What is an active directory?

An active directory is a program that allows users to manage and store directory information for a large network using a single interface. Microsoft developed the software Active Directory to perform this function and first released it as part of MS Windows 2000.

Active directories are designed for use with distributed networking environments. They simplify directory maintenance for large organizations by allowing administrators to make a single update that applies to all computers in the network, rather than having to update each computer separately. Active directories also make it possible for organizations to store data on a large network. Network administrators can easily add or remove end-user permissions and access to programs from within the directory.