LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) and Active Directory (AD) work together but they are quite different things:
- LDAP is a software protocol used to help locate data.
- Active Directory is a Microsoft product that runs on Windows Server. It includes both a database that stores information about users, computers and more, and services like authentication, authorization, and user and group management. Active Directory supports LDAP binding and basic LDAP protocol connectivity.
The table below summarizes the primary differences of LDAP vs Active Directory, and the rest of this article provides the key details you need to know.
| Lightweight Directory Access Protocol | Active Directory | |
| Function | Software protocol | Database directory system |
| Supported platforms | Windows, Linux, AIX, Solaris and HP-UX 11.11 | Windows Server |
| Standard | Open source | Proprietary (Microsoft) |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
What is Active Directory?
Active Directory is a Microsoft product that provides centralized management of users, computers and other network resources. It stores information about them, including their credentials and locations, in a single directory, and provides two main functions: authentication and authorization.
Some of the most used Active Directory services are:
- Active Directory Domain Service (AD DS) — AD DS store information about AD objects and provide authorization and authentication services. The servers that run AD DS are called domain controllers (DCs).
- Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) — AD FS enables single sign-on (SSO) for users, so they can provide their credentials once and get access to multiple services and applications on the network.
- Active Directory Rights Management Services (AD RMS) — AD RMS deals with management of access to information in a domain.
- Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) — AD CS enables users to issue and manage Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). It is used for encrypting and decrypting files, emails and network traffic.
- Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) — AD LDS is an LDAP directory service that runs on stand-alone servers or member servers. It supports directory-enabled applications without any domain-related dependencies on AD DS.
Benefits of Active Directory
Active Directory is the top choice in an on-premises Windows- based environment. Benefits include the following:
- You can organize user accounts in a way that reflects your company’s hierarchy.
- You can set up an Active Directory forest with include multiple domains that have different security policies and administrators.
- Active Directory includes Group Policy, which enables administrators to deploy applications, prohibit the use of USB devices, specify default browsers and much, much more.
Enterprise Directory vs Active Directory
There are a few alternatives that administrators can consider if they do not want to use Active Directory. One free, open-source option is OpenLDAP.
Do not confuse it with OpenLDAP with LDAP — OpenLDAP is a directory service, not just a protocol.
OpenLDAP vs Active Directory
Key points to consider when comparing Active Directory vs OpenLDAP include:
- Breadth of functionality — OpenLDAP does not begin to match the feature level of Active Directory. For example, Active Directory includes the very powerful Group Policy functionality mentioned earlier.
- Protocol support — Active Directory supports multiple protocols, including LDAP. OpenLDAP uses only LDAP.
- Flexibility — Asan open-source directory service, OpenLDAP is customizable and offers greater flexibility than the proprietary Active Directory.
- Cost — Active Directory is a Microsoft product, so it has licensing costs. OpenLDAP is free.
Most organizations today use a combination of the two Microsoft directories: Active Directory and Entra ID (formerly Azure AD). However, some companies are using OpenLDAP because Microsoft does not support the LDAP protocol for cloud infrastructure.
What is LDAP?
LDAP is a protocol used to provide user management, facilitate user authentication and makes it possible for client applications to communicate with different directory services. It was developed in 1993 as a low-overhead version of DAP, a directory service protocol that was bandwidth-intensive and had a large footprint.
LDAP authentication types
LDAP offers two main authentication types:
- Simple authentication — Simple authentication requires only a distinguished username and password. However, the name and cleartext password are sent from the client to the directory server, which puts this sensitive data at risk of being read and misused. To improve security, organizations can use simple authentication within an encrypted channel that the LDAP server supports.
- SASL (Simple Authentication and Security Layer) — SASL binds an LDAP server to other authentication mechanisms, such as Kerberos. The LDAP server then sends the message in clear text to other authorization services but attaches a security layer that protects the data. This makes your directory less vulnerable to attacks.
LDAP Queries
LDAP queries are the commands used to retrieve information from a directory service.
For example, if you want to view the expired user accounts in Active Directory, you can use the following LDAP query:
(&(objectCategory=Person)(objectClass=User)(!accountExpires=0 (!accountExpires=9223372036854775807))
To see the groups that a particular user is part of, you apply the following LDAP command:
(&(objectClass=user)(sAMAccountName=yourUserName)
(memberof=CN=YourGroup,OU=Users,DC=YourDomain,DC=com))
Active Directory vs LDAP: How they work together
Active Directory uses the LDAP protocol to provide certain directory access services. For example, when users want to search for a computer or group in Active Directory, LDAP performs the search and fetches the results. LDAP can add or remove information from Active Directory.
How does LDAP improve Active Directory security?
Active Directory is a top target for attackers because compromising even a single AD account gives them a foothold in the domain. Compromising an administrator account gives them even more power.
Using LDAP authentication can help protect against such security threats:
- Organizations can use an encrypted channel supported by the LDAP server to avoid exposing passwords.
- For more security, they can use the SASL authentication method, which decouples authentication mechanisms from application protocols.
How Netwrix GroupID can help
Netwrix GroupID streamlines interaction with Active Directory and other identity stores. For example, it provides dynamic group membership and automatically translates creates the appropriate LDAP queries. In addition, it includes a GUI-based console that allows you to limit LDAP search scope simply by setting filters.
FAQ
What is LDAP vs AD?
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is a software protocol for accessing and managing directory services.
Active Directory (AD) is a database and set of services developed by Microsoft for centralized management of users, computers and network resources. Active Directory supports LDAP as well as other protocols.
Is LDAP an alternative to AD?
No. Active Directory is a comprehensive directory system that uses the LDAP protocol for communication.
Does LDAP work without Active Directory?
Yes. The LDAP protocol can be used to access and manage directory services on platforms besides Windows, including Linux, AIX, Solaris and HP-UX.
What is LDAP used for?
LDAP is a lightweight protocol for communication between client applications and directory servers. It is commonly used for identity and access management (IAM), user authentication, and directory queries.
Can Active Directory be used as an LDAP directory service?
Yes. Active Directory supports LDAP binding and basic LDAP protocol connectivity. To use Active Directory as an LDAP directory service, you would typically utilize an LDAP client that communicates with the Active Directory server using the LDAP protocol.
