In short, AD underpins everything in a complex Microsoft environment, whether it’s an on-premise implementation or the Microsoft 365 cloud-based environment.ĪD has a graphical user interface (GUI) for administrators to execute their day-to-day tasks.
AD also can play a role in controlling group membership and permissions for Microsoft SharePoint sites and team spaces in Microsoft Teams. It is with Active Directory (AD) that administrators can set up and assign ownership to email distribution lists and shared mailboxes. In any Windows-centric environment, Microsoft Active Directory is an indispensable tool for managing user accounts, device connectivity, security policies, folder access, and more.