Active Dire­ctory (AD) is a Microsoft service managing permissions and acce­ss. This centralized database store­s data on user accounts, computers, printers, file­s, and policies. It enables administrators to control ne­tworks, apps, and shares.

Key things to know about Active Directory:

– Enables centralized, secure management of users, devices, and other objects on a network
– Administrators can assign granular access rights and permissions through group policy controls
– Users can access permitted resources like file shares and applications based on their account privileges
– Stores data about objects like users and devices in a structured hierarchy similar to a file folder structure
– Underlying protocol allows AD queries to locate resources extremely efficiently

Example: When a nurse in a hospital logs into a computer, AD automatically grants access to approved medical record databases and restricted areas of the network based on his or her role. The nurse can seamlessly access these authorized resources.

Benefits of Active Directory include increased security, simplified administration, easier regulatory compliance, and a better end user experience through single sign-on.