First introduced with Windows 2000 Server edition in February 2000, Windows Server Active Directory (AD) is a directory service developed by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It is central to the Microsoft ecosystem, providing a variety of network services, including LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol), Kerberos-based authentication, domain join capabilities, and policy enforcement. AD allows administrators to manage permissions and access to network resources, thereby facilitating a secure and organized environment for user and resource management. It supports the management of user data, computer data, and service data across the network and enables administrators to deploy other Microsoft services like Exchange Server and SharePoint in an integrated manner.