Identity and access with Active Directory
Identify users in real time on any device or network through Active Directory integration, applying identity-based security policies and improving overall visibility.
User-based identity management
Integration with Active Directory makes it possible to identify users in real time and apply identity-based security policies, improving visibility and control in distributed environments:
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- Real-time user identification without relying on IP addresses.
- Simple Active Directory integration with no impact on the infrastructure.
- Enforcement of security policies based on user identity.
- Complete traffic visibility tied to users rather than devices.
- Compatibility with XDR and SD-WAN solutions and security tools.
Networks based on user identity
The network paradigm has evolved from models centered on IP addresses toward architectures based on user identity. In today’s environments, characterized by mobility, hybrid work and the simultaneous use of multiple devices, the IP address is no longer a reliable identifier. A single user can connect from different locations and devices, while one IP address may be reused by several users over time, causing a loss of visibility and making it harder to apply consistent security policies.
This transformation has driven the adoption of technologies such as Zero Trust, XDR and behavioral analytics (UEBA), which require precisely identifying who generates each activity on the network. In this context, Active Directory remains the main source of identity in organizations, across on-premise, cloud and hybrid environments, consolidating the management of users and access.
The challenge lies in integrating this information securely, efficiently and in real time with networking and cybersecurity solutions. The market trend points toward networks capable of interpreting user context, applying dynamic policies and automating threat response without compromising infrastructure performance.
What are the important points related to Active Directory Integration?
User-based identification
The network must identify each user uniquely, regardless of the device or IP address used. This makes it possible to apply consistent policies, improve traceability and ensure real control over access.
Secure integration with Active Directory
Access to Active Directory information must be carried out without compromising the security or stability of the system. It is essential to avoid intrusive access and to ensure that data is managed in a controlled and protected manner.
Information updated in real time
Security decisions depend on up-to-date data. Keeping user, group and access information synchronized makes it possible to react quickly to changes, minimize risks and improve threat response.
Efficiency and low resource consumption
Any integration must minimize its impact on Active Directory servers. A lightweight, efficient approach ensures that the solution can be deployed without affecting the performance of critical services.
Understanding Active Directory Integration
From IPs to identities: the user-centric network
For decades, enterprise networks have been designed around an IP-address-centric approach. This model, valid in static and controlled environments, made it possible to apply access, monitoring and security policies based on the source and destination of traffic. However, digital transformation has completely changed this scenario.
Today, users work from multiple locations and devices: laptops, smartphones, tablets and virtual environments. In addition, the rise of remote work, remote connections and hybrid environments has blurred the traditional boundaries of the corporate network. In this context, the IP address is no longer a reliable identifier. A single user may use several IP addresses within a short period of time, while one IP address may be shared or reassigned to different users.
This change introduces a key problem: the loss of context. Organizations no longer need to know only what traffic flows across the network, but who generates it. Without this information, it becomes difficult to apply effective security policies, detect anomalous behavior or comply with control and audit regulations.
To address this challenge, the network model is evolving towards an approach centered on user identity.
Instead of basing decisions on technical parameters such as IP addresses or devices, organizations are beginning to rely on the identity, role and behavior of the user. This enables far more precise, dynamic management that is aligned with real business needs.
In this new paradigm, technologies such as Zero Trust, XDR and user behavior analytics (UEBA) take on a fundamental role. All of them require reliable, up-to-date information about who is accessing resources, from where and under what conditions. This information becomes the central pillar for applying adaptive policies, improving visibility and responding quickly to incidents.
Active Directory, present in most organizations, acts as the main source of identity. It centralizes users, groups, permissions and corporate hierarchies. However, accessing this information and bringing it into the network domain is not trivial. It must be done securely, without compromising the performance of critical systems and while preserving data integrity.
Understanding the network from the user’s perspective is therefore not just a technological evolution, but an operational necessity. This approach allows organizations to regain control, improve security and gain complete visibility in increasingly complex, dynamic and distributed environments.
Solution & Teldat Active Directory Integration Products
Teldat Active Directory solution
Teldat’s solution for Active Directory integration is designed to bring the concept of identity into the core of the network, enabling organizations to evolve from traditional IP-based models towards user-centric architectures. This approach is realized through a key component: a unified plugin that connects Active Directory with Teldat’s entire ecosystem of networking and cybersecurity solutions.
Unlike fragmented approaches, Teldat is committed to a single integration point capable of supporting multiple solutions, eliminating the need to deploy different connectors or specific tools for each product. This simplifies operations, reduces the burden on IT teams and ensures a consistent experience across the entire infrastructure.
The plugin is installed in the customer’s environment and acts as an intermediary between the Active Directory server and the various Teldat solutions. Its role is to collect the essential information about users, groups and network relationships, process it efficiently and make it available to the systems that need it. All of this is done while minimizing resource consumption and avoiding any significant impact on server performance.
From a security standpoint, the architecture is designed to be non-intrusive and highly controlled. The plugin does not expose unnecessary services or allow unauthorized access, and it transmits only the essential information to a securely managed external microservice. This allows organizations to retain control over their critical infrastructure while enabling new capabilities in their network tools.
Thanks to this integration, solutions such as be.Safe Pro, be.Safe XDR, SD-WAN or traffic analysis tools can operate with real-time user context. This translates into the ability to apply identity-based security policies, improve visibility into network activity and detect anomalous behavior with greater precision.
In addition, because all products share the same source of identity, a coherent and aligned ecosystem is created, in which decisions are based on consistent, up-to-date information. This unification makes it possible to automate processes, improve operational efficiency and deliver a faster, more effective response to security incidents.
Taken together, Teldat’s solution provides a solid foundation for tackling the challenges of modern networks, combining integration simplicity, advanced security and scalability, all with minimal impact on existing infrastructure and the flexibility to adapt to on-premise, cloud or hybrid environments.
Active Directory – Use Cases
Per-user access policies
Define and apply customized identity-based access policies in hybrid, multi-device environments.
Network usage visibility
Analyze traffic by user to improve security, detect anomalies and optimize resources.
Application access control
Manage access to corporate and SaaS applications with granular control based on identity and context.
Per-user access policies
Define and apply customized identity-based access policies in hybrid, multi-device environments.
Challenge
In hybrid, multi-device environments, organizations need to control access to resources based on the user rather than the network or IP address. However, traditional IP-based management makes it difficult to apply consistent policies when users constantly change location, device or connection type. This leads to inconsistent permissions, a lack of control over improper access and greater operational complexity for IT teams, especially in organizations with multiple departments and different levels of access to applications and services.
Solution
Through integration with Active Directory, Teldat’s solutions make it possible to apply access policies based on user identity, regardless of location or device. Thanks to real-time synchronization, changes to users or groups are automatically reflected on the network. This makes it possible to define dynamic, consistent rules, simplifying access management and ensuring that each user accesses only the resources they are authorized to use.
Why Teldat?
Teldat makes it possible to apply per-user policies automatically through its integration with Active Directory, providing flexibility and simplifying access management in hybrid, distributed environments.
Network usage visibility
Analyze traffic by user to improve security, detect anomalies and optimize resources.
Challenge
Organizations need to understand how the network is used in order to improve security and optimize resources. However, visibility is often limited to IP addresses or devices, which prevents clearly identifying which user is generating the traffic. This lack of context makes it difficult to detect anomalous behavior, investigate security incidents or size the infrastructure correctly. Furthermore, in dynamic environments where users change constantly, this limitation reduces the effectiveness of monitoring and analysis tools.
Solution
Integration with Active Directory makes it possible to correlate network traffic with user identity in real time. Teldat’s solutions provide complete visibility into network usage, making it easier to identify behavior patterns and detect anomalies. This information enables informed decisions, improved security and optimized use of network resources.
Why Teldat?
Teldat delivers identity-based visibility thanks to its native integration with Active Directory, making it possible to analyze network usage by user and improve both security and operational efficiency.
Application access control
Manage access to corporate and SaaS applications with granular control based on identity and context.
Challenge
In environments with access to corporate applications, SaaS or cloud services, organizations need to control who accesses each resource and from what context. However, when control is based solely on network or location, it becomes impossible to apply granular per-user policies. This can result in improper access, a lack of traceability or difficulties in complying with security regulations. The combination of remote access, VPNs and connections from different sites increases complexity and reduces the ability to maintain control.
Solution
With Active Directory integration and SSO capabilities, Teldat’s solutions make it possible to control application access granularly based on identity. Specific policies can be defined per user or group, regardless of how they access the network. In addition, visibility into application usage helps improve security and optimize access management.
Why Teldat?
Teldat combines security, visibility and access control through integration with Active Directory, simplifying the management of corporate applications in complex, distributed environments.
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