LDAP stands for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol. It is an open, vendor-neutral industry standard application protocol for accessing and maintaining distributed directory information services over an IP network.

How LDAP Works

LDAP enables centralized authentication and authorization of users for network resources by:

– Organizing directory entries hierarchically for ease of access.
– Allowing queries to search for information from the LDAP server.
– Enabling update operations to add, delete or modify LDAP directory entries.

Some common examples of LDAP deployments are:

– Centralized user credential and access right management.
– Enterprise address book and contact information access.
– Organizational unit and asset directories.

Value for Managed Services

For MSPs, expertise in deploying and managing enterprise LDAP servers is essential for services like:

– Centralized Identity and Access Management (IdAM).
– Securing bring your own device (BYOD).
– Automating user provisioning/deprovisioning.
– Providing single sign-on (SSO) access.
– Syncing with multifactor authentication systems.