What Are Active Directory Management Tools? (With Benefits)

Updated 12 October 2022

The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.

Management of assets, users and applications across networks is an important task for system managers. Active directory management (ADM) tools can help these managers monitor various functions effortlessly. Learning about the features of various ADM tools can help you make an informed decision on which one might best suit your operations. In this article, we define active directory management tools, discuss their features, examine their benefits and explore 11 examples of such tools.

What are active directory management tools?

Active directory management tools are software that allows active directory (AD) supervisors and administrators to check and direct computers, AD users, contacts and clusters more competently. AD is a catalogue and combination of services that link users with the system support they require to complete their work. Active directory management entails directing and supervising AD services.

What are the key features of AD?

Here are some notable features of AD to consider:

Support for internet principles: Active Directory Domain Services executes its functions in compliance with recognised Internet principles, such as LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) and DNS (Domain Name System).
Easy configuration: You can systematically navigate and control the AD's server using functions such as the Active Directory Service Interfaces API.
Strongly integrated and adaptable security: The AD server employs the same access management methods as are common in the Windows processor file systems. AD services use the same secure and flexible tools as those in access control.
Key integrations: AD comes with integrations like Exchange that can enable firms to limit the number of AD services they handle.
Directory supported system functions: The directory has a feature in its system software that typically enables you to set out a client's request easily to integrated desktops through the Windows installer.
Object data: This feature enables the directory to keep user and organisation data in a stratified structure.
Location transparency: With this feature, you can locate data, groups, user-connected services or resources without the entity address.
High availability: This feature allows you to find a copy of the directory at a site that facilitates read and write functions.
Rich query: With this feature, you can find an object by searching for its properties.

What are the benefits of using AD management tools?

Here are some benefits of the AD management tools that can interest you:

Provides streamlined resources and security control: The directory offers a central point from which network supervisors can examine and safeguard network resources and their related security items. Once you instal and correctly secure the AD, you can successfully execute an organisation's rules and procedures for cyber security and resources.
Offers one point of access to resources: With the AD solution, you can access your system resources effortlessly. The directory employs one specific sign-on to facilitate access to network resources available on any server, and it identifies and authenticates the user once.
Eases resource location: AD makes resource location simpler by permitting you to publish files and print items on the network. Circulating an item typically enables users to access network resources by looking for them in the AD catalogue for the preferred resource.

What are some examples of AD management tools?

Here are 11 examples of AD management tools:

1. SolarWinds Access Rights Manager (ARM)

This tool can improve your AD control and administration. It allows you to monitor AD and policies related to groups, review changes within access control and get clarity into customer access for superior in-house security. ARM also comes with intrinsic functions for tracking cybersecurity risks and reporting services to ensure compliance.

2. Anturis

Anturis provides a variety of information technology (IT) solutions and has one of the most powerful ADM services. The software is a cloud-based management app that comes with adequate features. It has an additional advantage, as it does not require internal installation and constant maintenance. This platform offers projected assistance for other tools on this list, which includes updates relating to network activity through email and messaging with call notifications. The platform can also help teams recognise drifts before they become ingrained problems and tracks a diverse range of pertinent data comprising server and client sessions.

3. Dameware Remote Support

This ADM tool is a suitable platform for isolated IT tasks across macOS, Linux and Windows. The primary target of this tool is managing and debugging AD domains. Dameware Remote Support typically allows you to handle users, domains and groups and complete tasks like resetting passwords or unlocking accounts. It also enables you to move AD objects in application software.

4. XIA Automation

XIA Automation comes with timesaving capabilities like bulk provisioning accounts from CSV to AD, Office 365 and Exchange. It also has automation features for your AD user accounts, organisational units and groups. The tool also provides alternatives that can save time for IT teams. For example, it typically enables you to reset passwords from a mobile gadget or have non-administrators effect the changes themselves. With this tool, you can also generate custom plugins to suit your ADM requirements.

5. Dameware Remote Everywhere

You can access this ADM tool anywhere you have an internet connection. Aside from providing all-inclusive, AD support, the tool also offers all the remote support functions you require, like sophisticated authentication, in-house communication and straightforward reporting. This tool can even allow you to store recorded sessions of remote activities. As the name suggests, Dameware Remote Everywhere (DRE) can be ideal for IT managers who wish to give prompt, remote support for AD concerns.

6. Server & Application Monitor

With this platform, you can track any Windows and Linux functions and integration, either remotely, on-premises or in the cloud. It facilitates the process of identifying duplication issues, examines domain regulators and manages remote sites. Another advantage of using this platform is having the powerful troubleshooting features that come with it. This platform can also help you integrate a few IT functions within one, modifiable web portal, which is a function that has 1,200 outlines for different apps. This software is an inventive programme designed for today's composite IT setting and can help you improve your ADM.

7. Adaxes

This tool provides a modernised customer experience for AD management and Office 365 automation in an internet-based background. You can carry out routine management tasks, such as assigning rights and supervising approvals, with the help of this software. Another major advantage of this tool is that it does not tamper with your AD environment. It also provides a complete assortment of cybersecurity functions that include safe public access and communication authentication, which can offer benefits to many aspects of your team's duties.

8. Z-Hire and Z-Term

These two tools, designed by Zohno, assist in carrying out complementary tasks. Thanks to Z-Hire, IT teams can accelerate the user account generation process with services such as Exchange and AD. These platforms facilitate auto-creation and support routine scripts along with being instinctive to use and straightforward. Z-Term integrates Z-Hire by simplifying the termination of staff members. The tools computerise essential functions when team members leave an organisation, ensuring that ex-employees do not access restricted company functions. This may include erasing accounts, resetting passwords and reviewing group membership information.

9. Passportal

Passportal is an extensive AD management tool that has a distinctive feature. The software's design might be better for controlled service givers than for common users and it can assist with AD management on various customer networks. This platform also provides a centralised location for your administration functions, reorganising the process considerably. Again, with this platform, you can gain access to a web-hosted solution that can save passwords securely. On Passportal, users can easily search, revise and set passwords as required. Other features of the tool include configurable access controls for a variety of users and programmed password reviews.

10. ENow Compass

The ENow Compass AD management tool is another reliable option if you are seeking to control your AD environment. Its various useful features can make it very useful for an organisation. This software provides instantaneous networking control functions that can help you spot impending problems before they reach important levels. Compass performs excellently in its audit functions. It comes with over 50 report types and facilitates the identification and removal of dormant user accounts to eliminate impending backdoors.

11. Quest Active Administrator

This tool provides AD management in an all-inclusive software solution. It enables network administrators to navigate AD functions promptly and in a simple way with its integrated Group Policy management, computerised backup and recovery and straightforward alerts. It also supports IT experts who wish to take a more practical role in AD management. Instead of waiting for challenges to occur and guiding you to a suitable solution, the Quest Active Administrator enables teams to stay updated.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are associated with Indeed.