International Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAuthors: Paul Pinto
Abstract: Effective identity and access management is essential for securing hybrid cloud environments, where workloads and applications span both on-premises and cloud infrastructures. Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and Microsoft Active Directory (AD) are two of the most widely implemented frameworks for authentication, authorization, and directory services in enterprises. LDAP provides a flexible, platform-agnostic protocol suitable for multi-platform environments, while AD offers centralized management, native policy enforcement, and seamless integration within Microsoft ecosystems. This review article provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of LDAP and Active Directory in the context of hybrid cloud security architectures. It examines architectural differences, authentication and authorization mechanisms, integration strategies, scalability, performance, administration, and security considerations. Case studies from financial services, healthcare, and global enterprises illustrate real-world implementations, challenges, and lessons learned, highlighting best practices for deployment, policy management, and monitoring. Emerging trends such as Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS), AI-driven access control, zero-trust security models, and federation protocols are explored to provide forward-looking insights. These innovations enhance operational efficiency, strengthen security, and ensure seamless access across distributed hybrid infrastructures. By synthesizing technical, operational, and strategic considerations, this review equips enterprise IT professionals with the knowledge required to design, implement, and manage LDAP and AD effectively. It emphasizes scalable, resilient, and compliant identity management that supports secure access, regulatory adherence, and business continuity in complex hybrid cloud ecosystems
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17149753
