Active Directory Needs an Update: Here's Why

Active Directory Needs an Update: Here's Why
AD is still the single point of authentication for most companies that use Windows. But it has some shortcomings that should be addressed.

Tried and true, Active Directory has been managing permissions and access to networked resources for decades. It's a system that has weathered storms — cyber, organizational, and competitive — and has remained the backbone of most IT environments.


AD remains the single point of authentication and authorization for most companies that use Windows networking products or operating systems. It controls access to all critical resources, and it's the linchpin for any major project or initiative. And that remains true even in an era when more companies are leveraging the cloud and supporting a mobile-first approach.


The Cloud, On-Premises, and the AD Identity CrisisOne of the secrets of AD's longevity has been its ability to evolve in response to new needs and challenges. As such, the topic of "the need for Active Directory modernization" has become a major point of IT industry discussion in recent years. AD has been accused by some of having an identity crisis (pun intended), although there are almost as many opinions on how to solve that crisis as there are users of AD.


With that, there are threX issues that need to be addressed for AD to serve the next generation of computing:


Issue 1: User management in multiple environments. IT systems today are made up of a combination of environments and platforms, both on-premises and cloud-based, and users access them using a variety of methods, from desktops and laptops to mobile devices and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). To manage authentication across environments, organizations use t ..

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