International Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAuthors: Neha Sharma
Abstract: Hybrid IT environments increasingly rely on multi-platform infrastructures combining on-premises systems, cloud services, and SaaS applications. Efficient identity and access management across these environments is critical to ensure security, compliance, and operational efficiency. Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and Active Directory (AD) provide foundational solutions for centralized authentication, authorization, and policy enforcement. While basic deployments address standard user management needs, advanced integration strategies are essential for achieving seamless cross-platform access, automation, and compliance in complex hybrid environments. This review article provides a comprehensive analysis of advanced LDAP and AD integration techniques for hybrid IT. It examines architecture, authentication, authorization, directory replication, cloud and SaaS integration, security, compliance, and automation strategies. Specific focus is placed on advanced mechanisms such as role-based access control, single sign-on, multi-factor authentication, and automated provisioning. Real-world case studies from financial and healthcare sectors illustrate practical implementations, highlighting challenges, lessons learned, and best practices. Emerging trends including cloud-native identity solutions, AI-driven access management, and zero-trust security frameworks are explored to provide insights into the future of hybrid IT identity management. By synthesizing technical, operational, and strategic considerations, this review equips IT professionals with knowledge to design, implement, and manage advanced LDAP and AD solutions that ensure secure, scalable, and compliant identity management. The article emphasizes centralized policy enforcement, predictive monitoring, and automation as key enablers for maintaining operational continuity, optimizing performance, and mitigating security risks across hybrid IT infrastructures.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17149805
