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Definition
Active Directory is a directory service developed by Microsoft that manages users, devices, and access permissions within a network. It centralizes authentication, authorization, and policy enforcement across an organization’s systems.

Why it matters
Active Directory allows IT teams to control access to resources, enforce security policies, and manage identities from a single platform. It simplifies user provisioning, supports group based permissions, and integrates with many enterprise applications.

Example use case
An employee logs into their company computer using domain credentials managed by Active Directory, which automatically grants access to approved network drives, email, and internal tools.