Microsoft Active Directory is the most widely used identity management solution. It can centrally manage identities across its infrastructure. It is equipped with different role services, features, and components that help us handle identities securely and effectively according to business requirements. For the last 20 years, Microsoft has continued improving Active Directory, and Active Directory 2016 further consolidates its approach in terms of rectifying industry requirements and protecting identity infrastructures with emerging security threats. However, a technology-rich product is not simply going to make a productive, reliable, scalable, and secure identity infrastructure. It requires knowledge of Active Directory roles services, components, and features. It also requires knowledge of how to use those effectively to match different operation requirements. Only then can we plan, design, manage, and maintain a robust identity infrastructure.
Over the past few years, more and more organizations have adopted cloud technologies for a variety of reasons. With the growth of the cloud footprint, organizations' identity requirements have also changed. We can no longer limit corporate identities to on-premises infrastructures. By using Microsoft Azure Active Directory, we can extend our on-premises identities to the cloud. The hybrid AD approach provides lots of benefits for modern authentication requirements. However, security-wise, it also opens up a whole new level of challenges. Therefore, the majority of new content in the second edition is related to designing the Azure AD hybrid cloud, securing a hybrid AD environment, and protecting sensitive data.