication mechanisms."

What is our primary use case?

I use Microsoft Active Directory as the first line in the LDAP directory. You can use the solution to manage computer accounts, user accounts, and other objects. You can also use Microsoft Active Directory to build roles and permissions.

What is most valuable?

The solution is widely used in Microsoft environments, where you use computers with the Microsoft OS. The solution is easy to install and has good reliability. With Microsoft Active Directory, you won't have any problems if one of the domain controllers is damaged. The tools you use to maintain and manage Microsoft Active Directory are not complicated.

What needs improvement?

The solution could be made more safe by using authentication mechanisms. We often have to deal with security issues.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Microsoft Active Directory for 20 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution has some bugs, but from my point of view, they are not really important.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

More than 1,00,000 users are using the solution in our organization.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Microsoft Active Directory is not an expensive solution. You have to buy the Windows OS licenses, but you don't have to pay any additional product licenses for Active Directory.

What other advice do I have?

You have to build an environment after considering all your requirements. It is really important to consider your organizational structure and the possibilities of the tools you use to authenticate against Active Directory. Microsoft Active Directory is so easy to install. You can promote the domain controller and then have an Active Directory.

Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Saeid Hajtalebi - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Infrastructure Systems, Services and Virtualization Specialist at IRISA
Real User
Top 5
A stable solution for 3 A's and SSO Authentication
Pros and Cons
  • "I think the main reason we are using Active Directory for SSO Office for single time and for intake integrity capability to other services."
  • "The scalability of the solution needs improvement."

What is our primary use case?

The solution is used for the 3A’s that is Authentication, authorization, and accounting.


What is most valuable?

I think the main reason we are using Active Directory for SSO Office for single time and for intake integrity capability to other services.


What needs improvement?

The scalability of the solution needs improvement.


For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for ten years.


What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable solution.


What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of the solution can be improved. I rate the scalability a seven out of ten.


How are customer service and support?

The technical support team is very good. I rate them a nine out of ten.


How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is easy. The deployment of the solution takes approximately three hours and two people are required for the deployment. I can rate the initial setup a nine out of ten.


What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing is not very expensive. I rate the pricing a five out of ten.


What other advice do I have?

I rate the overall solution a nine out of ten.


Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Owner at Darcom
Real User
Easy-to-setup product with good stability
Pros and Cons
  • "It is an all-in-one solution for cybersecurity and is available at a very low price."
  • "There could be enough material to learn about the product."

What is our primary use case?

We use Azure Active Directory Identity Protection for conditional access features.

What is most valuable?

It is an all-in-one solution for cybersecurity and is available at a very low price.

What needs improvement?

There could be enough material to learn about the product.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Azure Active Directory Identity Protection for five years. At present, we use the latest version.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable product.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The product is suitable for small and medium businesses.

How was the initial setup?

The product’s initial setup process is easy. It takes two to three hours to complete and requires two people to execute the deployment.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I rate the product’s pricing a five out of ten.

What other advice do I have?

I recommend Azure Active Directory Identity Protection to others and rate it an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
PeerSpot user
ShameerAli - PeerSpot reviewer
Cybersecurity Consultant at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Real User
A scalable solution with good management capability
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution’s management capability is very good. The tool is also very scalable. You can add any number of users that you want to operate. Moreover, you can easily organize the solution."
  • "I would like to see improvements in the solution’s security filtering feature. It can include machines and filter some users. There is no option to exclude a particular user or system."

What is most valuable?

The solution’s management capability is very good. The tool is also very scalable. You can add any number of users that you want to operate. Moreover, you can easily organize the solution.

What needs improvement?

I would like to see improvements in the solution’s security filtering feature. It can include machines and filter some users. There is no option to exclude a particular user or system.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is very scalable. The solution works from a single server. Hence, the usage is as per company and not per user.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is neither too easy nor difficult. You need to have some skills or knowledge in Microsoft Active Directory to implement it.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate the solution a nine out of ten. I recommend this solution to anyone who is willing to use it. I have no knowledge of other alternatives that can do the same job as Microsoft Active Directory.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user