Short answer:
Use a distribution list when you only need email distribution. Use a security group when you also need to manage access and permissions.
What’s the difference?
Both distribution lists and security groups can be used for email communication, but they serve different purposes:
- Distribution lists are designed for sending emails to multiple recipients
- Security groups are used for access control (e.g. files, folders, systems) and can also receive emails
Why use a Distribution List?
Use a distribution list when email communication is your only requirement.
- No need for permission or access control
- Cleaner and more lightweight for email-only scenarios
- Avoids unnecessary complexity in your directory structure
Performance consideration
Using too many security groups can impact user performance:
- Each security group adds to the user’s security token size
- Large tokens can affect login and access performance
- This issue is avoided when using distribution lists for email-only use cases
Supported group types in Xink
Xink supports the following Active Directory group types:
- Distribution lists
- Nested distribution lists
- Security groups (nested groups not supported)
Summary
- Use distribution lists for email communication
- Use security groups for permissions and access control
- Distribution lists help avoid unnecessary security token growth
