What Is Managed Service for Microsoft Active Directory?
Managed Service for Microsoft Active Directory is a directory service operated by Google Cloud. Google describes it as a highly available, hardened Google Cloud service running Microsoft AD. It runs actual Microsoft Active Directory domain controllers rather than a reimplementation.
The service targets organizations that want to run AD-dependent workloads on Google Cloud without installing, patching, and hardening domain controllers themselves. Google handles AD server maintenance and security configuration.
Core Capabilities
- Actual Microsoft Active Directory domain controllers delivered as a managed service
- Automated maintenance of AD servers and automated security configuration
- Multi-region deployment for high availability
- Domain trusts connecting on-premises AD to cloud environments
- Hybrid identity management across existing and cloud domains
- LDAP connectivity for applications that read from the directory
Typical Use Cases
Windows workloads in the cloud: Applications that require an AD domain can move to Google Cloud without operating your own domain controllers.
Hybrid identity: Existing on-premises domains connect to the cloud domain through domain trusts.
Lift-and-shift migrations: AD-dependent server workloads move over without rebuilding the identity architecture.
LDAP applications: Applications with LDAP integration use the managed directory as their identity source.
Benefits
- No need to operate your own domain controllers
- Automated maintenance and security configuration by Google
- Compatibility with existing AD-dependent applications
- Domain trusts to existing on-premises domains
- Multi-region deployment available
Working with innFactory
As a certified Google Cloud Partner, innFactory supports you with Managed Service for Microsoft Active Directory:
- Architecture consulting: designing domain structure, regions, and high availability
- Hybrid connectivity: setting up domain trusts to existing on-premises domains
- Migration: moving AD-dependent Windows workloads to Google Cloud
- Operations: integration into your identity, monitoring, and compliance processes
Get in touch for a consultation on Managed Service for Microsoft Active Directory.
Typical Use Cases
Technical Specifications
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Managed Service for Microsoft Active Directory?
Google describes Managed Service for Microsoft Active Directory as a highly available, hardened Google Cloud service running Microsoft AD. It helps organizations manage cloud-based AD-dependent workloads while automating maintenance and security tasks.
Is this actual Microsoft Active Directory?
Yes. The service runs actual Microsoft Active Directory domain controllers in the cloud rather than a reimplementation with similar functionality.
How is high availability achieved?
The service supports multi-region deployment. Consult the official documentation for the specific configuration options.
Can an existing on-premises AD be connected?
Yes. The service enables domain trusts connecting on-premises AD to cloud environments and supports hybrid identity management.
Can applications access it over LDAP?
The service provides LDAP connectivity. Supported configurations are described in the official documentation.
Which maintenance tasks does Google handle?
Google automates AD server maintenance and security configuration, removing the operational effort of patching and hardening the domain controllers on your side.
Note: All product information on this page has been compiled with care, but is provided without guarantee and may be outdated or incomplete. Cloud services evolve rapidly — features, pricing, SLAs, and availability change frequently. Authoritative and up-to-date information can only be found on the official product page of Google Cloud (official documentation). This page does not represent an offer by Google Cloud.
