What does a directory service typically provide?

A directory service typically provides a centralized database of subjects and objects. This feature is crucial for managing user identities and their associated access rights within an information system. Directory services store essential information about users, such as their usernames, passwords, roles, and other attributes, as well as details about resources (objects) within the network, such as computers, printers, and shared folders.

The centralized nature of directory services enables organizations to manage users and resources efficiently. By acting as a single source of truth for identity information, it facilitates access control and simplifies the process of authentication and authorization across various applications and services within the organization. This consolidation allows for streamlined administration, easier policy enforcement, and improved security.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the role of a directory service. An offline database of user credentials, for instance, lacks the accessibility and real-time management features of a directory service, which operates actively in the network. A collection of individual user files would not represent the structured and interconnected nature of objects and subjects found in a directory service. Similarly, a decentralized user authentication method does not align with the centralized model typically provided by directory services, which rely on a unified framework for user management and resource access.