--- title: "Active Directory Administrators" description: "Learn about the different types of Active Directory administrators and what they do. " locale: "en" updated_at: "2025-02-21T09:49:04.264Z" canonical: "https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-administrators" --- # The A-Z of Active Directory Security _Glossary_ Welcome! If you're here, you probably manage or work with an Active Directory environment. Active Directory is a complex system and can be difficult to navigate. To help you out, we've created this glossary of terms to help you understand the ins and outs of Active Directory security. In this glossary you'll find a list of the most common Active Directory security terms, defined in plain, easy-to-understand language. So, whether you're a seasoned IT professional, new to Active Directory, or just researching, you'll find the words you need to know here. ## A-F - [Active Directory backup](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-backup-and-recovery#active-directory-backup) - [Active Directory default security settings](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-backup-and-recovery#active-directory-default-security-settings) - [Active Directory endpoints](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-computers-windows-devices#active-directory-endpoints) - [Active Directory user](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-user-and-account-types#AD-user) - [Adaptive authentication](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/mfa-types#adaptive-authentication) - [Administrative account](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-user-and-account-types#administrative-account) - [Administrative permissions](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-permissions#administrative-permissions) - [Administrative users](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-user-and-account-types#administrative-users) - [AD vulnerability patching](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-patching#ad-vulnerability-patching) - [ADWS](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-web-services-adws#adws) - [Authentication](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-access-authentication#authentication) - [Authorization](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-access-authentication#authorization) - [Credential theft](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-security-threats#credential-theft) - [Domain](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-structure#domain) - [Domain Tree](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-structure#domain-tree) - [Enterprise admins](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-administrators#enterprise-admins) - [Fast ID Online (FIDO)](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/fido2-authentication#what-is-fido2) - [Forest](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-structure#forest) - [FQDN – Fully Qualified Domain Name](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-structure#fqdn-fully-qualified-domain-name) - [FSMO – Flexible Single Master Operation](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-administrators#fsmo-flexible-single-master-operation) - [Functional Levels](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-structure#functional-levels) ## G-L - [Granular MFA](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/mfa-types#what-is-granular-mfa) - [Group permissions](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-permissions#group-permissions) - [How does MFA work?](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/mfa-definition#how-does-mfa-work) - [Identity and access management (IAM)](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/identity-and-access-management-iam#active-directory-iam) - [Identity infrastructure](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/identity-infrastructure#active-directory-identity-infrastructure) - [Identity security](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/identity-security#active-directory-identity-security) - [Insider threat](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-insider-threats#insider-threat) - [Lateral movement](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-security-threats#lateral-movement) - [LDAP](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/ldap-lightweight-directory-access-protocol#ldap) - [Least privilege](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-privilege#least-privilege) - [Local administrative account](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-user-and-account-types#local-administrative-account) - [Local computer](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-computers-windows-devices#local-computer) - [Local directory](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-local-directory-services#local-directory) - [Local system account](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-user-and-account-types#local-system-account) ## M-R - [MFA enrollment](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/mfa-setup#mfa-enrollment) - [MFA factors](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/mfa-factors#what-are-mfa-factors) - [MFA methods](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/mfa-definition#mfa-methods) - [Network](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-structure#network) - [Objects](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-structure#objects) - [Overprivileged service accounts](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-privilege#overprivileged-service-accounts) - [Passwords and credentials](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-access-authentication#passwords-and-credentials) - [Privileged access group](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-groups#privileged-access-group) - [Privileged acess](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-privilege#privileged-acess) - [Privileged user](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-user-and-account-types#privileged-user) - [Privilege escalation](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-privilege#privilege-escalation) - [Remote desktop](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-remote-access#remote-desktop) - [Risk-based authentication](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/mfa-types#risk-based-authentication) ## S-Z - [Schema admin](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-administrators#schema-admin) - [Security groups](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-groups#security-groups) - [Shared credentials](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-access-authentication#shared-credentials) - [Spear phishing](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-security-threats#spear-phishing) - [Traditional MFA](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/mfa-types#traditional-mfa) - [Unauthorized access attempt](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-access-authentication#unauthorized-access-attempt) - [User account](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-user-and-account-types#user-account) - [User deprovisioning](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-user-provisioning#user-deprovisioning) - [User permissions](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-permissions#user-permissions) - [User provisioning & overprovisioning](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-user-provisioning#user-provisioning-overprovisioning) - [What is MFA?](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/mfa-definition#what-is-mfa) - [Why MFA is important](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/mfa-definition#why-mfa-is-important) - [Why use multi-factor authentication?](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/mfa-definition#why-use-multi-factor-authentication) - [Windows devices](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-computers-windows-devices#windows-devices) - [Windows domain administrators](https://www.isdecisions.com/en/glossary/active-directory-administrators#windows-domain-administrators)