Understanding MS AD discovery tasks

MS AD discovery tasks are used to scan and monitor Active Directory servers for certificates. Each scan identifies the network or object structure and locates all types of certificates installed on servers, devices, and endpoints regardless of the issuing Certificate Authority (CA). They can be configured to run on a set schedule for periodic scanning.

Once discovered, certificates are automatically added to the certificate bucket associated with the discovery task that found them. If the bucket is configured with assignment rules, the certificates will automatically be assigned to the associated organization and department.

MS AD discovery tasks require the installation and configuration of an MS agent.

For more information about MS agents, see Understanding MS agents.

MS AD discovery tasks can be managed on the Discovery MS AD Discovery Tasks page.

The following table describes the settings and controls of the MS AD Discovery Tasks page.

Column Description

Column	Description
ID	The unique numeric identifier of the discovery task.
Name	The name of the discovery task.
Agent	The agent assigned to run the discovery task.
Certificate Bucket	The certificate bucket used to group certificates discovered by the task.
Status	The status of the most recent scan.
Schedule	The frequency at which the discovery task is configured to run.
Last Scanned	The date and time of the most recent discovery task scan.
Table controls
Filter	Enables you to sort the table information using custom filters.
Group	Enables you to sort the table information using predefined groups.
Refresh	Refreshes the information presented in the table.
Download CSV	Downloads the table information as a `.csv` file.
Manage Columns	Enables you to select which table columns to display.
Admin controls
Add	Opens the Add MS AD Discovery Task dialog where you can add a new discovery task.
Delete	Removes the selected discovery task.
Edit	Opens the Edit MS AD Discovery Task dialog where you can manage an existing discovery task.
Scan	Initiates a scan with the selected discovery task.
Cancel	Cancels an in-progress scan with the selected discovery task.
History	Opens the History of scan dialog where you can view the history of the selected discovery task’s scans and certificates discovered.
View Audit	Opens the MS AD Discovery Task Audit dialog where you can view or download audit logs.

The unique numeric identifier of the discovery task.

Name

The name of the discovery task.

Agent

The agent assigned to run the discovery task.

Certificate Bucket

The certificate bucket used to group certificates discovered by the task.

Status

The status of the most recent scan.

Schedule

The frequency at which the discovery task is configured to run.

Last Scanned

The date and time of the most recent discovery task scan.

Table controls

Filter

Enables you to sort the table information using custom filters.

Group

Enables you to sort the table information using predefined groups.

Refresh

Refreshes the information presented in the table.

Download CSV

Downloads the table information as a .csv file.

Manage Columns

Enables you to select which table columns to display.

Admin controls

Add

Opens the Add MS AD Discovery Task dialog where you can add a new discovery task.

Delete

Removes the selected discovery task.

Edit

Opens the Edit MS AD Discovery Task dialog where you can manage an existing discovery task.

Scan

Initiates a scan with the selected discovery task.

Cancel

Cancels an in-progress scan with the selected discovery task.

History

Opens the History of scan dialog where you can view the history of the selected discovery task’s scans and certificates discovered.

View Audit

Opens the MS AD Discovery Task Audit dialog where you can view or download audit logs.