{"id":12648,"date":"2023-10-25T11:33:33","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T15:33:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jumpcloud.com\/?p=12648"},"modified":"2024-11-14T17:43:03","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T22:43:03","slug":"better-alternative-active-directory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/blog\/better-alternative-active-directory","title":{"rendered":"Is There A Better Alternative to Active Directory?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

The Rise of Active Directory <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Microsoft<\/figure>\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

At the time, infrastructure only existed on-prem, and virtually every resource that dominated the office was from Microsoft: Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, and Microsoft Exchange. As long as IT environments stuck to the Microsoft ecosystem, IT admins only had to leverage one solution to manage their company\u2019s identities and access to IT resources, which were Windows-based applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Note:<\/strong> \n

Check out the Active Directory to cloud translation guide<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Modern IT Calls for a Better Alternative to Active Directory<\/h2>\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

Still, many organizations retain AD for valid reasons, especially if they have compliance mandates for authentication stores to be managed on premises. However, it\u2019s important to acknowledge the urgency to modernize AD. Identity is the new perimeter, and verification decisions must be made closer to assets and devices, which must be supported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Active Directory Must Be Modernized and Secured<\/h2>\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

In response, the latest Microsoft Cybersecurity Reference Architecture (MCRA) recommends incorporating premium Entra ID services for conditional access and Identity Protection, as well as Defender for Identity, into your systems. This includes environments that use its existing on-prem add-ons for privileged access management (PAM) and advanced threat analytics. However, Microsoft\u2019s prescribed pathway to AD modernization has several key drawbacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n