Active Directory (AD) is a directory service that connects users with the network resources they need to accomplish their tasks. It is Microsoft’s proprietary entity that runs on Windows Server and allows administrators to manage access permissions across networks. AD first emerged in the Windows 2000 system, intending to provide directory services to complex IT environments.
The directory stores information about objects, wherein an object may refer to network elements such as a user, group, device, or application. AD is responsible for categorizing these objects based on name