Windows Server 2003 Security: A Technical Reference

Active Directory: Organization, Structure, and Function

Active Directory provides a hierarchical directory for Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 domains. Objects in the directory, computers, users, shares, printers, and so on can be defined, managed, and secured using native tools. There are several security-specific characteristics:

• Active Directory's hierarchical structure, flexible domain architecture, and replication and Group Policy functions allow granular configuration of security settings and automatic maintenance across large numbers of computers and users at far less administrative cost than would be possible without it.

• Because its structure separates sites and domains and provides for the segmentation of domains into Organizational ...