Best Practices when Deploying an Active Directory
Anton Berghult • Setting up a perfect Active Directory (AD) that will stand the test of time is not as easy as it sounds. Not only do you have to think about the current state of the organization but you also need to plan for future changes. To help you get started I'll be going through the basics about setting up an Active Directory.
What is Active Directory – Server Academy
Establish a plan and stick to it
Take time to map out the current and future state of your IT-environment. Understand how many users, machines, departments and their unique needs exist. Planning now avoids major headaches later.
Keep it simple
The Active Directory is flexible with many components – but complexity often causes issues. Keep the structure and configuration as simple as possible to ensure clarity and maintainability.
Hardware set up
The core of AD is the domain controllers, which validate users. You need redundancy for uptime.
Memory Space
You don’t always need twice the DB size in RAM – just enough to cache the most used data. Proper RAM reduces reliance on disk access and improves authentication speed.
Ensure AD data, log and OS files are on separate physical volumes to avoid performance bottlenecks.
Management plan
Before startup, define responsibilities:
- Who manages AD?
- Is it a team or an individual?
- Are duties divided by OU or domain?
A governance plan helps prevent chaos.
Naming conventions
Standardize object names to simplify troubleshooting.
Users
Common: tjohnsson, tom.johnsson, or tom.b.johnsson.
Avoid using numbers or department names.
Groups
Template: Department + Resource + Group Type + Permissions
Example: Helpdesk-PasswordReset-G
Devices
Format: Type + Location + Asset#
Example: L-HR-1235
Where L = Laptop, HR = Human Resources.
More Architecture Tips
- Separate users and computers into different OUs.
- Create dedicated OUs for security groups and servers.
- Always add descriptions (but never passwords!).
Summary
Want insights into your current AD structure? Use vScope’s Active Directory Documentation and Optimization & Security packs.
👉 Explore Directory Module
👉 vScope Asset Discovery
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