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Miodrag Milojevic - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Data Archirect at Yettel
Real User
Top 20
Offers a user-friendly UI to help identify and authorize users
Pros and Cons
  • "The user-friendliness of Microsoft Active Directory is a valuable feature."
  • "We may occasionally experience difficulty integrating some solutions with Microsoft Active Directory, but I am unsure whether the issue lies with Microsoft Active Directory or the other solution."

What is our primary use case?

In our company, Microsoft Active Directory serves as the central component for registering users, storing them in different groups, and defining the type of access for various parts of the company. Additionally, we have rights associated with these groups, which allows us to use them for other tools to assess the permissions in specific areas. Essentially, we use authentication to determine a user's identity and authorization to decide which rights should be applied to them. This process helps us manage access to company resources effectively.

What is most valuable?

The user-friendliness of Microsoft Active Directory is a valuable feature. 

What needs improvement?

We may occasionally experience difficulty integrating some solutions with Microsoft Active Directory, but I am unsure whether the issue lies with Microsoft Active Directory or the other solution.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Microsoft Active Directory for several years.

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Microsoft Active Directory
September 2025
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What other advice do I have?

I give Microsoft Active Directory a nine out of ten.

We have thousands of end users who utilize Microsoft Active Directory.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Winston Lewis - PeerSpot reviewer
Assistant Manager - IT and Innovation at a financial services firm with 51-200 employees
Real User
Essential solution with excellent log-on service
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution's initial setup is straightforward."
  • "They should improve the solution's old computer cleanup tool."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution to log in to our systems.

How has it helped my organization?

It has proved to be an essential solution for our organization.

What is most valuable?

The solution's most valuable feature is its log-on service.

What needs improvement?

They should improve the solution's old computer cleanup tool.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using the solution for a few years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the solution's stability as a ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I rate the solution's scalability as an eight. We have around 70 users of the solution at our organization. We plan to add 20 more users.

How was the initial setup?

The solution's initial setup is straightforward.

What was our ROI?

The solution's ROI is worth it.

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

The solution's price is reasonable.

What other advice do I have?

I advise others to keep the solution up to date. For example, if they use Windows Server 2018, the domain should match the level. If not, it could introduce a risk to their systems.

I rate the solution as a nine.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Active Directory
September 2025
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Active Directory. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: September 2025.
868,787 professionals have used our research since 2012.
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: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Saeid Hajtalebi - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Infrastructure Systems, Services and Virtualization Specialist at IRISA
Real User
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: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Domain Architect at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Enables the ability for a single sign-on for applications
Pros and Cons
  • "The ability for a single sign-on for applications."
  • "Could use more structure in the cloud version."

What is our primary use case?

The solution enables people to log on to computers and applications. I'm a domain architect. 

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is the ability for a single sign-on for applications.

What needs improvement?

We've found Active Directory difficult to restore. I'd also like to see more structure in the cloud version.

For how long have I used the solution?

We've been using this solution for 15 years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Active Directory is scalable, we have around 7,000 users.

How are customer service and support?

We've escalated to technical support many times. They provide good service.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is very straightforward but Active Directory is hard to restore. Deployment is just a matter of downloading from Microsoft. There's no maintenance required. 

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

It requires a license but the product is bundled in with other functions, so it doesn't have a separate cost. There's a fixed price per user for the suite. 

What other advice do I have?

I think structure and internal guidelines are extremely important and almost never there from the beginning. 

I rate this product nine out of 10.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Director at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Reliable with good support and useful group policies
Pros and Cons
  • "Technical support is helpful."
  • "There are no reporting features."

What is our primary use case?

We usually provide the solution to clients. The customers typically use the solution for security and to deploy and manage their policies on Windows.

How has it helped my organization?

Centrally manage clients using active directory and provide integrated authentication for on-premises applications and SaaS applications such as O365.

What is most valuable?

The group policy is very useful. 

It is quite stable.

Technical support is helpful. 

What needs improvement?

There are no reporting features. Reporting needs to be added to Active Directory.

The installation can be a bit complex. You need to be knowledgeable. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've used the solution for over 20 years. I've used the solution for a very long time. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable and reliable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. I'd rate stability eight out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

This solution is not highly scalable. I'd rate the solution's scalability six out of ten.

Many of our clients are enterprises. 

How was the initial setup?

The solution is somewhat straightforward to set up. It is not overly complex. An engineer would find the process very simple. 

I'd rate the ease of setup six out of ten. 

There are a few different options that you need to choose from when you do the installation. Therefore, an engineer should have some prior knowledge about the options.

We have about ten people handling the Active Directory design and installation process. They are system engineers. 

We have five members that can handle maintenance tasks, and they are systems engineers as well. 

What about the implementation team?

We are able to implement the solution for clients. 

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

The pricing is moderate. I'd rate the affordability five out of ten. We have a perpetual license for the product.

What other advice do I have?

We are Microsoft gold partners.

We are using the latest version of the solution. 

I'd advise others to be careful when they deploy group policies to end users. 

I would rate the solution eight out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Iqpad (https://www.iqpad.com) in Korea has been a Microsoft Gold Partner since 2007.
PeerSpot user
Support at Za irery
Real User
Leaderboard
It's a good solution for managing users and groups, but there are some stability issues
Pros and Cons
  • "I can use Active Directory to block a user's internet access and monitor how an employee is using the internet."
  • "It could be more stable."

What is our primary use case?

I am using Active Directory at home to learn the features. It's a solution for managing users and groups. 

What is most valuable?

I can use Active Directory to block a user's internet access and monitor how an employee is using the internet. 

What needs improvement?

It could be more stable. 

How was the initial setup?

Setting up Active Directory isn't hard if you follow all the tutorials. I was able to set it up using some YouTube tutorials and Microsoft documentation. 

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

I pay a monthly license. 

What other advice do I have?

I rate Microsoft Active Directory a seven out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Active Directory Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: September 2025
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Active Directory Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.