Active Directory is a centralized database that stores information about the resources and objects in an organization’s network. Active Directory Management is essential for administrators to manage, control and secure their organization’s systems and resources. With that said, it can be challenging to keep up with all the changes, particularly at a large scale. Hence, organizations often rely on Active Directory Management Tools to automate repetitive tasks, reduce administrative errors and improve operational efficiency. In this blog, we will discuss the five active directory management toolsavailable in 2021.
1. ADManager Plus
ADManager Plus by ManageEngine provides an extensive set of Active Directory Management features for administrators. It enables administrators to create and manage AD users, groups, computers, and contacts. It offers built-in templates that automate user provisioning, deprovisioning, and modification. ADManager Plus comes with 150+ pre-built reports, including user logon activities, inactive users, group membership, and more. You can schedule reports and generate them in CSV, PDF, HTML and export them in different file formats.
2. SolarWinds LEM
SolarWinds Log and Event Manager or LEM helps organizations monitor Active Directory logs across their environment. It provides real-time analysis of AD activities and alerts administrators about suspicious events like account lockouts, failed logins, and password changes. LEM can also integrate with other SolarWinds products like Network Performance Monitor, Server and Application Monitor, etc., to provide a comprehensive view of the organization’s infrastructure.
3. ManageEngine AD Audit Plus
ManageEngine AD Audit Plus is a real-time Active Directory auditing tool that tracks changes and events that occur during the day-to-day management of Active Directory. It provides insight into AD changes with detailed reports, alerts, and alerts administrators about critical changes like a new user added, a user deleted, and more. AD Audit Plus can also audit Azure AD and Windows File Server, making it an all-in-one tool for auditing.
4. Netwrix Auditor
Netwrix Auditor is a platform-agnostic Active Directory auditing solution that provides visibility into all changes, including user activity, privilege escalations, and security configuration changes. It offers more than 300 pre-built reports and provides file integrity monitoring capabilities across Windows and Netapp file shares. Netwrix Auditor can also alert administrators of critical changes and integrate with supported SIEM solutions for a centralized view of the organization’s security posture.
5. Quest On Demand Audit
Quest On Demand Audit provides real-time auditing and reporting of Azure Active Directory, Exchange Online, OneDrive for Business, Microsoft Teams, Power BI, Skype, SharePoint Online, and more. It enables administrators to monitor user activity, which is critical in the present work-from-home ecosystem. On Demand Audit provides out-of-the-box reports that help administrators meet compliance obligations, detect ransomware, and other security threats.
Active Directory Management is a challenging task, and doing it manually is not only time-consuming but opens the door for human error. These Best Active Directory Management Tools in 2021 can help automate mundane, repetitive tasks, reduce administrative errors and improve operational efficiency. As critical IT assets become more and more dispersed across cloud, hybrid, and on-premise infrastructures, appropriate usage of Active Directory Management tools can help organizations better protect their critical assets, remain compliant, and improve overall security posture.
