Microsoft® Certificate Server's programmability makes it possible to issue certificates to any directory compliant with Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). The version of Certificate Server shipping with Microsoft Windows NT® Server 5.0 demonstrates this programmability by including a module allowing Certificate Server to publish certificates to the NT5 Directory Service, which is LDAP-compliant.
LDAP is an easily implemented subset of the X.500 DAP standard for directory services. LDAP has strong industry support and is expected to become an industry standard for directory services. Certificate Server compliance with LDAP implies it can interoperate with policy tools and other third-party applications that support LDAP directory services.