In Windows environment, Active Directory (AD) refers to a hierarchical directory structure used to store data related to networks and user domains within an organization. An Active Directory structure comprises database units having information about the objects, resources and the services used in an enterprise. Dynamic business needs require implementation of sound Active Directory management services in order to incorporate growth, mergers and divisions of organizations in the internal structure of the AD. These implementations are viewed at three different levels of an Active Directory structure, viz., at the domain, trees and forests.
Active Directory management systems like Lepide Active Directory Management and Reporting tool are efficient in incorporating such changes in the all the three levels of an AD. To keep the AD updated and help administrators handle all the essential tasks, four major aspects are covered, which are as follows:
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Merging and restructuring the domains without impacting the users
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Quickly recovering the deleted Active Directory objects
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Automatically provisioning new users into the directory structure
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Enabling control over Active Directory auditing
The above mentioned aspects of Active Directory management can be elaborated in the following paragraph. The task of migrating user accounts, exchange mailboxes and complex clusters from one domain to another is quite a tedious task for administrators. And to further incorporate these restructuring and mergers without actually impacting the user is a bigger challenge. Furthermore, enrolling new users, providing them access rights and assigning them new accounts also require significant amount of planning.
However, executing changes in the AD corresponding to all such developments in the work domains can be made less complex with the help of AD management systems like Lepide Active Directory Management and Reporting. Some of the important real-time issues handled by this Active Directory management tool are mentioned below:
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Time utilization and management
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Keeping the AD updated
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Moving user accounts from one OU to another
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Managing printers and printing jobs
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Managing personal information of users
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Executing tasks related to user account management
Hence, we see, efficient active management system offers optimum solutions for managing administrative tasks on an Active Directory.
Active Directory Management 