Active Directory Security Guide

The Complete Active Directory Security Handbook. Exploitation, Detection, and Mitigation Strategies Active Directory (AD), introduced with Windows 2000 [1], has become an integral part of modern organizations, serving as the backbone of identity infrastructure for 90% of Fortune 1000 companies [2]. Active Directory is widely used by organizations for its simplicity and centralized management approach. It is an attractive solution for businesses as it makes it easier for employees to access resources and applications with a single set of credentials, which increases productivity and efficiency [3]. Additionally, its centralized management
structure provides a single point of control for IT administrators, allowing them to manage users, computers, and access to resources in one place [4]. However, due to its widespread use and architectural limitations, Active Directory becomes a liability in the event of a security breach and becomes a priority target for adversaries seeking to elevate privileges, infect multiple systems, and launch devastating attacks such
as data exfiltration, full system compromises, and ransomware.The biggest challenges in recovery after an AD breach include identifying the source, determining the extent of damage, and creating a secure new environment. According to Verizon’s 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report [5], 80% of breaches come from external agents, and as IBM's 2021 Cost of a Data Breach Report points out that once a domain admin is hacked, attackers can hide within your network for up to 277 days before detection, posing a significant threat.