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Microsoft Active Directory vs Netwrix Threat Prevention comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 19, 2026

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Active Directory
Ranking in Active Directory Management
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.3
Number of Reviews
47
Ranking in other categories
Single Sign-On (SSO) (8th)
Netwrix Threat Prevention
Ranking in Active Directory Management
18th
Average Rating
7.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
1
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2026, in the Active Directory Management category, the mindshare of Microsoft Active Directory is 6.6%, up from 6.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Netwrix Threat Prevention is 2.4%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Active Directory Management Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Microsoft Active Directory6.6%
Netwrix Threat Prevention2.4%
Other91.0%
Active Directory Management
 

Featured Reviews

Eko Kurniawan - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Operations & Security at veris
Has simplified credential management and improved secure access control across departments
The features I find most useful in Microsoft Active Directory are especially for the Single Sign-On. This is very useful for users, particularly if they have plenty of applications, such as tablet applications. When they log in to their computer, the application will automatically log in with their credentials. They don't need to remember another user and password to log in to the application because it's already maintained with Microsoft Active Directory using Single Sign-On. To assess the impact of Microsoft Active Directory's centralized domain management on security protocols and access permissions, Microsoft Active Directory itself has constraints with security because when we have a solution such as SSO or Single Sign-On, which makes it easier for users to log in, some parts have security openings. When their computer is compromised with a threat, malware, or other cyber threats, it becomes easier to enter the application without login permission.
Jason Peter Stone - PeerSpot reviewer
Infrastructure Engineer at The Malcolm Group Limited
Helps to audit file servers and directories but improvement is needed in UI
We use the tool for auditing purposes. We use it to audit specific areas of our business, particularly focusing on file servers and directories The solution has a component that monitors Active Directory through an agent. It also monitors end-user activity. It gives us insight into what's…

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The features I find most useful in Microsoft Active Directory are especially for the Single Sign-On; this is very useful for users, particularly if they have plenty of applications, such as tablet applications, because when they log in to their computer, the application will automatically log in with their credentials."
"It is very user-friendly."
"The solution is stable."
"The solution is the most reliable and easiest directory service in the world so we became Gold partners to fully support it."
"I can control all the devices in my domain by just changing the group policies in one place."
"These Group Policies provide enhancement, helping to reduce administrative overhead and enhance productivity."
"I advise consideration of this solution. The overall product rating is ten out of ten."
"The Solution's most important feature is that it can merge with a cloud-based active directory via Azure AD Connect."
"The solution has a component that monitors Active Directory through an agent. It also monitors end-user activity. It gives us insight into what's happening on file servers and in our domain or the directory."
 

Cons

"Microsoft Active Directory could improve by having better integration with other solutions."
"Typically, it depends on the customer's situation. If the customer operates in smaller locations where most PCs are in a common location, we usually aim to consolidate the directory infrastructure for easier maintenance. However, for distributed setups spanning multiple countries, configuring multiple sites becomes necessary and more intricate to handle. Our objective is to minimize the number of sites, simplifying operations for IT administrators and reducing errors. Mistakes in Active Directory can be costly for organizations, as disruptions can occur rapidly. Moreover, when it comes to hybrid single sign-on across various applications, Microsoft hasn't put forth significant effort. Single sign-on has become a challenge for many customers who utilize diverse solutions beyond Microsoft products. While implementing single sign-on is relatively straightforward in the Azure cloud, it's considerably more complex when dealing with the local Active Directory. This presents a big challenge for many of our customers."
"The interface hasn't changed much over the years. It's suitable for my tastes, but that doesn't mean everybody likes it."
"Microsoft Active Directory Federation Services is very difficult for on-premises solutions, while for the cloud solution, it's very easy."
"Sometimes support takes long to engage and resolve, extending over weeks or even months."
"In the solution, assigning permissions is complex, making it difficult to grant them at a granular level or to multiple users without templates or alternative tools."
"The DNS services could improve in Microsoft Active Directory."
"The cloud service of Microsoft Active Directory is an area with certain shortcomings that need improvement."
"The tool needs to improve its UI and reporting. It can also consume the resources of old machines."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product's premium support services are expensive."
"We purchase the license for the solution on a yearly basis."
"Active Directory is an expensive solution, primarily due to Microsoft's licensing model. This licensing approach includes paying for server licenses as well as for each computer that connects to it. However, when working with the Azure cloud, there is no cost for the server. This is profitable and one of the main reasons why Azure Cloud and other cloud-based solutions are being used more."
"The solution is based on a licensing model."
"It's not overly expensive. It's considered a base function by Microsoft."
"We have to purchase a license for the solution."
"I rate the product’s pricing a five out of ten."
"The license per user can probably be reduced."
"StealthINTERCEPT's pricing is reasonable."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Outsourcing Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Healthcare Company
8%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business21
Midsize Enterprise7
Large Enterprise20
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Microsoft Active Directory?
The best way to protect this is to use Microsoft Defender. For Microsoft support for Microsoft Active Directory, I would rate it as eight. If I give it 10, it would be too perfect. Eight is fair. M...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Active Directory?
My main use cases for Microsoft Active Directory are to manage user access and credentials.
What advice do you have for others considering Microsoft Active Directory?
Regarding Microsoft Active Directory's integration with third-party applications, it depends on the requirements. It's not always linked or combined with Microsoft Active Directory. In my experienc...
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Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Columbia University, Disney, AIG, ANZ, TD Bank, MasterCard, Morgan Stanley, Godiva, NBC Universal, Family Dollar.
Find out what your peers are saying about One Identity, Microsoft, Netwrix and others in Active Directory Management. Updated: August 2026.
913,076 professionals have used our research since 2012.