Can you explain what Active Directory is and how it is used to manage resources and users in a network?

Active Directory (AD) is a directory service from Microsoft that is used for centralized management of users, computers, and other resources in a network.

Main functions of AD:

• Storing information about users, groups, computers, and security policies.
• Authentication and authorization of users when logging in.
• Managing access to resources (files, printers, applications) through groups and policies.
• Centralized application of security policies and settings via Group Policy.

Example of use: in a corporate network, an administrator creates user accounts and groups in AD. Users log in to their computers with AD credentials and gain access only to those resources they have rights to. The administrator can centrally update security settings and software through AD policies.