Microsoft Active Directory (AD)

• Found on any Windows Server with AD Domain Services
• Database of objects: User Accounts, Computers, Printers, File Shares, Security Groups
• Centralized security management, create account, assign permissions

AWS Directory Service

AWS Managed Microsoft AD

• Create your own AD in AWS, manage users locally, supports MFA
• Establish "trust" connections with your on-premise AD

AD Connector

• Directory Gateway(Proxy) to redirect requests to on-premise AD
• Users are managed on the on-premise AD

Simple AD

• AD-compatible managed directory on AWS
• Cannot be joined with on-premise AD