Can I use third-party tools to back up Active Directory?
Although Windows Server has a built-in backup tool, third-party tools
offer useful capabilities, such as reporting and alerting features, to help
admins back up Active Directory.
In addition to the native Windows Server Backup tool,
there are several third-party tools that can help administrators back up Active
Directory. For example, Veeam Explorer (part of Veeam Backup), Dell's Recovery
Manager for Active Directory and Acronis Backup Advanced for Active Directory
can restore individual Active Directory objects from backups.
The scope of features can vary between products, but there are some worthwhile
capabilities to consider. Restoration options are some of the most valuable
abilities for an Active Directory backup tool. Granular file, object,
organizational unit, or attribute restoration -- such as user accounts or group memberships -- without the need to restart domain
servers is preferable compared to a complete system state or even full system
backup restoration.
Consider reporting and alerting features in tools that
can compare the current Active Directory state with existing backups and
recommend the most effective backup options. Auditing capabilities can report
on changes to AD objects, when changes occurred and who made them; this can be
crucial for organizations responsible for compliance and auditing. Look for alerting
and notification features to ensure backups are successful or errors get
addressed quickly.
Also look for tools that seamlessly interact with
native Windows Server tools, such as Active Directory Recycle Bin, to save time
and trouble -- or eliminate the need to develop scripts to provide this
integration. Look for scheduling flexibility so AD backups can be performed
during off-peak traffic hours and backups can be replicated off-site when
bandwidth demands are lower.
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