Distribution Group Reports

5 Reports
About Distribution Group Reports

Distribution Group Reports provide insights into groups used for email distribution and communication. Unlike security groups, distribution groups don't grant permissions - they simplify sending emails to multiple recipients. Track distribution lists across all scopes to manage organizational communication.

Email Distribution

Manage communication lists

Group Management

Track all distribution scopes

Communication

Streamline messaging

Distribution Groups vs Security Groups

Distribution Groups: Used for email distribution only. Do NOT grant permissions or access rights.

Security Groups: Control access and permissions. Can also be mail-enabled for dual purpose (permissions + email).

Example: Distribution Group Reports

Distribution Group Reports
Quick Navigation

Available Reports

All Distribution Groups

Comprehensive inventory of all distribution groups across all scopes (local, global, universal). Complete list of email distribution lists in your organization.

Use Cases
  • Complete distribution list inventory
  • Email communication structure audit
  • Total distribution group count
  • Communication list documentation
Key Information
  • All distribution groups
  • Group scope (local/global/universal)
  • Email addresses
  • Member counts
  • Distribution list purposes
Pro Tip: Use as master list for email communication planning and distribution list management.
Local Distribution Groups (Domain Local)

Shows domain local scope distribution groups - used for email distribution within the domain. Can contain members from any domain but typically used for local distribution.

Use Cases
  • Department-specific distribution lists
  • Location-based communication
  • Local team distribution
  • Domain-specific mailing lists
Key Information
  • Domain local scope distribution
  • Can contain universal members
  • Email distribution within domain
  • Typical use: department lists
  • Local communication groups
Common Use: Department lists, team distributions, location-specific announcements.
Global Distribution Groups

Lists global scope distribution groups - used for email distribution across the domain. Can only contain members from the same domain but can be used anywhere.

Use Cases
  • Organization-wide distribution
  • Company announcements
  • Role-based distribution lists
  • Cross-department communication
Key Information
  • Global scope distribution
  • Same-domain members only
  • Can be nested in other groups
  • Typical use: role-based lists
  • Organization-wide communication
Common Use: "All Employees", "Sales Team", "IT Department" - organization-wide lists.
Universal Distribution Groups

Shows universal scope distribution groups - can contain members from any domain and be used forest-wide. Ideal for enterprise-wide communication across multiple domains.

Use Cases
  • Enterprise-wide distribution
  • Multi-domain communication
  • Forest-wide announcements
  • Cross-domain team lists
Key Information
  • Universal scope distribution
  • Can contain members from any domain
  • Forest-wide email distribution
  • Global Catalog presence
  • Enterprise communication
Enterprise Use: Perfect for "All Company", "Executive Team", "Global IT" - multi-domain lists.
Empty Distribution Groups

Identifies distribution groups with no members - unused lists that should be populated or deleted to maintain clean distribution list structure.

Use Cases
  • Identify unused distribution lists
  • Find cleanup candidates
  • Audit distribution list utilization
  • Detect pre-created lists never used
Key Information
  • Distribution groups with no members
  • Creation date vs empty status
  • Intended purpose
  • Age since creation
  • Deletion/population candidates
Action Needed: Empty lists serve no purpose. Add members or delete to maintain clean environment.
Distribution Group Best Practices
  • Naming Conventions: Use clear, descriptive names (e.g., "DL-Sales-Team" or "Dist-IT-Announcements")
  • Descriptions: Always include purpose and owner information in group description
  • Managers: Assign group managers to enable self-service membership management
  • Cleanup: Regularly review and delete unused/empty distribution groups
  • Permissions: Remember - distribution groups do NOT grant resource access
  • Mail-Enabled Security Groups: Consider security groups instead if both email AND permissions needed
Distribution Groups vs Security Groups
Feature Distribution Groups Security Groups
Purpose Email distribution only Permissions & access control
Can Grant Permissions ✗ No ✓ Yes
Can Send Email ✓ Yes ⚠ If mail-enabled
Security Principal ✗ No ✓ Yes (has SID)
Typical Use Mailing lists, announcements Resource access, permissions

Tip: If you need both email distribution AND resource permissions, use a security group and mail-enable it.

Related Reports

Explore other group report categories:

General Group Reports All groups and general information
Security Group Reports Security groups and permissions
Back to Report Library Back to Top