Microsoft Active Directory Reviews

Name: Microsoft Active Directory
Brand: Microsoft
Rating: 4.3 (42 reviews)

4.3 out of 5

42 reviews
97% willing to recommend

113 followers

What is Microsoft Active Directory?

Active Directory stores information about objects on the network and makes this information easy for administrators and users to find and use. Active Directory uses a structured data store as the basis for a logical, hierarchical organization of directory information.

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Microsoft Active Directory is the #5 ranked solution in top Active Directory Management solutions and #7 ranked solution in top Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions. PeerSpot users give Microsoft Active Directory an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Microsoft Active Directory is most commonly compared to Microsoft Entra ID: Microsoft Active Directory vs Microsoft Entra ID. Microsoft Active Directory is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 63% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 15% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Active Directory

May 2025

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Featured Microsoft Active Directory reviews

Rajitha Abhisheka

Senior Systems Engineer at Virtual IT Group - Australia

We have been using the solution for years and have adjusted our deployments to new environments. When Office 356 was introduced in 2015, there was some confusion about how to authenticate users with on-premises active directories where identities and authorizations for several applications were managed. We introduced Azure AD for use with the solution to integrate Office 365 with our client's environments. This created a conflict because every user now had two usernames and two passwords. To mitigate the conflict in those days, we used AD FS to set a 15-minute time interval which would sync on-premises AD with Azure AD. Information from a user reset in AD would push to Azure AD within a few seconds so this allowed users to log in to Office 365 email from anywhere in the world. By 2019, AD FS was a legacy system so we moved to Azure AD Connect which can be installed on an on-premises domain controller. Connect accomplishes the same things as AD FS but includes additional features for syncing.

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Roberta Politano

Infrastructure Senior Specialist at IVG

The solution's group policy is a normal way to deploy configuration and helps deploy to a wider environment. The solution is deployed both on-premises and on the cloud. I would recommend the solution to other users based on their infrastructure. Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

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Harrison Bulley

Senior Infrastructure Engineer at Net Consulting

We use the solution to control environments for different servers The solution's most valuable feature is access control and integration with different applications. The solution is complicated to navigate. We encounter issues while changing the settings. They should improve these particular…

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Microsoft Active Directory mindshare

Product category:

As of May 2025, the mindshare of Microsoft Active Directory in the Single Sign-On (SSO) category stands at 3.0%, up from 2.3% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Single Sign-On (SSO)

PeerResearch reports based on Microsoft Active Directory reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Single Sign-On (SSO)	May 20, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	May 20, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft Active Directory vs Microsoft Entra ID	May 20, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft Active Directory vs Cisco Duo	May 20, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft Active Directory vs Okta Workforce Identity	May 20, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Microsoft Entra ID	4.3	27.2%	95%	234 interviews Add to research
Fortinet FortiAuthenticator	4.0	7.6%	87%	60 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Microsoft Active Directory offers user-friendly interfaces, single sign-on capabilities, and seamless integration with cloud services like Azure AD. Its stability, scalability, and extensive support for group policies make managing user access and security straightforward. It supports centralized ID creation and extensive policy management, enhancing security and productivity. IT departments value its authentication, authorization, and audit features, as well as its ability to handle large-scale deployments efficiently. Integration with Microsoft applications further enhances its utility.

"The solution is stable."
"I find the product makes it easier to enhance various tools with Microsoft Active Directory."
"I advise consideration of this solution. The overall product rating is ten out of ten."

Room for Improvement

Microsoft Active Directory requires improvements in interface updates, log filtering, and reporting features. Logs should be more accessible with extended retention periods. Security enhancements, including better patch management and MFA, are needed. Users face challenges with complex setup, integration, and support issues. Cloud integration and synchronization could be simplified. The user interface, group policy management, and user permissions are outdated and difficult. Stability, scalability, and pricing are additional areas for improvement. Enhanced authentication and remote password reset functionalities are also required.

"Sometimes support takes long to engage and resolve, extending over weeks or even months."
"Perhaps the synchronization could be simpler and more controllable. There are some features that need improvements in terms of ease of use and frequency of updates."
"I have encountered a few stability issues."

ROI

Organizations find Microsoft Active Directory's ROI justifiable, as it proves valuable, enhances efficiency, and is cost-effective. While not always quantified financially, it is critical for infrastructure. It saves significant time by allowing centralized user management, avoiding manual account creation across systems, and simplifying permission assignments. Its worth is reflected in the time saved and the streamlined access control process, reaffirming its role as an essential component alongside other directory solutions.

Pricing

Microsoft Active Directory's pricing is largely influenced by Microsoft's licensing model, requiring licenses for both servers and users. Costs can vary significantly, with some users in education receiving licenses for free through specific programs. While some find the expense reasonable or moderately priced, others perceive it as costly, especially for large companies. Volume licensing options for on-premises solutions and integration with Azure cloud can reduce costs. Overall affordability ratings range from four to seven out of ten.

"On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a four out of ten."
"Microsoft Active Directory is not an expensive solution."
"My company makes payments every quarter towards the licensing costs of the product."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations use Microsoft Active Directory for domain management, user and computer management, and single sign-on integration. They implement it for on-premises and hybrid environments with Azure, providing centralized authentication and access control. It's essential for user lifecycle management, from creation to termination, and is valued for its security enhancements. Active Directory integrates with various Microsoft services, aiding in policy deployment and federation services, and is utilized to manage network environments and infrastructure for different servers.

Service and Support

Customer service for Microsoft Active Directory varies in quality, with mixed experiences reported. Some users find it satisfactory, while others encounter delays. Representatives' skills can affect issue resolution, and response times may be slow. Online resources are often preferred before contacting support. Many rate the service between five and eight out of ten, suggesting room for improvement, particularly in promptness and representative expertise. Premium support is recommended for faster, more reliable service.

Deployment

Users experience Microsoft Active Directory's initial setup as generally straightforward, especially for greenfield environments. Initial deployments vary, typically taking a few hours to a couple of days. Complexity increases with previous Active Directory versions or intricate configurations. Some users find deployment needs planning and expertise, while others appreciate the ease due to installation guides and the graphical interface. The setup can demand varying resource levels, depending on the organizational environment and specific deployment requirements.

Scalability

Microsoft Active Directory offers significant scalability, with many organizations managing thousands of users effectively. It integrates well with existing hardware but may encounter challenges beyond tens of thousands of users, necessitating a hybrid approach with Azure. While some users rate its scalability highly, others suggest room for improvement, especially for extensive or geographically distributed networks. Many entities appreciate its ability to handle large-scale deployments, while a few mention needed enhancements in integration with other systems.

Stability

Microsoft Active Directory is often described as stable, with many users praising its reliability and performance. Ratings frequently range between eight and ten, indicating strong approval, though a few suggest possible improvements for stability-related features. The presence of updates and patches is commonly mentioned, though some express concerns over occasional issues with these. Scalability is highlighted positively, and experiences with multiple domain controllers contribute to its stable reputation.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Microsoft Active Directory Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

15%

Computer Software Company

14%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Educational Organization

Retailer

Government

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

University

Hospitality Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Construction Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Transportation Company

Insurance Company

Consumer Goods Company

Non Profit

Engineering Company

Outsourcing Company

Performing Arts

Renewables & Environment Company

Marketing Services Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Media Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Pharma/Biotech Company

Compare Microsoft Active Directory with alternative products

Learn more about Microsoft Active Directory

This data store, also known as the directory, contains information about Active Directory objects. These objects typically include shared resources such as servers, volumes, printers, and the network user and computer accounts.

Security is integrated with Active Directory through logon authentication and access control to objects in the directory. With a single network logon, administrators can manage directory data and organization throughout their network, and authorized network users can access resources anywhere on the network. Policy-based administration eases the management of even the most complex network.