Streamlining Active Directory for Enhanced Security
Active Directory (AD) serves as the backbone of organizational security, orchestrating access for users, computers, partners, IoT devices, and more. It’s the essential framework enabling authentication and authorization across the system, crucial for the operation of applications, files, and user activities. Without a properly managed Active Directory, the entire IT infrastructure could falter.
Simplifying the Complexity of Active Directory
Untangling the complexities of Active Directory requires a comprehensive analysis of controls, asset ownership, and the implementation of role-based and least-privileged access, alongside integrating Identity and Access Management (IAM) principles, policy management, entitlement reviews, and continuous asset certification.
We’ve devised a streamlined methodology to guide the scoping and prioritization of your Active Directory management efforts:
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Admin Access Insights: Understanding administrative privileges and ensuring clear visibility into permissions is vital for reducing immediate risks and sustaining future security measures. This includes analyzing privileged access groups, delegation rights, and performing gap analyses to identify deviations from enterprise standards.
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Group Policy Objects (GPO) Assessment: GPOs dictate the security and operational settings for accounts and machines. Our approach involves leveraging unique connectors and Microsoft tools to review GPOs against best practices, identifying discrepancies and security or compliance risks.
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Identity Correlation: Proper account management is foundational to bolstering security and ensuring compliance. Our process includes analyzing all accounts, linking them to corresponding HR records, and addressing ownership gaps in non-human accounts.
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AD Groups Metrics: Since AD groups control access to various resources, identifying problematic groups and standardizing group usage is imperative. Our analysis focuses on inventory management, identifying stale versus active groups, heavy nesting, and remediation strategies.
Empowering Firms with Active Directory Insights
Our targeted workstreams enable organizations to grasp critical Active Directory functions and manage the assets efficiently. By establishing a solid foundation and ongoing management practices, companies can significantly enhance their IT security posture.
Consult an Active Directory security expert to refine your approach to Active Directory management and secure your organization’s digital environment.
Speak with a SPHERE expert to learn how you can step up your Active Directory game
