You can divide the “what’s new” categories in Windows Server 2012 Active Directory into two roughly equal parts: brand new and merely improved. Either way, you’re going to like what you see.
New Features
Pundits, bloggers and journalists alike will be diving into these details for months to come. Let’s take a look at the new high-level features, starting with the brand-new functions:
GUI for Recycle Bin
Microsoft introduced the Active Directory Recycle Bin in Windows Server 2008 R2, but it was limited by its Windows PowerShell-only exposure. This time it gets a GUI.
GUI for Fine-Grained Password Policies
Also gaining a GUI are fine-grained password policies.