What does Active Directory primarily manage?

Active Directory primarily manages permissions and access to networked resources, playing a crucial role in network security and administration. It serves as a centralized system that allows administrators to define user accounts, manage access rights, and enforce security policies across the entire network. By using Active Directory, IT professionals can effectively control who has access to specific resources, such as files, folders, applications, and other network services.

This level of management is particularly essential in environments where multiple users and devices interact with a variety of resources, as it ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive information and perform critical tasks. Active Directory's organizational units and group policies help streamline the administration and provide granular control over permissions, making it easier to manage user access in large and complex network structures.

While physical resources, web hosting services, and user data backups are important aspects of network management, they are not the primary focus of Active Directory. Instead, Active Directory's chief function focuses on user identities, authentication, and access control, which are critical for maintaining security within a networked environment.