7 tools to monitor Active Directory health (free + paid)

Without the right Active Directory management tools, system administrators have difficulty professionally managing complex Microsoft AD environments.

The need to implement security policies and maintain compliance adds to the challenge.

What is Active Directory (AD)?

Approximately 72% of enterprises worldwide use the Microsoft Windows server operating system (OS), and each server uses Active Directory to store user-related data and network resources in a domain forest.

Active Directory plays a critical role within any business network, and effective Active Directory management and administration tools are essential to its smooth operation. It is designed and developed by Microsoft for server operating systems. The server on which AD runs is called AD DS (Active Directory Domain Services).

Active Directory stores data in the form of objects such as users, groups, applications, and devices, which are categorized by name and attributes.

AD’s primary role is to enable authenticated users and computers to join domains and connect to network resources. Use Group Policy to ensure that appropriate security policies are applied to all network resources, including computers, users, and other objects.

The server that hosts AD DS is called a domain controller (DC). Domain controllers can also be used for authentication to other MS products such as Exchange Server, SharePoint Server, SQL Server, and File Server.

Active Directory (AD) framework

Each time AD is installed on a server, it creates its own framework on the Active Directory domain server that organizes objects in a hierarchical structure consisting of:

• Domain: Consists of objects such as users, groups, and devices.
• Tree: This is a grouping of one or more domains
• Forest: This is the top-level structure in AD and contains groups of trees.
• Organizational units: for organizing users, groups, and computers

It also creates a framework for providing other related services such as:

• Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS): Used to create and manage encrypted certificates for security reasons.
• Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS): Provides a single sign-on (SSO) multi-sign-in solution for accessing multiple applications.
• Lightweight Directory Service (AD LDS): This is a subset of AD and is useful for standalone servers that do not require a full AD deployment.
• Rights Management Services (AD RMS): Supports security controls such as encryption, certificates, and authentication to help organizations protect their data.

Why is it important to monitor Active Directory?

Monitoring is the first step in identifying bottlenecks and errors in the Active Directory database so administrators can remediate them before they cause major outages, crashes, or business impact.

AD monitoring becomes a routine task for enterprises that want to keep their Microsoft domain controllers, domains, or physical sites, regardless of market capitalization, correct, stable, and timely.

Active Directory is at the heart of a Windows server network, so it must be protected and running without tampering at all times. Manual monitoring and maintenance is difficult and prone to human error, especially when networks are geographically dispersed.

Manual tasks for managing Active Directory include domain controller replication, health checks, DNS configuration, domain synchronization, event log monitoring, SYSVOL replication, security updates, archiving, and bottleneck monitoring and tracking.

If you want to overcome manual tasks and reduce errors with Active Directory and domain controllers, we highly recommend using tools and software to maintain and manage Active Directory and domain controllers.

Next, we’ll look at the best software or tools you can use to monitor the health of your Active Directory.

Pesler PRTG

Paessler PRTG Network Monitor provides real-time, continuous Active Directory monitoring. The software immediately detects replication errors and prompts the user to exit and send alerts. The main component is the sensor. Sensors monitor metrics on your network or Active Directory. Provides a central dashboard to view your entire Active Directory schema.

One of the primary functions of AD is the replication and synchronization of domain controllers across a forest. The software uses eight sensors to monitor and alert you to deviations in this process.

Another challenge in AD is maintaining user data such as logged out users, disabled users, and domain administrator registrations. All of these basic metrics are monitored by this software and signals are set up to notify you.

Features

• Prevent directory replication failures between domain controllers
• Monitor Active Directory ports with Port Coverage Sensor
• Filter and monitor important AD audit events
• Monitor group membership changes in Active Directory

If you are looking for a complete AD monitoring and notification software, Paessler PRTG will meet your needs. Trusted by 5 million users worldwide, the software is free for 30 days, with server licenses starting at $1,750. The software is also available as a monthly subscription.

Managing Engine ADAudit

Manage Engine ADAudit provides complete visibility into all parts of AD, including users, computers, groups, OUs, GPOs, schemas, and sites.

Monitor all changes that occur in AD and its attributes, group policies, privilege abuse, and other indicators of security threats. One of its uniqueness is that it meets various compliance requirements such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, and FISMA.

This software allows organizations to track multiple cloud applications such as Office 365, BYOD, and protect their IT environments by monitoring when new users are added or removed from devices.

Its powerful engine shuts down infected devices and immediately notifies you via email or SMS. Reports can be customized to suit your company’s needs, or you can use predefined reports.

Features

• Track changes such as user management actions, security groups, group policy settings, and FSMO role changes in real time.
• Observing Azure cloud environment
• Demonstrates unauthorized changes to Group Policy settings to prevent attacks.
• Proactively monitor user behavior analytics (UBA) to identify hidden threats

World-renowned companies such as Cisco, Symantec, IBM, Disney, and Toshiba trust this software. Organizations looking for end-to-end tracking and monitoring of AD, Azure, Group Policy, File Servers, Windows Servers, Domain Name Services, Workstations, and most importantly compliance can choose this software. Pricing is available on request for quote.

solar winds

SolarWinds Application Monitor and Server software is used to monitor, optimize, and troubleshoot AD and Azure AD platforms.

Provides a central console for viewing directory replication status between domain controllers (DCs). You can adjust details such as each DC to reveal details about DNS configuration, schema, and settings that can help you analyze Active Directory health.

The platform has built-in bug detection for troubleshooting, and the software proactively sends bug detection notifications to avoid major disruptions in the future.

The software also helps you remotely identify problems by searching for link names to sites, subnets, and IP ranges. The AppInsight tool helps identify issues in both physical and virtual AD environments. Also monitor the Windows Event Log performance counters.

Features

• Detect expired passwords and monitor other metrics related to user accounts
• Identify domain controllers experiencing replication issues with Active Directory Replication Monitor
• Ability to plan and generate custom performance reports
• Monitor Active Directory for failed login events, users created, password resets, account deletion attempts, and more.

This is comprehensive software for monitoring, tracking, and troubleshooting AD. Prices start at $1,622. Licensing models are available in subscription and perpetual license options. Try it free for 30 days before you buy.

Quest Active Administrator

Quest AD provides a complete AD management solution that bridges the gap and helps you meet your audit and security requirements. This AD software allows you to easily view and track your AD and related events in one central console. GPOs in AD can be evaluated without requiring any lab setup.

Important tasks like delegating privileges can be accomplished with just a few clicks. Backing up and restoring your AD schema helps you deal with security threats and downtime.

You can perform basic troubleshooting activities such as monitoring all DCs, replication, restarting, and connecting remote DCs from a single console.

Features

• Quickly monitor and report changes based on authentication events, users, and activity.
• Schedule AD details to be backed up and restored automatically
• Test Group Policy Objectives (GPOs) offline before deploying them in a live environment
• Monitor and manage domain name services

Quest AD software provides AD administration, authorization management, and delegation to facilitate the operation of domain controllers. These capabilities are essential to maintaining business continuity and minimizing security risks. You can test this software for free for 30 days. Perpetual license prices start at $22.

Semperis DSP

Semperis Directory Service Protector provides award-winning software. It has won many awards , including the Deloitte Award for Fastest Company, the Cisco Identity Management Award, and the Dun Award for Best Startup.

Semperis DSP is a well-known threat detection and response platform for Active Directory and Azure Active Directory.

Most AD tools rely on domain controller logging and security agents for monitoring and tracking. In contrast, a DSP monitors things like AD replication flows and forwards suspicious changes to a security and event management information (SIEM) system.

Semperis DSP prevents unknown access to Active Directory and Azure Active Directory, detects changes that circumvent security protocols, and highlights changes as malicious.

Features

• Capture changes related to AD and Azure AD that bypass agent-based or log-based detection.
• Automatically fix malicious changes and roll back suspicious changes that are too risky.
• Quickly recover unwanted changes to AD objects and attributes from the DSP database
• You can generate custom reports based on your LDAP and DSP databases for accurate operational insights.

More than 2,000 global enterprises and government agencies use Semperis DSP to protect their AD infrastructure from cyberattacks. If you want to continuously monitor Active Directory and related changes at the object and attribute level and protect your main servers and network from cyber threats, a DSP is sufficient.

whatsapp gold

Whatsupgold offers a free trial. This software is easy to install and allows you to immediately start monitoring the performance of your AD servers and detect errors before they impact your users.

Award-winning software Whatsupgold also offers other free tools such as Server Exchange Monitor, Network Bandwidth Management, SQL Server and IIS Server Monitor, and Virtual Machine Manager.

Small organizations that need basic AD monitoring can choose this free tool.

eG Enterprise

eG Enterprise is a comprehensive tool to track performance, replication issues, service outages, Kerberos issues, DNS errors, and more.

A proactive alert system helps you troubleshoot performance issues before they impact your systems or applications.

This software provides deep insight into DC replication status and time synchronization issues before they impact your business.

We provide important updates on AD availability and response times, LDAP connection times, FSMO network delays, ATQ delays and delays, and more.

Features

• Detect user authentication issues such as slow logins and lockouts.
• Detect and fix critical AD issues remotely using built-in tools
• Monitor and track your DNS and proactively detect DNS issues.
• Receive alerts about security breaches after repeated login errors

AD Monitor is part of eG Enterprise’s IT infrastructure monitoring and data center management software.

Perfect for on-premises, cloud, or even hybrid cloud setups. This software can be implemented in complex IT implementations. This benefits IT teams by allowing them to run AD smoothly without disrupting business operations and reducing ticket flow to support departments.

This software is free for 30 days. Pricing starts at $100 per month, depending on the implementation method.

How do I choose the best Active Directory tool or software?

The complex configurations of today’s network and domain controllers present IT and system administrators with significant challenges when maintaining servers, networks, and Active Directory.

So look for tools and software that make it easier for administrators to automate repetitive tasks, easily track AD activity, and assist with troubleshooting.

The software displays central dashboards, graphs, reports, and visualizations with relevant statistics.

The main purpose of deploying third-party AD software is to ensure performance optimization, anomalous behavior detection, unauthorized access, and instant alert mechanisms.

Because each organization’s needs are different, we strongly recommend that you try the full evaluation software before purchasing.

Conclusion👨‍💻

AD software provides clear visibility of all changes to the AD database, its objects and attributes, Group Policy, and related services.

AD tools can help you identify and respond to threats, mismanagement, and other indicators that help identify security vulnerabilities in your AD environment.

For complex cross-site infrastructures, we recommend proven professional tools such as Paessler, Solarwinds, and Manageengine. If you are looking for a more secure managed AD infrastructure, we recommend Semperis DSP.

You may also be interested in learning more about cloud-based server monitoring tools.