Active Directory Forest Trusts
An Active Directory forest trust is a relationship between two Active Directory forests that allows users in one forest to access resources in the other forest. Forest trusts can be used to create a more integrated and seamless experience for users who need to access resources in multiple forests.
Function:
- A forest trust allows users in one forest to access resources in another forest.
- Forest trusts can be established between forests that are located in different domains or in different Active Directory forests.
- Forest trusts can be either unidirectional or bidirectional, and can be transitive or non-transitive.
Unidirectional Trusts:
- A unidirectional trust allows users in one forest to access resources in another forest in one direction only.
- This type of trust is useful when you have one-way access requirements, such as a company that has a subsidiary that needs access to its resources but does not need to provide access to its own resources.
Bidirectional Trusts:
- A bidirectional trust allows users in both forests to access resources in the other forest in both directions.
- This type of trust is useful when you have a partnership or collaboration between two organizations that need access to each other’s resources.
Transitive Trusts:
- A transitive trust allows trusts to be extended beyond the two forests that are directly involved in the trust.
- For example, if Forest A trusts Forest B, and Forest B trusts Forest C, then users in Forest A can access resources in Forest C.
- This type of trust is useful when you have a complex forest structure with multiple forests that need to communicate with each other.
Non-transitive Trusts:
- A non-transitive trust does not allow trusts to be extended beyond the two forests that are directly involved in the trust.
- This type of trust is useful when you want to limit the scope of the trust to only the two forests that are involved.
Usage Examples:
- A company has multiple subsidiaries with their own Active Directory forests. A forest trust can be established to allow users in each forest to access resources in the other forest.
- A company partners with another organization that has its own Active Directory forest. A forest trust can be established to allow users in both organizations to access resources in the other organization’s forest.
- A large company has a complex Active Directory forest structure with multiple forests. Forest trusts can be established to allow users in each forest to access resources in other forests, as required.
Active Directory Shortcut Trust
An Active Directory Shortcut trust is a type of trust relationship that can be established between two domains in a forest. The purpose of this trust is to provide a more direct path for authentication and resource access between two domains that have a relatively distant or indirect relationship.
Function:
- A Shortcut trust allows users in one domain to access resources in another domain with a more direct path for authentication.
- The trust relationship is established between two domains in a forest, and is one-way or bidirectional.
- Shortcut trusts are designed to provide a more efficient and secure way of accessing resources between domains that have a distant or indirect relationship.
Usage Examples:
- A large organization has multiple domains in its Active Directory forest. Some domains are more closely related than others, but users in all domains need to access resources in other domains. A Shortcut trust can be established between domains to provide a more direct path for authentication and resource access.
- A company acquires another company that has its own Active Directory domain. The two domains are not closely related, but users in both domains need to access resources in the other domain. A Shortcut trust can be established to provide a more efficient and secure way of accessing resources between the two domains.
- An organization has a complex Active Directory forest structure with multiple domains. A Shortcut trust can be established between domains to provide a more direct path for authentication and resource access, as required.
