Sherlocked Security – Directory Services Hardening (AD/Azure AD)
Secure your core identity infrastructure and prevent privilege escalation with Sherlocked Security’s Directory Services Hardening. We lock down on-prem Active Directory, hybrid Azure AD environments, LDAP domain controllers, and Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to enforce defense-in-depth and maintain compliance.
📄 1. Statement of Work (SOW)
Our hardening engagement defines scope, objectives, and timelines in a clear SOW:
- Service Name: Directory Services Hardening (AD/Azure AD)
- Client Type: Enterprises, Government, Healthcare, FinTech, Education
- Service Model: Assessment + Hardening + Configuration Advisory
- Compliance Coverage: ISO 27001, NIST 800-53, CIS Benchmarks, PCI-DSS, RBI
🔐 Directory Types Covered
- Microsoft Active Directory (On-Prem)
- Azure Active Directory (Cloud/Hybrid)
- LDAP & Domain Controllers
- Group Policy Objects (GPOs)
- Identity Synchronization Mechanisms
🧠 2. Our Approach
We combine deep directory expertise with attack-path mapping to eliminate misconfigurations:
- 🔹 Defense-in-Depth Hardening: Layered controls on AD objects and GPOs
- 🔹 Attack Path Mapping: BloodHound-style analysis to visualize privilege escalation
- 🔹 Secure GPO Design: Least-privilege settings, rollback-safe policies
- 🔹 Hybrid-Aware Protections: Azure AD Conditional Access & Identity Protection reviews
Workflow (color-coded):
[Discovery & Recon] → [Privilege Mapping] → [Vulnerability Identification] → [Hardening Plan] → [Policy Deployment] → [Monitoring & Alerting] → [Final Audit & Documentation]
🧪 3. Methodology
Our structured phases ensure thorough coverage and minimal disruption:
Phase Flow:
[Initial Kickoff] → [Domain Enumeration & Trust Analysis] → [Privilege Escalation Paths Detection] → [Group Policy Assessment] → [Misconfigurations & Exposure Review] → [Remediation Planning] → [Implementation Support] → [Final Review & Risk Report]
📦 4. Deliverables to the Client
- 🧾 AD/Azure AD Hardening Strategy Document
- 📘 Domain Trust & Privilege Mapping
- 🔐 High-Risk Path Analysis (Kerberoasting, DCSync)
- 🗺️ GPO Audit & Redesign Guide
- 📊 Attack Path Visualization (BloodHound-style)
- ✅ Azure AD Identity Protection Policy Review
- 📽️ Admin Training & Policy Deployment Guide
- 🧑💻 Post-Hardening Monitoring Recommendations
🤝 5. What We Need from You
- ✅ Access to a test or cloned environment
- ✅ Domain Admin support for logs & policy exports
- ✅ Current GPO list & OU structure
- ✅ Administrative & service account inventory
- ✅ Azure AD P2 or Defender for Identity access
- ✅ Support for deploying/testing GPO changes
🧰 6. Tools & Technology Stack
- 🧱 BloodHound / SharpHound
- 🔍 PingCastle / ADRecon
- 📊 Microsoft Defender for Identity
- 🛠️ Azure AD Graph API / PowerShell
- 📘 GPO Analysis Tools (LGPO, AGPM)
- 🔐 CIS Benchmark Kits & Hardening Scripts
- 🔁 Custom PowerShell Enforcement Scripts
🚀 7. Engagement Lifecycle
- Discovery Call
- Domain & Policy Inventory
- SoW Finalization
- Trust & Risk Mapping
- Hardening Plan Design
- GPO Optimization & Deployment
- Azure AD Security Enhancements
- Final Review & Documentation
- Ongoing Monitoring Guidance
🌟 8. Why Sherlocked Security?
| Feature | Sherlocked Advantage |
|---|---|
| 🔐 Deep AD & Azure AD Expertise | From legacy trusts to cloud-hybrid federation |
| 🧠 Attack Path Visibility | BloodHound-style mapping & SIEM integration |
| 📘 GPO Optimization | Secure-by-default redesign with rollback |
| 🛠️ Tool-Agnostic Integration | Defender, Sentinel, third-party SIEMs |
| 🔁 End-to-End Hardening | Enumeration → Remediation → Monitoring |
📚 9. Real-World Case Studies
🏢 Global Manufacturing Firm – AD Trust Cleanup
- Client: Multinational Manufacturer
- Issue: 100+ stale trusts & nested domain risks
- Solution:
- Domain trust analysis & SID filtering
- Obsolete domain decommission & GPO rebaseline
- Impact: Drastically reduced attack surface, audit-ready in 3 weeks
☁️ Azure AD Exposure Mitigation – SaaS FinTech
- Client: Cloud-native FinTech Firm
- Challenges: Excessive global admins, misconfigured Conditional Access
- Work:
- Redefined roles & JIT admin access
- Configured Azure Identity Protection policies
- Outcome: Stopped token replay attacks, aligned with CIS Benchmark
🛡️ 10. SOP – Standard Operating Procedure
- Kickoff call & log collection
- Domain discovery & trust mapping
- AD health & privilege audit
- GPO & OU structure analysis
- Azure AD & Conditional Access review
- Hardening recommendations & planning
- Stakeholder implementation workshop
- Policy rollout & test group validation
- Final risk review & report
- Optional monitoring & automation retainer
📋 11. Sample AD/Azure AD Hardening Checklist
- ✅ Clean up inactive accounts & stale groups
- ✅ Implement tiered admin & GPO lockdown
- ✅ Enforce password & account lockout policies
- ✅ Disable legacy auth (NTLM, LM)
- ✅ Harden DCs & restrict interactive logon
- ✅ Monitor critical AD changes & events
- ✅ Deploy admin tiering & LAPS
- ✅ Protect Kerberos tickets & delegation
- ✅ Enable secure LDAP & Conditional Access
- ✅ Schedule regular AD security assessments