AWS Directory Service
AWS Directory Service
AWS Directory Service API provides managed Microsoft Active Directory or integrates on-prem AD with AWS services.
Fully managed Microsoft AD (no self-installed Windows Server)
Windows/AD ecosystem customers only
CreateMicrosoftAD for managed AD (or CreateDirectory for Simple AD). Configure VPC + subnets. EC2 joins the domain.
Uptime · 30-day window
GitHub activity
About this API
AWS Directory Service addresses enterprises' need to migrate Microsoft ecosystem (Windows, AD, Exchange, Office) to AWS. Two main products: AWS Managed Microsoft AD (true Microsoft AD, AWS runs Windows Server for you) and Simple AD (Samba-based AD-compatible, cheaper but limited). Most common is Managed Microsoft AD — enterprise EC2 Windows instances join this domain, sign in with domain accounts, apply GPOs, do domain file sharing. Trust relationships with on-prem AD enable hybrid-cloud identity. Combined with AWS IAM Identity Center, AD accounts can log into AWS console, SSO to third-party SaaS. Core AWS service for Windows-heavy enterprises.
What you can build
- 1Enterprises extend on-prem AD to AWS (domain trust)
- 2Domain-join for EC2 Windows instances
- 3Auth backend for WorkSpaces and similar services
- 4Managed LDAP
Strengths & limitations
Strengths
- Fully managed Microsoft AD (no self-installed Windows Server)
- Deep integration with AWS Windows workloads
- Domain trust with on-prem AD supported
Limitations
- Windows/AD ecosystem customers only
- Some advanced GPO features are limited
Getting started
CreateMicrosoftAD for managed AD (or CreateDirectory for Simple AD). Configure VPC + subnets. EC2 joins the domain.
FAQ
Managed AD vs. Simple AD?+
Need full Microsoft AD features: Managed AD. Just basic LDAP/auth: Simple AD (cheaper).
Technical details
- Auth type
- unknown
- Pricing
- unknown
- Protocols
- REST
- SDKs
- python, javascript, go, java, csharp
- Response time
- 44 ms
- Last health check
- 6/26/2026, 6:22:15 AM
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