Active Directory is Microsoft's proprietary directory service. As shown in the attached Active Directory diagram, the directory service runs on Windows Server and allows administrators to manage permissions and access to network resources. Active Directory is a database and set of services that connect users with the network resources they need to get their work done. As per the attached Active Directory diagram, a consumer sends a request via the internet that goes to the web services gateway cluster, followed by the application cluster and policy server. The request will then be accessed by the database and in return, it will check the data at the registry database. In the diagram, Active Directory is used to perform authentication and authorization as it is a central database that is contacted before a user identity is verified and granted the requested service.
