The Evolution of Active Directory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Evolution of Active Directory - Essay Example This component was introduced in window 2000 operating system, which was an improvement of window NT 4.0. According to Alcott (2002), this component extended the directory services available on its predecessor, window NT 4.0. This component had a domain controller that could be used to control and manage personal domains. It also introduced networking components, which enabled management of several computers by a single administrator. It also could manage users and user groups that use a computer as well as the services that the computer is used to provide. Compared to its predecessor, this component was a great boost to information technology during the era when it was introduced. This component was introduced at a time we can call the ‘internet age’. This was the time when the internet had just been introduced and had become widely used in different organizations. With introduction of internet, there was a need for greater computer networking to enhance sharing of info rmation among several computers. Since this feature introduced networking components that enhanced sharing of information not only among computers within a domain but also among different computers in different domains within the server. Because of this property, this component could enhance information management in an organization and thus it enabled organizations to use internet effectively. Compared to the directory in the earlier versions of the windows, the active directory was easy to use and operate. One of the reasons for this was that most of its components were automated (Heywood & Ahmad 2001). This means that they could run automatically without requiring the commands of the user or administrator and thus they were very easy to use. Another reason according to Heywood & Ahmad (2001) is that the components, which were not automated, were self-explanatory and thus very easy to use even by a person with little Information Technology knowledge. Because of this property of ac tive directory, it was widely used by various organizations in managing its information and sharing of their information. However, according to Shapiro (2008), the active directory found in window server 2000 operating system could not authenticate validate users that have local accounts. This means that some of these users could access or use information not meant for them. These users could also share such information and therefore there was a lot of information insecurity. Moreover, this component did not have a command-line interface that would help in the management of the server, workstation, or network. This made it difficult for users and administrators to optimize the benefits that could be derived from proper management of the server and the workstation. Since most organizations had networks that were used to share large information, lack of this component really acted as a limiting factor to information sharing. According to Keplan & Dunn (2006), active directory is an in tegral part of window server that cannot be purchased and installed separately in windows. This means that a person cannot be able to use it without using window server 2000 operating system. This actually makes this component to be only accessible to only the individuals who were using window 2000 operating sy