Active Directory Security Groups

Active Directory (AD) Security Groups play a crucial role in managing permissions and access control within Windows-based IT environments. These groups streamline administration by organizing users, devices, and resources, enabling efficient management of access rights to files, applications, and systems. By assigning permissions to a group instead of individual users, organizations save time, reduce errors, and maintain consistent security practices.

Security groups in Active Directory can be configured to grant or deny access to specific resources, define roles, and enforce policies across a domain or forest. There are two primary types of security groups: domain local, used to assign permissions for resources within a single domain, and global groups, which can span multiple domains for broader access management. Another commonly used type is the universal group, ideal for multi-domain environments requiring cross-domain permissions.

Active Directory (AD) is a prime target for cybercriminals because it is the central hub for managing user identities, permissions, and organizational resources. By compromising AD, attackers can escalate privileges, move laterally across the network, and access sensitive data or critical systems. Common attack methods include password spraying, exploiting misconfigurations, and leveraging phishing schemes to gain initial access.

To counter these threats, organizations must enforce strong security measures such as multi-factor authentication, regular privilege audits, and automated monitoring of AD activity. Implementing security groups effectively can enhance an organization’s overall security posture by adhering to the principle of least privilege, granting users only the access they need to perform their roles. This minimizes the risk of unauthorized access or potential breaches.

This guide provides detailed insights into Active Directory Security Groups, explaining their types, uses, and best practices. It also offers tips for secure configuration, helping IT professionals manage access controls effectively in complex environments.

AD Security Groups and Permissions

Active Directory group management is the classifying and managing of users and devices across a network by bundling them together into AD groups.

AD security groups enable network administrators to manage permissions, policy settings, and group access to shared resources among a collection of users or devices all at once, rather than manually assigning permissions to individual users one at a time. For instance, if you want to grant staff in the HR department access to a specific network folder, you need to create a security group made up of staff from that unit.

This simplifies network administration by allowing you to assign permissions once to multiple users. Users can be added or removed from the group as the need arises. The change in group membership automatically takes effect everywhere.

With AD security groups, network admins can:

Assign user rights: User rights can be assigned to a security group. This helps to control what the users within the group can or cannot do within a domain or forest. For some security groups, user rights are automatically assigned for administration purposes which in turn can be inherited by members of the group. It’s critical that you pay special attention to those automatically assigned user rights to ensure that they are within required boundaries.

Assign permissions for resources: User permissions are distinct from user rights. Rights define the capabilities users possess, whereas permissions relate to access to resources. Some security groups are created by default and permissions automatically assigned when you create an Active Directory domain. Again extra care must be taken in managing those types of groups due to their automatic security permissions.

When assigning permissions for resources (such as network folders, printers), it is best practice to assign those permissions to a security group rather than to individual users. Members of a security group inherit rights and permissions assigned to that group in Active Directory.

Active Directory groups (including security groups) are characterized by their scope. The scope of the group determines the extent to which the group is applied in the domain tree or forest, and defines where the group can be granted permissions.

The following three group scopes are defined by Active Directory:

Domain local: Domain local manages access permissions to different domain resources (such as files and folders NTFS permissions, remote desktop access, etc.) in the domain where it was created; and can be applied anywhere in the domain. A domain local group can include members from trusted domains or other types of members.
Global: The global group scope is used to provide access to resources in another domain. Global groups are usually used as role-based groups; which means that domain objects (such as users and computers) are defined based on business roles.
Universal: Just as the name implies, with the universal group scope, you can define roles and manage access to resources that are distributed across multiple domains in a forest.

AD Security Groups Best Practices

Active Directory security groups include Administrators, Domain Admins, Server Operators, Account Operators, Users, Guests, among others. A good understanding of how to manage these security groups with a best-practice mindset is key to keeping your system secure.

The following are key AD security groups best practices:

Ensure default security groups don’t have excessive permissions: Regularly audit permissions automatically assigned by default security groups when you set up an Active Directory domain, as some of these groups have extensive permissions. Ensure that users only have just enough access rights required to carry out their daily tasks and nothing more. If higher access rights are required, it should be provided on a temporary basis as and when needed.
Keep software regularly updated: Ensure that your Windows software and other third-party applications are regularly updated. Attackers often exploit or take advantage of known vulnerabilities to compromise systems. Regular patching can help minimize this risk.
Good password policy: Implement password policies that encourage users to use passphrases they can easily remember instead of focusing on complexity rules. Complexity rules make passwords harder to remember, and most users end up writing them down, which defeats the whole purpose in the first place. It’s also recommended to set rules that lockout users after several failed login attempts. Adopt the use of Windows supported 2FA/MFA such as Windows Hello or FIDO for extra protection.
Maintain a policy of zero trust: Zero trust means that no one is trusted by default from inside or outside the network, and verification is required from everyone trying to gain access to resources on the network. Insider threat is a risk no organization should underestimate because it can be incredibly difficult to track the source. Adhere to the principle of least privilege access to network resources and ensure that users don’t have excessive permissions.
Audit changes to AD Security groups: Auditing helps to detect anomalous user behavior and system events. AD-related security vulnerabilities and threats can potentially be prevented through better visibility into changes that take place within the security group. Having a good auditing strategy for your AD security groups is a sure way to prevent security threats. Changes to privileged groups should be alerted in real-time to ensure that you can investigate the change and revert it if excessive permissions were created.

Here is our list of the best tools for managing AD Security Groups:

ManageEngine ADManager Plus EDITOR’S CHOICE Centralize the administration of multiple AD domains and secure those instances from tampering with this tool that also provides reporting. Runs on Windows Server, AWS, and Azure.
ManageEngine ADAudit Plus (FREE TRIAL) Ude this package to enforce system security by tracking user activity, preventing AD tampering, and enforcing standards compliance. Available for Windows Server
SolarWinds Permissions Analyzer This system will help you to identify the permissions structure that you have for each device by displaying each record with a list of statuses. Runs on Windows Server.
Quest Recovery Manager for Active Directory A backup service for Active Directory that can quickly reverse accidental or malicious changes. Runs on Windows and Windows Server.

The Best Tools for Managing AD Security Groups

Our methodology for selecting AD security group management tools 

We reviewed the market for tools to manage AD security groups and analyzed options based on the following criteria:

Display of groups and members
A search facility
A display of inheritance
A cross-reference to device permissions for each group
The ability to view multiple domains
A free trial for a no-obligation assessment opportunity or a free tool
A paid tool that offers value for money or a free tool that is worth installing

With these selection criteria in mind, we looked for a range of AD security group management systems that include simple free tools and more complex paid systems that have wider AD management capabilities.

1. ManageEngine ADManager Plus (FREE TRIAL)

ADManager Plus is a web-based AD management and reporting tool that provides centralized administration and management of Windows Active Directory. It allows IT admins to manage AD objects and groups from one central location via a user-friendly GUI.

Key Features:

Efficient Bulk Operations: Facilitates the creation and management of AD objects in bulk, significantly reducing manual effort and improving productivity.
Password Administration: Enables administrators to directly reset passwords and manage account details, ensuring secure and timely access control.
Proactive Inactive Account Management: Identifies and manages inactive accounts, improving security posture and operational hygiene.
Centralized Multi-Domain Management: Provides a unified console for managing user accounts and permissions across multiple domains, enhancing administrative efficiency.
Mobile and Application Account Management: Supports the management of mobile device accounts and integrates with platforms like Exchange Server and Microsoft 365, streamlining access and permissions across technologies.

Why do we recommend it?

ManageEngine ADManager Plus is highly recommended for its efficient and centralized approach to Active Directory management, streamlining tasks such as bulk user creation and advanced reporting, which are essential for maintaining compliance and operational efficiency.

Network admins can use ADManager Plus to perform the following functions:

Generate and view granular reports of users, computers, groups such as Inactive Users, Disabled Users, Users in Nested Groups, Distribution Groups, Security Groups, Inactive Computers, among others.
Modify the existing user account properties including Exchange Mailbox and Terminal Services properties.
Create bulk user accounts in the Active Directory with the flexibility to import properties from a CSV file.
Create and delegate security roles for granting/revoking permissions to security principals.

ManageEngine ADManager Plus can be used to automate the report generation process. This lowers the time that would be wasted on manually navigating the Active Directory program, thereby making Active Directory more convenient.

The ADManager Plus system provides a central management console for multiple domains. Tools in the package let you create, modify, and delta user accounts in bulk and you can also allocate user accounts to groups en masse. This action can be implemented by loading in records from a CSV file.

An administrator can search for an account and rest its password directly by triggering a request to the user. It is also possible to make other changes to user accounts or groups manually and individually. The interface includes an inactive account identifier and you can spot locked accounts, which can be unlocked on demand. Accounts can also be moved between groups.

The tool can be used to manage mobile devices running iOS and Android and it will also manage accounts for Exchange Server, Microsoft 365, Google Workspaces, and Skype for Business. The system will help you manage device and resource permissions and allocate rights to groups.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is ideally suited for IT administrators and network managers in large organizations or Managed Service Providers (MSPs) who require a comprehensive, web-based solution for managing complex Active Directory environments across multiple domains.

Pros:

Advanced Permission Modulation: Allows for the easy application of bulk permission changes, simplifying administrative tasks in complex Active Directory environments.
Comprehensive Reporting Capabilities: Generates detailed compliance reports for standards such as PCI and HIPAA, facilitating audit readiness and compliance management.
Multi-Domain Support: Excellently accommodates the needs of large, multi-site organizations with its robust multi-domain management capabilities.
Effective Delegation Features: Empowers NOC and helpdesk teams with delegation capabilities, optimizing operational workflows and resource allocation.
Enhanced Security Group Visibility: Offers the ability to visually inspect share permissions and security group details, promoting better access control and security management.

Cons:

Optimized for Scale: Primarily designed to cater to the needs of larger organizations, MSPs, and environments with multiple domains, which may not be as beneficial for smaller setups.

ManageEngine ADManager Plus is available for download on a 30-day free trial. It is licensed on an annual subscription based on the number of domains it would manage. We recommend this product to anyone looking to make Active Directory Management more convenient as well as those who want to benefit from a high-quality report function.

ManageEngine ADManager Plus Start 30-day FREE Trial

2. ManageEngine ADAudit Plus (FREE TRIAL)

ADAudit Plus by ManageEngine is an AD auditing tool that allows network admins to audit active directories, login and logoff records, file, and Windows server data, and generate real-time user activity reports.

Key Features:

AD Insights: Offers comprehensive auditing of Active Directory environments, ensuring every user action is tracked and recorded.
File Surveillance: Monitors Windows and NAS file servers to track access and changes, safeguarding against unauthorized modifications.
Server Oversight: Extensive Windows server auditing capabilities to maintain security and operational integrity.
Workplace Monitoring: Keeps an eye on workstation activities, enhancing security across all endpoints.
Azure Scrutiny: Provides auditing solutions for Azure AD, ensuring cloud services are securely managed.
Compliance Ready: Equipped with predefined reports for SOX, HIPAA, GLBA, PCI-DSS, and FISMA compliance, simplifying regulatory adherence.