Types of Active Directory Trusts and How They Work

Active Directory trusts are important for establishing secure and efficient communication between different domains in an Active Directory environment. There are several types of trusts that can be established, each serving a different purpose:

1. One-way trust: In a one-way trust, one domain trusts the other, but the trust is not reciprocated. This allows resources in one domain to be accessed by users in the trusted domain.
2. Two-way trust: In a two-way trust, both domains trust each other. This allows for resources in both domains to be accessed by users in either domain.
3. Parent-child trust: This type of trust is automatically created between a parent domain and a child domain in an Active Directory forest. It allows for seamless authentication and resource access between the parent and child domains.
4. External trust: An external trust is established between domains that are not in the same forest. This allows for secure communication and resource sharing between disparate domains.
5. Forest trust: A forest trust is established between two Active Directory forests, allowing for trust relationships between all domains in each forest. This is the highest level of trust and provides extensive access capabilities across entire forests.

Each type of trust has its own specific configuration requirements and implications for security and resource access. Understanding the different types of Active Directory trusts is essential for effective domain management and secure communication in a networked environment.