Remote work, cloud, mobile devices, and countless security threats have completely changed the game for IT organizations, right down to the core components. As cybersecurity compliance, mandates, and architecture have evolved in response, modernizing (or replacing) Active Directory (AD) is no longer optional. As such, IT admins are now asking: Is there a better alternative to AD? The answer is yes. JumpCloud\u2019s open directory platform is better suited for today\u2019s workplace, and can be used to replace or modernize AD, containing its footprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before we dive into AD modernization, let\u2019s take a step back to understand what IT organizations are looking for in an AD replacement or modernization project<\/a> and why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Active Directory\u2019s story begins in the 1980s and 90s. During this time frame, personal computers started to appear on every employee\u2019s desk \u2014 virtually all running Microsoft Windows; the internet and the World Wide Web had emerged; and productivity software (Microsoft Office) and email (Microsoft Exchange and Outlook) became common tools for completing everyday tasks. Microsoft was at the center of computing, literally and figuratively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the workplace transformed into the PC era, IT was at a loss for how to effectively and efficiently manage user access to these new resources. Then in 1999, Microsoft Active Directory was released<\/a>. Using LDAP, NTLM, and Kerberos, Active Directory provided IT with centralized user and system management over the Microsoft resources in their on-prem environment. The key words to pay attention to here are \u201cMicrosoft\u201d and \u201con-prem.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out the Active Directory to cloud translation guide<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Shortly after Active Directory was introduced, web-based applications<\/a> took off, with Salesforce paving the way. Then, Mac and Linux systems<\/a> started to replace Windows workstations. The cloud as we know it launched with AWS and others, and revolutionized infrastructure, file storage, processing, and development tools. The IT network today is starkly different than it was even a decade ago, or even a few years ago. Cloud innovations are accelerating and changing the landscape for how IT organizations operate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Active Directory wasn\u2019t built to integrate with Android, Mac, or Linux systems, web-based applications, or the cloud. As each of these new resources started to proliferate in the workplace, third-party solutions<\/a> were created to help Active Directory connect to these non-Microsoft systems, applications, file servers, and networks. IT departments found themselves needing Active Directory and a plethora of point solutions just to maintain control over access to their disparate IT resources. This kind of setup is costly and creates a cumbersome workflow for end users and IT admins, alike. Just think of a password reset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, this setup forces IT to hang onto their on-prem infrastructure. This prevents them from fully taking advantage of the efficiencies and low costs a cloud IT environment has to offer. For example, organizations that leverage an identity management solution from the cloud<\/a> don\u2019t have to worry about hardware upgrades every few years, software maintenance and patching, high availability, and security for Tier Zero server assets and other member servers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Microsoft acknowledges that standalone AD isn\u2019t suitable<\/a> for today\u2019s IT environments. For example, it can\u2019t establish access control or provide universal endpoint management (UEM) for all your resources. Misconfigurations are common as security teams add more policies in response to the latest methods of attack, potentially interfering with or impacting older policies. Nested groups also make it possible for stale entitlements and over privileged users to exist. Attacks that exploit weaknesses in Kerberos and privilege escalation are now well established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now is the time to consider JumpCloud as your modernization alternative for Active Directory. It supports the entire digital state of resources an organization uses on a daily basis in a remote, in-office, or hybrid environment while addressing the key elements of Microsoft\u2019s rapid modernization plan. It accomplishes that without locking you into vertically integrated tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AD leaves security gaps and lacks controls that could prevent attacks like the password spray technique<\/a> that compromised the emails of Microsoft\u2019s top executives. You\u2019ll have to spend more to keep your identities safe. An industry expert has also raised concerns about Microsoft monetizing security and \u201cabusing the term legacy\u201d to sell more products versus fixing its issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A recent Kerbero bypass vulnerability<\/a> made it possible to launch impersonation attacks. The answer was to patch quickly, which isn\u2019t always realistic. Only Microsoft\u2019s Defender for Identity service, which is a separate cost from Microsoft 365 packages, could detect the attack.<\/p>\n <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Those solutions are rarely consumed a la carte: customers purchase Microsoft 365 bundles, such as its E3 SKU<\/a>. E3 bundles many products at one price and seems like a great bargain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
JumpCloud\u2019s open directory platform<\/a> is an independent identity management (IAM) solution that reimagines Active Directory and LDAP for the cloud era. JumpCloud acts as either the core IdP from the cloud or federates with other IdPs, including AD integration<\/a>, along with UEM for your devices. The platform offers key features such as single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) with passwordless modern authentication<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has optional conditional access<\/a>, remote assist<\/a>, privilege management<\/a>, and cross-OS patch management<\/a>. JumpCloud provides IT admins with one console that centralizes user and system management across their entire environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
JumpCloud\u2019s dynamic groups<\/a> automate lifecycle management.<\/p>\n <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Users enjoy seamless access to their system<\/a> (Android, Apple, Linux, and Windows), local and remote servers<\/a> (AWS, GCP, etc.), as well as LDAP, OIDC, and SAML-based web applications<\/a>, physical and virtual file storage<\/a>, and VPN and Wi-Fi networks via RADIUS<\/a>. A RESTful API is also available for even more types of integration requirements. IT admins don\u2019t have to worry about availability, maintenance, or management. Instead, that is all taken care of by JumpCloud, and IT gets the benefit of modernizing Active Directory without added complexity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s get down to brass tax: how and where can you use JumpCloud?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most organizations can migrate to a modern cloud directory allowing them to take advantage of the cloud, efficiency, and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Active Directory Integration and Migration Utility tools to migrate identities away from AD. ADI supports multiple workflows, providing flexibility while keeping necessary services for DHCP, DNS, faxing, file sharing, printing, virtualization, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only enterprises with custom, home-grown applications will not be able to fully migrate. A containment strategy where these apps and AD become ring fenced is implemented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you would like to learn more about a better alternative to Active Directory, please reach out<\/a> to us. Try JumpCloud’s guided simulations<\/a> and find out if it\u2019s the right option for your organization\u2019s journey away from AD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our customers tell us that asset management<\/a> is also important for security and IT operations. JumpCloud is enhancing its platform<\/a> to unify SaaS, IT security, and asset management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n