International Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAuthors: Aditya Pinto
Abstract: Hybrid IT environments that integrate legacy directory services such as LDAP and Active Directory (AD) with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) workloads present both opportunities and challenges for modern enterprises. While such integrations enable centralized identity management, consistent access control, and streamlined administration across heterogeneous systems, they also introduce security vulnerabilities, compliance risks, and operational complexities. This review explores best practices for securing LDAP/AD and RHEL within hybrid stacks, emphasizing directory hardening, system hardening, authentication integration, centralized access management, monitoring, and incident response. Real-world case studies illustrate practical strategies, while lessons learned highlight common pitfalls and corrective measures. The article also examines emerging trends, including Zero Trust security, cloud-integrated directories, and AI-driven automation, providing a roadmap for building secure, resilient, and future-ready hybrid IT infrastructures.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17150241
