Understanding Least Privilege in Active Directory and Entra ID

Overview

In managing both Active Directory (AD) and Entra ID, applying the principle of least privilege is essential for maintaining a secure environment. This principle involves granting users only the permissions they need to perform their specific tasks, thus minimizing potential security risks. This article provides a comprehensive overview of common security groups, their privilege levels, and the tasks they can perform, with a focus on implementing least privilege.

Entra ID

For Entra ID, you can refer to Microsoft's official guide on least privileged roles by task: Least privileged roles by task.

Privilege Levels Explained

1. Less Privileged: These roles have limited access and permissions. They can perform specific tasks without broader administrative capabilities, reducing the risk of unintended changes or security breaches.

2. Privileged: Privileged roles have broader permissions but do not encompass full administrative control. They are typically assigned to users who need additional access beyond standard roles but still require some level of restriction.

3. Highly Privileged: Highly privileged roles have extensive administrative capabilities, including full control over AD and its resources. These roles should be assigned with caution, as they carry significant responsibility and risk.

Top 15 Active Directory Security Groups

Security Group	Privilege Level	Description	Tasks
Account Operators	Less Privileged	Manages user and group accounts.	Create, modify, delete user and group accounts; reset passwords.
Administrators	Highly Privileged	Full control over the domain and its resources.	Full administrative rights, manage software and hardware, configure system settings.
Backup Operators	Privileged	Performs backup and restore operations.	Backup and restore AD database.
Cert Publishers	Privileged	Manages certificate publication in Active Directory.	Issue, revoke certificates; manage PKI.
DNSAdmins	Privileged	Manages DNS settings and zones.	Create, modify, delete DNS records and zones.
Domain Admins	Highly Privileged	Full administrative rights over the domain.	Manage domain controllers, policies, and domain-wide settings.
Enterprise Admins	Highly Privileged	Full administrative rights across all domains in the forest.	Manage trusts, schema changes, and domain controllers across domains.
Group Policy Creator Owners	Privileged	Manages Group Policy Objects (GPOs) they own.	Create and manage GPOs.
Schema Admins	Highly Privileged	Modifies the Active Directory schema.	Modify schema, including adding attributes and classes.
Server Operators	Privileged	Manages server-specific tasks.	Log on locally, manage server settings, shutdown servers, and perform server-specific roles.
Print Operators	Less Privileged	Manages printers and print queues.	Install and configure printers and print services.
Account Logon Auditors	Less Privileged	Monitors logon events across the domain.	View and audit logon events for security compliance.
Hyper-V Administrators	Less Privileged	Manages Hyper-V settings and virtual machines.	Configure and manage virtual machines and Hyper-V settings.
Remote Desktop Users	Less Privileged	Allows remote access to systems.	Access systems remotely using Remote Desktop.
Read-Only Domain Controllers (RODCs)	Less Privileged	Holds read-only copies of the AD database.	Provides read-only access to the directory to enhance security in remote locations.

Common Tasks and Their Associated Security Groups

Task Description	Tasks	Least Privileged Security Group	Additional Security Groups	Examples
AD Site and Services Management	Create, modify, delete sites, subnets, and site links; manage site replication settings.	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged)	Enterprise Admins (Highly Privileged)	Setting up a new site for branch offices.
Backup and Restore Operations	Perform backups of the AD database; restore AD from backups.	Backup Operators (Privileged)	Administrators (Highly Privileged), Domain Admins (Highly Privileged)	Restoring AD from a backup after a failure.
Certificate Services Management	Manage public key infrastructure (PKI); issue, revoke certificates.	Cert Publishers (Privileged)	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged), Enterprise Admins (Highly Privileged)	Issuing a certificate for a new web server.
Computer Management	Join computers to the domain; manage computer accounts.	Account Operators (Less Privileged)	Administrators (Highly Privileged), Domain Admins (Highly Privileged)	Adding a new workstation to the domain.
DFS (Distributed File System) Management	Manage DFS namespaces and replication.	Server Operators (Privileged)	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged), Administrators (Highly Privileged)	Setting up a new DFS namespace for file sharing.
DNS Management	Create, modify, delete DNS records; manage DNS zones.	DNSAdmins (Privileged)	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged), Enterprise Admins (Highly Privileged)	Adding a new DNS record for a new service.
Domain Controller Management	Promote/demote domain controllers; manage domain controller policies.	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged)	Enterprise Admins (Highly Privileged)	Promoting a new server to a domain controller.
Event Log Management	View, clear, and manage event logs on domain controllers.	Server Operators (Privileged)	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged), Administrators (Highly Privileged)	Reviewing security logs for unauthorized access attempts.
File Server Management	Manage shared folders, NTFS permissions, and quotas on file servers.	Server Operators (Privileged)	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged), Administrators (Highly Privileged)	Configuring permissions for a new shared folder.
Group Management	Create, modify, delete security and distribution groups; manage group memberships.	Account Operators (Less Privileged)	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged), Administrators (Highly Privileged)	Adding a new user to a security group.
Group Policy Management	Create, modify, delete Group Policy Objects (GPOs); link GPOs to OUs or domains.	Group Policy Creator Owners (Privileged)	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged), Enterprise Admins (Highly Privileged)	Creating a new GPO for password policies.
Hardware Management	Install, remove, or configure hardware on domain controllers.	Server Operators (Privileged)	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged), Administrators (Highly Privileged)	Installing additional memory on a domain controller.
Organizational Unit (OU) Management	Create, modify, delete OUs; delegate control within OUs.	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged)	Enterprise Admins (Highly Privileged)	Creating a new OU for a department.
Password Policy Management	Configure domain-wide password policies; enforce account lockout settings.	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged)	Enterprise Admins (Highly Privileged)	Setting the domain password complexity requirements.
Printer Management	Install, configure, and manage printers and print servers.	Print Operators (Less Privileged)	Server Operators (Privileged), Domain Admins (Highly Privileged)	Adding a new network printer.
Replication Management	Manage AD replication; troubleshoot replication issues.	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged)	Enterprise Admins (Highly Privileged)	Troubleshooting replication delays between DCs.
Schema Management	Modify the Active Directory schema, including adding new attributes and classes.	Schema Admins (Highly Privileged)	Enterprise Admins (Highly Privileged)	Adding a new attribute to the AD schema.
Security Policy Management	Manage security policies across the domain; configure audit settings.	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged)	Enterprise Admins (Highly Privileged)	Configuring audit settings for logon events.
Service Account Management	Create, manage, and delete service accounts.	Account Operators (Less Privileged)	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged), Server Operators (Privileged)	Creating a new service account for an application.
User Management	Create, modify, delete user accounts; reset passwords; unlock accounts.	Account Operators (Less Privileged)	Domain Admins (Highly Privileged), Administrators (Highly Privileged)	Onboarding a new employee and creating their account.

Additional Resources

For a comprehensive overview of Active Directory security groups and their full descriptions, refer to the Microsoft article: Active Directory Security Groups.

Conclusion

Applying the principle of least privilege in both Active Directory and Entra ID is vital for ensuring a secure and efficient environment. Understanding the roles, their privilege levels, and associated tasks allows you to tailor access controls to your organization's specific needs effectively. Use this information to help manage permissions and maintain a robust security posture.