AD & Cloud Identity Audit

Secure Your Identity Infrastructure Before Attackers Do

Identity has become the primary target in modern cyberattacks. Rather than exploiting firewalls or perimeter defenses, attackers increasingly compromise user accounts, abuse privileged access, exploit Active Directory misconfigurations, and move laterally across enterprise environments.

Microsoft Active Directory remains the foundation of identity and access management for most enterprises. A single weakness within Active Directory can allow attackers to gain domain administrator privileges, disable security controls, deploy ransomware, steal sensitive information, and compromise the entire organization.

NuageSec's Active Directory Security Assessment Services provide a comprehensive evaluation of your Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID environments to identify security weaknesses, privilege escalation paths, identity risks, configuration issues, and governance gaps before they can be exploited.

Securing Enterprise Authentication For
Domain Hardening
Microsoft Entra ID
Privileged Access PAM
Kerberos & NTLM Security
Group Policy Auditing
gMSA Credentials
Hybrid Identity Connect
BloodHound Attack Paths
Identity Governance
Zero Trust Tiering
Domain Hardening
Microsoft Entra ID
Privileged Access PAM
Kerberos & NTLM Security
Group Policy Auditing
gMSA Credentials
Hybrid Identity Connect
BloodHound Attack Paths
Identity Governance
Zero Trust Tiering

What is an Active Directory Security Assessment?

An Active Directory Security Assessment is a comprehensive review of your identity infrastructure, directory services, authentication mechanisms, privileged accounts, administrative controls, and security configurations.

Rather than focusing only on vulnerabilities, the assessment evaluates how identity-related weaknesses could impact your business, security operations, and overall cyber resilience.

Why Active Directory Security Assessments Matter

Over 80% of enterprise cyberattacks involve compromised identities or stolen credentials. Active Directory is often the first objective for ransomware operators.

Reduce Identity-Based Attack Risk

Identify privilege escalation opportunities, excessive permissions, and weak authentication controls before attackers exploit them.

Strengthen Privileged Access

Review administrative privileges, service accounts, delegated permissions, and privileged group memberships.

Improve Identity Governance

Ensure user lifecycle management, access reviews, and identity policies follow security best practices.

Support Zero Trust

Strengthen identity verification, least privilege, conditional access, and continuous authentication.

Improve Threat Detection

Ensure Active Directory generates meaningful logs and integrates effectively with SIEM, MDR, and SOC platforms.

Support Compliance

Demonstrate secure identity management practices required by regulatory and industry standards.

Common Active Directory Security Risks We Assess

Identity risks are rarely isolated. Our assessments evaluate configurations, password parameters, service account usage, and hybrid AD Connect links:

Privileged Account Risk

  • Domain & Enterprise admin reviews
  • Delegated administrative permissions
  • Tiered model admin segregation
  • Privileged AD group auditing

Weak Authentication

  • Password policy complexity checks
  • Legacy NTLM usage validation
  • Kerberos ticket lifetime checks
  • Account lockout configuration review

Service Account Security

  • Service accounts inventory mapping
  • Password rotations audits
  • Kerberos delegation options checks
  • Unused service accounts identification

Group Policy Security

  • GPO settings administrative audits
  • Legacy GPO preferences check
  • Domain firewall policies checks
  • Inheritance and block rules review

Domain Controller Security

  • Domain Controller OS hardening review
  • System patch status auditing
  • DC backups encryption checks
  • DC replication configuration review

Microsoft Entra ID Security

  • Conditional Access rules validation
  • MFA configuration review
  • PIM lifecycle configurations check
  • Hybrid AD Connect synchronization checks

Active Directory Security Assessment vs Identity Audit

An identity audit verifies that user policies exist. An AD security assessment evaluates technical controls and maps attack paths.

FeatureIdentity AuditActive Directory Security Assessment
Primary ObjectiveReviews identity access policiesEvaluates the complete AD security posture
Primary FocusCompliance and policy documentationSecurity, configurations and privilege escalation paths
Analysis ScopeAdministrative review of user allocationsTechnical configuration analysis and delegation audits
Target OutputUser access registry lists and policy verificationsPrivilege escalation paths map and hardening roadmap
Business PurposeStatic policy auditing and regulatory checksGovernance, security, resilience, and threat mitigations

Types of Active Directory Security Assessments

NuageSec evaluates traditional Active Directory alongside Microsoft Entra ID tenants and hybrid directories.

Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) Assessment

Securing Cloud Identity Infrastructure

Evaluate Conditional Access policies, MFA configurations, Privileged Identity Management (PIM) workflows, and external guest permissions to secure Entra ID.

Best Suited For
  • Cloud SSO validation
  • Tenant administrative audits
  • Guest access verification
Key Coverage Areas
  • Conditional Access reviews
  • PIM lifecycle configuration check
  • Device trust compliance review
  • MFA configurations audit

Privileged Access Management (PAM) Assessment

Protecting High-Privilege Accounts

Assess Domain/Enterprise admin privileges, delegational controls, administrative workstations, and privileged groups.

Best Suited For
  • Least privilege auditing
  • Administrative boundary reviews
  • Local admin group auditing
Key Coverage Areas
  • Just-In-Time access check
  • Tiered model admin verifications
  • Local admin allocations
  • PIM role assignment audits

Active Directory Hardening Assessment

Reducing the Domain Attack Surface

Audit core Active Directory settings, LDAP signing configurations, legacy protocols, LAPS implementations, and administrative templates.

Best Suited For
  • Domain Controller hardening
  • SMB security checks
  • Password policies audits
Key Coverage Areas
  • LDAP signing rules review
  • LAPS setups verifications
  • SMB configuration checks
  • Legacy NTLM usage review

In-Depth Directory Audits

We perform rigorous validations on Kerberos delegations, service account passwords, Group Policies, and attack path relationships.

Kerberos & Authentication Protocols

Audit Kerberos delegation settings, NTLM configs, and authentication encryption standards.

Unconstrained delegation auditsKerberoasting exposure reviewsAS-REP Roasting checksLDAP channel binding reviewsNTLM authentication auditsTicket lifetime limits validationSmart Card logon reviewsLegacy trust relationships review

Service Account Security

Audit service account permissions, password updates, and delegation settings.

Service accounts inventory mappinggMSA configurations auditsService account passwords reviewExcessive SPN permissions reviewUnused service accounts identificationDelegated privileges checksKerberos delegation reviewAccount logons locations mapping

Group Policy Security

Audit Group Policy Objects (GPOs) for misconfigurations that weaken domain security.

GPO password history reviewAdministrative templates checksFirewall rules distribution auditsLegacy GPO preferences checkGPO script execution limitsInheritance block validationsWindows Defender policies checkAuditing policies configuration

Active Directory Attack Path Analysis

Map complex relationship paths that could allow lateral movement or domain takeover.

BloodHound path mappingShadow administrator auditsDomain dominance paths mappingACL misconfiguration checkingCross-forest trust risks auditsResource delegation checkingExcessive object owner checksKerberos delegation abuse path

Our Active Directory Security Assessment Methodology

NuageSec follows a structured SANS-aligned audit process to map domain relations and isolate vulnerabilities.

1
1. Discovery & Identity Inventory
Map domains, forest trust layouts, domain controllers, Entra ID tenants, and administrative boundaries.
2
2. Configuration Review
Audit Group Policies, Kerberos/NTLM authentication rules, administrative delegations, and trust relationships.
3
3. Security Control Validation
Validate LAPS, conditional access rules, PIM settings, and domain controller hardening baselines.
4
4. Identity Risk Analysis
Find weak passwords, identify unused service accounts, detect NTLM usage, and verify legacy protocols.
5
5. Attack Path Analysis
Map delegation settings and ACL permissions using BloodHound to isolate privilege escalation paths.
6
6. Risk Prioritization
Rank findings based on ease of exploitation, organizational impact, and domain criticality.
7
7. Reporting & Hardening Roadmap
Deliver executive overviews, technical findings, AD scorecards, and GPO adjustment plans.

Identity Security Standards & Frameworks

Our Active Directory Security Assessment services align with Microsoft Enterprise Access models and CIS Benchmarks.

Identity Security Standards

Microsoft Enterprise Access Model (EAM)Microsoft Entra ID Security Best PracticesMicrosoft Security Hardening BaselinesNIST SP 800-63 Digital Identity GuidelinesNIST Zero Trust Architecture (SP 800-207)CIS Microsoft Windows Benchmarks

Governance Frameworks

MITRE ATT&CK Identity MatrixMITRE D3FEND Countermeasures MapISO/IEC 27001 Identity ControlsSOC 2 Trust Services CriteriaPCI DSS Identity & Access ManagementHIPAA, GDPR, DORA & NIS2 Framework Rules

What You Receive with Our AD Security Assessments

We deliver executive posture reports alongside BloodHound path visualizations, AD scorecards, and prioritized GPO plans.

Executive Identity Report

A business-focused summary describing identity security scores, top risks, and maturity improvements.

Includes:
  • Executive Identity summary
  • Category security scoring
  • Domain attack surface mapping
  • Strategic improvement roadmaps
  • Regulatory compliance charts
  • Executive Dashboard charts

Technical AD Assessment Report

Comprehensive technical review detailing findings across AD configurations, GPOs, and authentication rules.

Includes:
  • Active Directory structure index
  • Entra ID tenant configurations
  • Group Policy audit logs
  • Service accounts inventory
  • Vulnerability findings details
  • Remediation step guides

Active Directory Scorecard

A structured scorecard ranking identity controls against Microsoft and CIS baselines.

Includes:
  • Authentication safety scores
  • Privileged Access Management
  • Entra ID configuration scores
  • Group Policy security ratings
  • Domain Controller hardening rating
  • Zero Trust readiness indexes

Identity Risk Matrix

A risk matrix prioritising identity exposures according to business impact and exploitability.

Includes:
  • Likelihood vs Impact ranking
  • Critical account lists
  • Exploitability metrics
  • Mitigating control list
  • Residual identity risk scores

Attack Path Analysis Report

Detailed visualization mapping path relationships that could lead to domain compromise.

Includes:
  • Privilege escalation paths
  • BloodHound attack path maps
  • Excessive permissions lists
  • Delegation risks mapping
  • Shadow admin vulnerabilities
  • Cross-forest trust risks

Identity Hardening Roadmap

A practical step-by-step roadmap to reduce privileged accounts and secure AD.

Includes:
  • Privileged account reductions
  • Least privilege rollout guides
  • Conditional Access rule fixes
  • Service account passwords policy
  • Legacy authentication removals
  • Continuous monitoring metrics

Industries We Serve

Identity security is critical across every enterprise environment where users, applications, and systems rely on centralized authentication.

Banking & Financial Services

Secure Active Directory environments supporting trading platforms, digital banking, and transaction networks.

Healthcare

Secure identity databases supporting EHR access, remote health portals, and doctor terminals.

SaaS & Technology

Protect developer Entra ID tenants, source build environments, and remote developer laptops.

Manufacturing

Secure Active Directory directories integrated with OT systems, SCADA systems, and ERP databases.

Retail & Ecommerce

Secure retail employee directories, ecommerce back-end administrative logins, and POS controllers.

Logistics & Supply Chain

Secure directories supporting transport routers, warehouse databases, and partner login portals.

Compliance Frameworks Supported

Secure identity governance supports regulatory compliance and corporate security controls.

SOC 2

Validate security, availability, and confidentiality trust principles.

ISO 27001

Align with international information security management standards.

PCI DSS

Protect cardholder data and payment infrastructure.

HIPAA

Secure patient portals and protected health information (PHI).

GDPR

Ensure compliance with European data privacy and security regulations.

DORA

Enhance digital operational resilience for financial entities.

NIS2

Meet cybersecurity requirements for essential European services.

CMMC

Validate controls required for defense industrial base contractors.

ISO 42001

Establish secure and trustworthy AI application governance.

Why Choose NuageSec for Active Directory Security Assessments?

Identity infrastructures require specialized technical expertise. We map attack paths and validate hybrid boundaries.

Microsoft Identity Expertise

Our consultants specialize in Microsoft Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID, hybrid identity configurations, and enterprise authentication.

Comprehensive Directory Audits

We evaluate authentication protocols, service account parameters, Group Policy Object rules, and Entra ID configurations.

Attack Path Analysis

We map out complex object relationships to identify delegation and ACL privileges loopholes commonly abused by ransomware.

Risk-Based Prioritization

Recommendations are ranked based on exploit difficulty, system criticality, and business context.

Executive & Technical Reporting

High-level security scorecards and risk matrices are delivered alongside detailed GPO settings and BloodHound path logs.

Standards-Based Methodology

Our audits align with Microsoft security best practices, Microsoft Zero Trust guidance, NIST SP 800-63, and CIS benchmarks.

Our Engagement Process

We follow a structured 7-step process to ensure complete visibility into your identity environment while minimizing operational disruption.

Step 1

Discovery & Scoping

Catalog AD forests, identify Entra ID tenants, locate domain controllers, and map goals.

Step 2

Identity Review

Audit Group Policies, check service accounts, and review trust relationships configuration.

Step 3

Security Validation

Verify conditional access rules, LAPS setup, and Domain Controller hardening controls.

Step 4

Risk & Path Analysis

Audit password parameters, trace NTLM usage, and map BloodHound attack paths.

Step 5

Reporting & Scorecard

Deliver executive overviews, technical reports, matrices, and BloodHound visualizations.

Step 6

Remediation Workshop

Discuss results, prioritize actions, and plan privilege access reductions.

Step 7

Reassessment validation

Verify implemented rules, re-audit baselines, and update dashboard charts.

Frequently Asked Questions

An Active Directory Security Assessment evaluates the security of Microsoft Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID environments by identifying misconfigurations, privilege escalation opportunities, authentication weaknesses, and identity-related cyber risks.

Active Directory manages authentication and authorization across enterprise environments. Attackers often target it to gain privileged access, move laterally, deploy ransomware, and compromise critical business systems.

Yes. We assess Microsoft Entra ID, including Conditional Access, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Privileged Identity Management (PIM), Identity Protection, guest access, and hybrid identity configurations.

Yes. Our assessment includes attack path analysis to identify excessive permissions, delegation issues, trust relationship risks, shadow administrators, Kerberoasting exposure, and lateral movement opportunities.

Yes. We evaluate identity verification, least privilege implementation, Conditional Access, privileged access management, device trust, and authentication controls aligned with Zero Trust principles.

Yes. Our assessment supports compliance with ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, DORA, NIS2, CMMC, NIST, and other regulatory frameworks that require strong identity governance and access management.

You will receive an Executive Identity Security Report, Technical Assessment Report, Active Directory Security Scorecard, Identity Risk Matrix, Attack Path Analysis Report, Identity Maturity Assessment, and a prioritized Identity Hardening Roadmap.

NuageSec combines Microsoft identity expertise, attack path analysis, internationally recognized assessment methodologies, executive reporting, and practical remediation guidance to help organizations reduce identity-based cyber risks and strengthen enterprise authentication security.

Strengthen Identity Security Before Attackers Exploit It

Identity is now the primary attack vector in enterprise cyberattacks. A proactive Active Directory Security Assessment helps identify hidden risks, eliminate privilege escalation paths, strengthen authentication controls, and improve overall cyber resilience.

NuageSec's Active Directory Security Assessment Services provide organizations with the expertise, visibility, and actionable guidance needed to secure Microsoft Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID environments against evolving cyber threats.

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