Checklist of Best Practices for Securing Active Directory (AD)
Published: 2024-03-22 19:39:45

# Secure Active Directory

## Table of Contents

- [What is Active Directory?](#what-is-active-directory)
- [Why is Active Directory important?](#why-is-active-directory-important)
- [Checklist:](#checklist)
  - [**Regular Security Audits**](#regular-security-audits)
  - [**Secure Administrative Accounts**](#secure-administrative-accounts)
  - [**Group Policy Security**](#group-policy-security)
  - [**Privileged Access Management (PAM)**](#privileged-access-management-pam)
  - [**Password Policy Enforcement**](#password-policy-enforcement)
  - [**Account Lockout Policies**](#account-lockout-policies)
  - [**Secure Domain Controllers**](#secure-domain-controllers)
  - [**Monitoring and Logging**](#monitoring-and-logging)
  - [**Security Training and Awareness**](#security-training-and-awareness)
  - [**Secure DNS Configuration**](#secure-dns-configuration)
  - [**Secure Replication**](#secure-replication)
  - [**Backup and Recovery**](#backup-and-recovery)
- [Quote](#quote)

## What is Active Directory?
**Active Directory** manages identities and relationships of network resources. It stores and secures information about applications, files, printers, and users, providing a unified framework for access and management. Serving as the central authority, it enables seamless collaboration among distributed resources.

## Why is Active Directory important? 
**Active Directory** serves as a critical component of IT infrastructure, providing essential services for user management, security, and resource administration in Windows-based environments.

##  Checklist:
#### **Regular Security Audits**
Conduct regular audits to identify security gaps and vulnerabilities within the AD environment.

#### **Secure Administrative Accounts**
Implement strict controls for administrative accounts, including the use of strong passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and limiting administrative privileges.

#### **Group Policy Security**
Review and secure Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to prevent unauthorized changes to security settings.

#### **Privileged Access Management (PAM)**
Utilize PAM solutions to manage and monitor privileged access to AD resources.

#### **Password Policy Enforcement**
Enforce strong password policies, including password complexity requirements and regular password changes.

#### **Account Lockout Policies**
Implement account lockout policies to protect against brute-force attacks.

#### **Secure Domain Controllers**
Harden domain controllers by applying security updates, configuring firewall rules, and limiting physical and network access.

#### **Monitoring and Logging**
Implement robust monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect and respond to security incidents in real-time.

#### **Security Training and Awareness**
Provide regular security training to employees and raise awareness about common threats and best practices.

#### **Secure DNS Configuration**
Configure DNS servers securely to prevent DNS-related attacks and ensure reliable AD functionality.

#### **Secure Replication**
Implement secure replication between domain controllers to protect against data tampering and unauthorized access.

#### **Backup and Recovery**
Establish regular backup and recovery procedures to mitigate the impact of data breaches or system failures.


## Quote:
*"A domain represents a database. That database holds records about network services-things like computers, users, groups and other things that use, support, or exist on a network. The domain database is, in effect, Active Directory."* - Robert R. King