How do I access Active Directory security groups?

Answered by Jason Smith

To access Active Directory security groups, you can follow these steps:

1. Open the Active Directory Users and Computers console. This can be done by clicking on the Start menu, selecting Administrative Tools, and then clicking on Active Directory Users and Computers.

2. Once the console is open, locate the domain or organizational unit where you want to create the security group. Expand the tree view to find the desired location.

3. Right-click on the desired location and select New, and then click on Group. This will open the New Object – Group dialog box.

4. In the Group name field, enter a name for the new security group. Choose a meaningful and descriptive name that reflects the purpose of the group.

5. In the Group scope section, select Universal. The scope determines where the group can be used within the domain or forest. Universal groups can be used in any domain within the forest.

6. In the Group type section, select Security. Security groups are used to manage access to resources and assign permissions.

7. Click OK to create the new security group. The group will now appear in the selected location within the Active Directory Users and Computers console.

8. To add members to the security group, locate the group in the console, right-click on it, and select Properties. This will open the Properties dialog box for the group.

9. In the Properties dialog box, click on the Members tab. This tab displays a list of current members in the group.

10. To add new members, click on the Add button. This will open the Select Users, Contacts, Computers, or Groups dialog box.

11. In the Select Users, Contacts, Computers, or Groups dialog box, enter the name of the user or group you want to add to the security group. You can also click on the Advanced button to search for users or groups in different domains.

12. After selecting the desired user or group, click on the OK button. The selected user or group will now appear in the Members list on the Members tab.

13. You can repeat steps 10-12 to add multiple users or groups to the security group.

14. Once you have added all the desired members, click on the OK button in the Properties dialog box to save the changes.

By following these steps, you can easily create and manage security groups within Active Directory to control access and assign permissions to resources.