Source: TECHCOMMUNITY.MICROSOFT.COM Author: JerryDevore URL: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/coreinfrastructureandsecurityblog/active-directory-hardening-series—part-7-%e2%80%93-implementing-least-privilege/4366626
-
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: The blog emphasizes the importance of implementing least privilege in Active Directory to enhance security and reduce risks.
-
MAIN POINTS:
-
Least privilege is a core principle of Zero Trust and achievable using native Active Directory features.
-
Overprivileged service accounts should be reviewed and remediated to minimize security risks.
-
Restricting local administrative rights on devices reduces malware installation and credential theft.
-
Harden User Rights Assignments (URA) to eliminate unnecessary privileges and align with security baselines.
-
Group Policy delegations should be minimized to prevent attackers from exploiting GPOs.
-
Organizational Unit (OU) permissions need regular audits to avoid privilege accumulation over time.
-
Privileged groups like Domain Admins and Enterprise Admins must have strictly limited memberships.
-
Implement constrained Kerberos delegation to reduce risks from compromised accounts or services.
-
Split permissions for Exchange servers can reduce excessive privileges in hybrid environments.
-
Credential vaulting must be paired with proper account tiering and monitoring to mitigate risks.
-
TAKEAWAYS:
-
Regularly audit and remove unnecessary privileged accounts and permissions in Active Directory.
-
Use tools like AD ACL Scanner and Policy Analyzer to identify and remediate privilege issues.
-
Prioritize the use of constrained delegation and minimize Kerberos trust configurations.
-
Separate accounts by security tiers to ensure privileged accounts are not exposed in lower-tier systems.
-
Document changes and actively monitor privileged access to maintain a secure environment.