Source: National Cyber Security – Produced By Gregory Evans
IT admins have long been the unofficial repair technicians of the enterprise. However, instead of hammers and wrenches, the tool kit of the IT admin contains servers, cables, and software tools. Unfortunately, one of the most popular IT admin tools, Microsoft® Active Directory® (AD), isn’t working as well as it used to for many organizations. Here is the Active Directory Fix-It Guide.
Active Directory in Disrepair
Although it was the most powerful identity management tool of its day, AD hasn’t been able to keep up with all of the changes in the IT landscape. Mac® and Linux® systems, web applications, and other cloud-based services are all gaining in popularity. AD was not built with these systems in mind, so trying to manage them through it can prove troublesome.
Platform Breakout
AD was released when Microsoft had a monopoly over the enterprise computer market in the 1990s and 2000s. As such, the directory service was built for a homogenous Microsoft-centric environment and did not generally account for any third-party platforms, applications, or systems.
However, Apple’s macOS® has come into play as one of the top-competing operating systems in recent years, and with more companies putting bring your own device (BYOD) policies into place, there is a greater diversity of platforms in the workplace now than ever before. Linux has seen increased use as well due to its high stability, security, and ease of use. In fact, 23 of the top 25 websites (including Google, YouTube, and Facebook) are running Linux OS for those reasons.
For enterprises that want to manage this mixed-platform environment, AD can be tricky to work with. Add-ons can make integrating non-Windows systems slightly easier, but most of these third-party solutions come with their own problems and risks — not to mention costs.
Cloud-based Apps
Where once nearly all enterprise software was built to be installed on a Windows machine, now cloud-based apps rule supreme. AD syncs with cloud applications like G Suite and Office 365, but only if it’s coupled with other tools to extend to the cloud.
For instance, (Read more…)
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