What is Active Directory authentication?

What is Active Directory?

Microsoft's Active Directory (AD) is a directory service that is designed to manage user accounts, computers, and other network resources within Windows domains. It is a centralized database that stores information about users, devices, and services in a hierarchical structure, allowing administrators to manage permissions and access to these resources. AD plays a crucial role in managing and organizing resources within a network.

What is AD authentication?

AD authentication is the process by which users and devices are verified and granted access to resources within a network managed by AD. When users log in to a network, their credentials, typically a username and password, are checked against the information stored in AD. If the credentials match, the user is authenticated and granted access to the network and its resources based on the permissions assigned to them. This ensures that only authorized individuals can access network resources.

How does AD authentication work?

AD authentication relies on a few key protocols to ensure secure access. These protocols are:

• Kerberos protocol: Kerberos is a default authentication protocol in AD environments. It is a ticket-based system that uses symmetric key cryptography to authenticate users and services.
• Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP): LDAP is used for applications that need to interact with the directory service to retrieve user details or perform authentication checks.
• NT LAN Manager (NTLM) protocol: NTLM is an older authentication protocol that is still supported by AD for backward compatibility. It uses a challenge-response mechanism for authentication.

Limitations of AD authentication

While AD authentication methods are robust, they have several limitations.

• Password vulnerabilities: Despite the use of strong protocols like Kerberos, AD is still heavily reliant on passwords, which are vulnerable to attacks such as phishing, brute-force and password spraying.
• Lack of multi-factor authentication (MFA): Native AD does not provide built-in support for MFA, which is crucial for enhancing security, especially in remote work environments.
• Complex management: AD can be complex to manage, especially in large organizations, increasing the risk of misconfigurations.

Best practices for securing AD authentication

To enhance the security of your Windows authentication within an AD domain and to protect against potential vulnerabilities associated with AD authentication protocols, follow these best practices.

• Implement MFA: Improve security by requiring multiple authentication factors before granting access.
• Enforce strong password policies: Implement password policies that demand complex passwords and frequent updates.
• Update and patch systems: Keep AD servers and associated systems updated to protect against vulnerabilities.
• Audit authentication activities: Use logs to continuously monitor and review AD login activities for any usual or unauthorized access attempts.

How ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus enhances AD authentication

ADSelfService Plus is an identity security solution that provides adaptive MFA with support for a wide range of authenticators to address the limitations of traditional AD user authentication. It provides MFA for endpoints, cloud and on-premises applications, VPNs, and OWAs. ADSelfService Plus also provides passwordless authentication options to bypass the need for users to enter passwords directly. The ADSelfService Plus password policy enforcer allows you to set stringent password rules, mitigating risks from weak or compromised passwords. In addition to these features, it also provides self-service password management and enterprise SSO.