How can you manage users and groups with Active Directory?

1 Creating users and groups

To create a user or a group in AD, you need to use the Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) tool, which you can access from the Start menu or the Administrative Tools folder. You can also use the Active Directory Administrative Center (ADAC) or PowerShell commands for more advanced options. To create a user, right-click the organizational unit (OU) where you want to place the user, and select New > User. Fill in the required fields, such as name, logon name, and password, and click Next. You can also configure other settings, such as account expiration, profile path, and group membership, on the following screens. To create a group, right-click the OU where you want to place the group, and select New > Group. Enter a name and a description for the group, and choose the group scope and type. The group scope determines the visibility and membership of the group in the domain or forest, while the group type determines how the group can be used for security or distribution purposes.

2 Modifying users and groups

To modify a user or a group in AD, you can use the same tools as for creating them. You can either double-click the user or group object in ADUC or ADAC, or use the Set-ADUser or Set-ADGroup PowerShell cmdlets to change their properties. For example, you can change the user's name, email, phone number, password, or group membership, or you can change the group's name, description, scope, type, or members. You can also use the Move-ADObject cmdlet to move a user or group to a different OU in the same domain.

4 Assigning permissions and roles

To assign permissions and roles to users and groups in AD, you need to use the Security tab in the properties of the objects you want to secure, such as files, folders, printers, or other AD objects. You can use the Advanced Security Settings dialog box to add, edit, or remove access control entries (ACEs) that define the access rights and inheritance of the users and groups. You can also use the Delegation of Control Wizard to delegate administrative tasks to users and groups, such as creating, deleting, or resetting accounts, or modifying group membership. You can also use the Add-ADGroupMember or Add-ADPrincipalGroupMembership PowerShell cmdlets to add users or groups to existing groups that have predefined permissions and roles.

5 Managing users and groups with PowerShell

PowerShell is a powerful scripting language that allows you to automate and manage users and groups in AD with more flexibility and efficiency than the graphical tools. You can use the Active Directory module for PowerShell to access a variety of cmdlets that perform common AD tasks, such as creating, modifying, deleting, enabling, disabling, moving, or searching for users and groups. You can also use the Get-ADUser or Get-ADGroup cmdlets to retrieve the properties and attributes of the users and groups, and use the Filter, SearchBase, or SearchScope parameters to refine your queries. You can also use the Export-Csv or Out-File cmdlets to export the results to a file for further analysis or reporting.

6 Best practices for users and groups

To manage users and groups in AD effectively and securely, you should plan your OU structure and naming conventions carefully, using descriptive names and descriptions for your users and groups. Group policies should be used to apply consistent settings and preferences, such as password policies, security policies, or software installation policies. Security groups are ideal for assigning permissions and roles to your users and groups, while distribution groups are best suited for email communication purposes. It is important to use the principle of least privilege when granting access to your users and groups, ensuring they only have the minimum level of access required to perform their tasks. Regularly audit and monitor your users and groups with tools such as Event Viewer, Group Policy Management Console, or PowerShell to track any issues or changes.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?