Privileged accounts in Active Directory (AD) are the keys to your organization’s most sensitive systems, data, and administrative tools. These accounts play an essential role in managing access and keeping things running smoothly, but they also come with significant security risks if not properly managed.

Why Privileged Account Security in Active Directory Matters

Access to Core Systems
Accounts like domain administrators, service accounts, and enterprise admins have broad control over your IT environment. They can modify critical settings, manage access for other users, and disable security features. A compromise of just one privileged account could give attackers control over your entire organization.

Prime Targets for Cybercriminals
Hackers love privileged accounts because they open the door to your organization’s most valuable data and systems. Once they get in, attackers can:

• Escalate privileges to access more sensitive areas.
• Create hidden backdoors for ongoing access.
• Move laterally across your network.

Devastating Impact of a Breach
If a privileged account is compromised, the fallout can be severe: data theft, ransomware attacks, and even full-scale operational shutdowns. The consequences go beyond financial loss—your reputation and compliance status could also take a hit.

Why Are Privileged Accounts Often Overlooked

Even though they’re critical, privileged accounts often don’t get the attention they deserve. Here’s why:

Assumptions About Security
Organizations often assume these accounts are secure because they’ve “always worked” or rely on outdated Active Directory setups that don’t account for modern threats.

Lack of Visibility
It’s easy to lose track of privileged accounts over time. Without proper tools, you can end up with orphaned accounts, excessive privileges, or unused accounts that still pose risks.

Focus on End-User Accounts
IT security teams often spend most of their time on current employee accounts with day-to-day access, which are more abundant and frequently targeted. This can leave privileged accounts under-monitored.

Complexity and Resources
Managing privileged accounts takes time and effort – auditing usage and ensuring access is limited. Many organizations don’t have the tools or resources to manage them effectively.

Lack of Real-Time Monitoring
Most organizations don’t monitor privileged accounts in real time, which makes it easier for malicious activity to go unnoticed until it’s too late.

Ignoring these accounts can lead to serious problems:

• Credential Attacks: Hackers use phishing, brute force, or credential stuffing to target privileged accounts.
• Ransomware: Privileged accounts are often exploited to disable security systems and encrypt key data.
• Compliance Violations: Regulations like GDPR and HIPAA require strong controls for these accounts—noncompliance can mean hefty fines. Standards like NIST 800-63b, HITRUST Control Reference 01.d, or NYDFS specifically require monitoring for compromised or weak passwords for all accounts, including privileged accounts.
• Operational Disruption: A single compromised account can cause outages, data loss, and major disruptions to your business.

How to Secure Privileged Accounts in Active Directory

Here’s what you can do to stay ahead of the risks:

• Conduct Regular Audits: Identify all privileged accounts and ensure their access levels are appropriate.
• Enforce Strong Passwords: Avoid weak or reused passwords and monitor for compromised credentials.
• Use Real-Time Monitoring: Deploy tools to keep an eye on privileged account activity.
• Limit Access: Follow the principle of least privilege, ensuring accounts only have the access they need.

Enzoic makes securing privileged accounts in Active Directory easier and more effective by:

• Continuous Monitoring: Enzoic integrates directly with Active Directory to monitor passwords in real time. If a privileged account’s password is compromised, you’ll be notified immediately so you can take action.
• Checking Against Breached Passwords: Enzoic automatically checks passwords against a vast database of compromised credentials, flagging any that could put your organization at risk.
• Stronger Policies: You can enforce stricter password policies for privileged accounts, requiring more complex, uncompromised credentials.
• Real-Time Remediation: If an issue arises, Enzoic alerts your team right away and automatically remediates so you can prevent account takeover before it happens.

By integrating Enzoic into your Active Directory, you can significantly reduce the risks associated with privileged accounts while reducing the manual effort needed to manage them. Privileged accounts hold immense power—they control your critical systems and sensitive data. Treating them as a top priority rather than an afterthought is essential for a strong security posture. Get the tools you need to stay ahead of these risks and protect your organization from potential breaches.

*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from Blog | Enzoic authored by Enzoic. Read the original post at: https://www.enzoic.com/blog/privileged-account-security-in-active-directory/