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Amjad Ali - PeerSpot reviewer
Enterprise Technical Support at a government with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 10
A solution with great audit, authentication and authorization features
Pros and Cons
  • "Audit, authentication and authorization are the best features."
  • "There is room for improvement."

What is our primary use case?

We use Active Directory as a single sign-on when integrating it into applications.

What is most valuable?

Audit, authentication and authorization are the best features.

What needs improvement?

There is room for improvement. Microsoft is always working to improve their solutions and features.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable solution. Microsoft Active Directory is the bread and butter for Microsoft, so they're always working on improvements.

Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Active Directory
May 2025
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What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a scalable solution. Our organization has more than 45,000 users and nearly 300 users in our IT sector. We have a dedicated team for maintenance and segregate responsibilities into different departments.

How are customer service and support?

We always use tech support from Microsoft. If we can solve it internally by ourselves, we do, but if there are other issues related to Active Directory, we create a ticker and reach out to them. I rate the technical support an eight out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is not complex but depends on the organization's policies.

What other advice do I have?

I rate this solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Kazem Mirabedini - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Specialist at ddrteam
Real User
It's stable and consistent, so it doesn't have any bugs or issues
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is user-friendly, and I like using Microsoft products. I think there is no other choice for Active Directory. Microsoft Windows Server Active Directory is the best."
  • "The interface hasn't changed much over the years. It's suitable for my tastes, but that doesn't mean everybody likes it."

What is our primary use case?

I'm a network administrator for three companies, and each has between 10 and 30 users. The largest has 28. And I use virtualization based on VMware ES 6 to separate my servers. I use Windows Server 2019 for Active Directory and DNS. Most of my services are based on Microsoft services on the servers, except KerioControl.

Most of the users work in digital marketing. The biggest issue is installing and integrating graphical software, like Adobe and Office.

How has it helped my organization?

Our CRM application is built on SQL Server, and we use Microsoft Windows Server for that. This CRM solution manages all our customer data on that kind of server. We get a tremendous benefit from that application and use Windows Server.

What is most valuable?

The solution is user-friendly, and I like using Microsoft products. I think there is no other choice for Active Directory. Microsoft Windows Server Active Directory is the best.

Active Directory hasn't changed much between Windows Server 2008 and 2019. The protocols and rules are the same, and I think it's the best part of it. It's stable and consistent, so it doesn't have any bugs or issues.

What needs improvement?

The interface hasn't changed much over the years. It's suitable for my tastes, but that doesn't mean everybody likes it.

For how long have I used the solution?

I first used Active Directory on Windows Server 2008, and then I switched. I upgraded all my servers to Windows Server 2019. 

I've changed jobs from network administrator to DevOps engineer. We are a team, and we work in cabling and some kind of passing activities most of the time. We typically work alone and manage our networks separately, but team members come to me as an advisor when they have issues.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Active Directory is stable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I use Active Directory on a lot of powerful hardware, and Windows Server was compatible with all of them.

How was the initial setup?

I rate Windows Server Active Directory 10 out of 10 for ease of setup. The setup is easy. It's an installer, and you click "next."  I don't like it, but it's straightforward. 

Most recently, I did it for my customers three months ago. After that, I installed ES 6 and other services that I said. It was done in a day or two because I also installed Veeam Backup and Replication.

What other advice do I have?

I rate Windows Server Active Directory nine out of 10. If you are planning to use the solution, I would take advantage of group policies. Everyone who wants to use Active Directory must be careful to include group policies.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Active Directory
May 2025
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Active Directory. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
851,823 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Ikh-Erdene Namsrai - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior System Administrator at Mongolian Mining Corporation
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
An easy-to-use tool that allows one to control multiple users while offering a good scalability option
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of the solution is that it is an easy-to-use tool."
  • "The cloud service of Microsoft Active Directory is an area with certain shortcomings that need improvement."

What is our primary use case?

My company uses Microsoft Active Directory to control multiple users.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of the solution is that it is an easy-to-use tool.

What needs improvement?

The cloud service of Microsoft Active Directory is an area with certain shortcomings that need improvement.

Microsoft Active Directory's stability can be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have experience with Microsoft Active Directory. I use the solution's basic version.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability-wise, I rate the solution an eight or nine out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a scalable solution.

Microsoft Active Directory is used by 150 employees in our company.

My company does plan to increase the use of Microsoft Active Directory in the future.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of Microsoft Active Directory is complex.

The deployment of Microsoft Active Directory took maybe half a year.

Including managers, engineers, and developers, there is a need for ten people to manage the solution's deployment and maintenance.

What about the implementation team?

The installation phase of Microsoft Active Directory was carried out with the help of a consultant.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

My company makes payments every quarter towards the licensing costs of the product. I feel Microsoft Active Directory is an affordable product.

What other advice do I have?

I would tell those planning to use the solution that it is a very easy-to-use product.

I rate the overall solution a ten out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Owner at Darcom
Real User
Easy-to-setup product with good stability
Pros and Cons
  • "It is an all-in-one solution for cybersecurity and is available at a very low price."
  • "There could be enough material to learn about the product."

What is our primary use case?

We use Azure Active Directory Identity Protection for conditional access features.

What is most valuable?

It is an all-in-one solution for cybersecurity and is available at a very low price.

What needs improvement?

There could be enough material to learn about the product.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Azure Active Directory Identity Protection for five years. At present, we use the latest version.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable product.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The product is suitable for small and medium businesses.

How was the initial setup?

The product’s initial setup process is easy. It takes two to three hours to complete and requires two people to execute the deployment.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I rate the product’s pricing a five out of ten.

What other advice do I have?

I recommend Azure Active Directory Identity Protection to others and rate it an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
PeerSpot user
Saeid Hajtalebi - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Infrastructure Systems, Services and Virtualization Specialist at IRISA
Real User
Top 5
A stable solution for 3 A's and SSO Authentication
Pros and Cons
  • "I think the main reason we are using Active Directory for SSO Office for single time and for intake integrity capability to other services."
  • "The scalability of the solution needs improvement."

What is our primary use case?

The solution is used for the 3A’s that is Authentication, authorization, and accounting.


What is most valuable?

I think the main reason we are using Active Directory for SSO Office for single time and for intake integrity capability to other services.


What needs improvement?

The scalability of the solution needs improvement.


For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for ten years.


What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable solution.


What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of the solution can be improved. I rate the scalability a seven out of ten.


How are customer service and support?

The technical support team is very good. I rate them a nine out of ten.


How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is easy. The deployment of the solution takes approximately three hours and two people are required for the deployment. I can rate the initial setup a nine out of ten.


What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing is not very expensive. I rate the pricing a five out of ten.


What other advice do I have?

I rate the overall solution a nine out of ten.


Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Timur Assembayev - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Specialist at Wattum
Real User
Useful group policies, but lacking integration and support speed could improve
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of Microsoft Active Directory is the group policies."
  • "Microsoft Active Directory could improve by having better integration with other solutions."

What is our primary use case?

This solution helps big companies that have lots of employees.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of Microsoft Active Directory is the group policies.

What needs improvement?

Microsoft Active Directory could improve by having better integration with other solutions.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Microsoft Active Directory for approximately 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability of Microsoft Active Directory could improve.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Microsoft Active Directory is scalable. However, in 2008 there were some problems encountered, such as crashes, load balancing, and coverage for the main Active Directory.

I have used this solution with approximately 1,000 users.

How are customer service and support?

I have used the support from Microsoft Active Directory but they take a long time to respond. I have found all the information I needed online.

I rate the support from Microsoft Active Directory a two out of five.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of the solution was complex.

What about the implementation team?

We used a third party for the implementation of the solution.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The version of Microsoft Active Directory I was using was expensive because it was used for large companies.

What other advice do I have?

The amount of people required for the maintenance of the solution depends on the size of the company. If there is a large company, one administrator and two assistant administrators should be sufficient.

I would not recommend this solution. Microsoft Azure has the same features in the cloud and I would like to learn about it more and others should too.

I rate Microsoft Active Directory a six out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Philip Kitheka - PeerSpot reviewer
Enterprise Systems Specialist at KCB Bank Group
Real User
Top 10
Offers its users to use its authentication and authorization capabilities
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution's technical support is good."
  • "Microsoft Active Directory fails to provide MFA. MFA, which is also known as multi-factor authentication on top of the password and username, is what I would like to see in the product's future releases."

What is our primary use case?

My company uses Microsoft Active Directory as an identity and access management solution. The tool is used for its authentication capabilities in my company.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features of the solution are its capabilities in areas like authentication and authorization, which include aspects like configuring permissions on folders and assigning permissions to security groups configured in Microsoft Active Directory.

What needs improvement?

I feel that Microsoft Active Directory is a superior solution to the other products available in the market.

Microsoft Active Directory fails to provide MFA. MFA, which is also known as multi-factor authentication on top of the password and username, is what I would like to see in the product's future releases.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Microsoft Active Directory for more than ten years.

How are customer service and support?

The solution's technical support is good.

How was the initial setup?

The product's initial setup phase was straightforward as it can be done within the operating system, after which you can take care of the configuration part to complete the setup process.

The solution is deployed on a hybrid cloud model.

What other advice do I have?

Microsoft Active Directory is an excellent product.

I rate the overall tool a ten out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
ShameerAli - PeerSpot reviewer
Cybersecurity Consultant at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Real User
A scalable solution with good management capability
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution’s management capability is very good. The tool is also very scalable. You can add any number of users that you want to operate. Moreover, you can easily organize the solution."
  • "I would like to see improvements in the solution’s security filtering feature. It can include machines and filter some users. There is no option to exclude a particular user or system."

What is most valuable?

The solution’s management capability is very good. The tool is also very scalable. You can add any number of users that you want to operate. Moreover, you can easily organize the solution.

What needs improvement?

I would like to see improvements in the solution’s security filtering feature. It can include machines and filter some users. There is no option to exclude a particular user or system.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is very scalable. The solution works from a single server. Hence, the usage is as per company and not per user.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is neither too easy nor difficult. You need to have some skills or knowledge in Microsoft Active Directory to implement it.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate the solution a nine out of ten. I recommend this solution to anyone who is willing to use it. I have no knowledge of other alternatives that can do the same job as Microsoft Active Directory.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Active Directory Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: May 2025
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Active Directory Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.