Active Directory (AD) is a crucial component of any organization’s IT infrastructure that manages users, computers, and other resources in a network. Efficient management of AD can help streamline security, resource sharing, and access control within an organization. However, managing AD can be a daunting task, especially for large enterprises with a complex IT environment. Fortunately, there are several active directory management tools available to simplify the process and augment IT best practices. In this article, we will explore 5 must-have active directory management tools that can help you maintain better control over your network and resources.
- Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC)
ADUC is the native management tool provided by Microsoft for managing AD. It is a comprehensive tool that enables administrators to manage user and computer accounts, groups, and resources within AD. This tool has a graphical user interface (GUI) that simplifies tasks such as resetting passwords, creating new users and groups, and granting permissions. ADUC is easy to use and features a familiar interface that most Windows administrators will recognize.
- SolarWinds Access Rights Manager (ARM)
Access Rights Manager from SolarWinds is a comprehensive AD management tool built to help streamline access control and permissions management. This tool uniquely integrates with Microsoft Active Directory to provide a clear understanding of who has access to what resources. It simplifies and automates access control tasks, such as granting, denying, or revoking access to resources. With ARM, administrators can manage users, groups, computer accounts, and organizational units. The tool also includes built-in reports that provide critical insights into user behavior, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
- Quest ActiveRoles Server (ARS)
Quest ActiveRoles Server is an Active Directory management tool designed to augment security and operations for AD. It provides automation, delegation, and auditing capabilities that add security and efficiency to your AD management. Quest ARS offers a granular level of control over user and group management, allowing administrators to manage access rights based on job roles or responsibilities. It also supports conditional group membership that can dynamically add or remove a user from a group based on specific criteria. Additionally, ARS offers the ability to delegate administrative tasks to lower-level administrators and generates audit reports to track changes to the directory.
- ManageEngine ADManager Plus
ADManager Plus from ManageEngine provides a holistic solution for managing AD by offering automation of user management, group management, and account management tasks. This tool simplifies the tasks of creating, modifying, and deleting user accounts and groups. It also simplifies tasks such as bulk user management and the ability to reset user passwords. ADManager Plus offers a built-in report generator that simplifies the task of generating critical reports such as last logon times, password expiration, and user permissions.
- Netwrix Auditor
For enterprises that require a more comprehensive tool that includes compliance and governance capabilities, Netwrix Auditor for Active Directory is a must-have. This tool provides a complete audit trail of changes made to AD, allowing administrators to detect changes and identify who made them. The audit data is then collected and analyzed to identify suspicious activity, enforce controls, and ensure compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and SOX. Netwrix Auditor also simplifies the task of remediation by providing granular change rollback capabilities.
Managing Active Directory can be a challenging task, especially for large organizations with complex environments. Fortunately, there are several active directory management tools available to simplify and streamline the process. In this article, we have explored five must-have AD management tools, including Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC), SolarWinds Access Rights Manager (ARM), Quest ActiveRoles Server (ARS), ManageEngine ADManager Plus, and Netwrix Auditor. These tools offer a range of capabilities to augment your AD administration, from streamlining user and group management to providing automated auditing and compliance capabilities. By choosing the right tool for your organization, you can maintain better control over your network and resources and mitigate the risk of security breaches and data loss.