Active Directory Fundamentals

Virtualized AD DS time sync: VMIC vs AD — Definitive somparison

September 5, 2025
Time is the quiet dependency that keeps Active Directory honest. Kerberos tickets rely on it. Replication relies on it. Auditing and security controls rely on it. Virtualization adds the hypervisor’s clock to the mix, creating a strategic choice: should virtualized domain controllers follow the hypervisor (VMIC/VM tools), or the Active Directory hierarchy? Definition: Virtualized AD DS time…
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Active Directory FundamentalsEditor's PickHand-picked Resources

Virtualized AD DS Time Sync: A hands-on implementation playbook (VMIC vs AD)

September 5, 2025
If you run domain controllers as VMs, time is a design decision—not a default. This Virtualized AD DS time sync playbook gives you a clean, production-ready path to make the AD hierarchy your single authority, avoid conflicts with VMIC/VM Tools, and automate a safe boot/restore hand-off. Active Directory/Virtualization/Time Sync On this page Definition Goals & Guardrails Implementation…
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Uncategorized

Excess Permissions: Lessons from Legacy Setups

September 5, 2025
A timeless reference on why permission sprawl happens due to excess permissions, how it breaks defenses, and the exact steps to unwind it—especially in legacy Active Directory and hybrid estates – Security Architecture/Active DirectoryLeast Privilege Quick Jump: Surface vs. Real Problem · First Principles · Expert Mental Models · Misunderstandings & Checklist · Applications &amp…
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Active Directory Fundamentals

What’s new in Active Directory (2025): Availability, supportability & security enhancements

September 5, 2025
Active Directory 2025 security, availability, and supportability are now the defining pillars of enterprise identity resilience. Sneak-peek Here we talk about the latest changes that improve three pillars—availability (staying online), supportability (seeing and fixing issues fast), and security (withstanding and recovering from attacks). Together they reshape how you design, operate, and…
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Active Directory FundamentalsRecent Posts

What is an N-Day Exploit? Definition, Mechanism & Security Risks

September 3, 2025
An n-day exploit targets a vulnerability after public disclosure, weaponizing the delay between a vendor’s fix and enterprise patch adoption. Definition (snippet-friendly): An n-day exploit is a cyberattack that targets a known software vulnerability after it has been publicly disclosed. Attackers leverage the period when patches or mitigations exist but are not yet widely applied. Table of…
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Recent AD NewsRecent PostsTop Read Articles

FIDO Downgrade Attack Hits Microsoft Entra ID

September 2, 2025
Researchers show how spoofing unsupported browsers can force users off passkeys, exposing Entra ID accounts to phishing and session hijack.  Who/What/When: On August 13, 2025, security researchers detailed a FIDO downgrade attack against Microsoft Entra ID that manipulates login flows to sidestep passkeys. Where/Why: By spoofing an unsupported browser, attackers trigger an error that removes…
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Hand-picked ResourcesRecent AD NewsRecent Posts

Storm-0501 Exploits Microsoft Entra ID to Wipe and Ransom Azure Data

September 1, 2025
In August 2025, Microsoft warned that Storm-0501, a financially motivated ransomware group, is abusing Microsoft Entra ID and hybrid Active Directory synchronization accounts to seize control of entire cloud environments. Victims reported that attackers exfiltrated Azure data, deleted backups, and issued ransom demands over Microsoft Teams. For IT admins and security engineers, this marks a…
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Azure Active DirectoryAzure AD Best practices

Azure Backup - An overview

July 24, 2024
Why cloud backup over a traditional one? A cloud-based backup service allows organizations to remotely back up applications, data, and systems from a single location. Depending on their resources and requirements, organizations can use a public or private server as their cloud backup infrastructure. Cloud-based backup is preferred by many due to its efficiency in storage and data management. Here…
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Azure Active DirectoryAzure AD Best practices

How to configure machine backups with Azure

July 23, 2024
From critical documents to customer information and operational databases, safeguarding this data is paramount. With the increasing adoption of cloud technology, organizations are turning to platforms like Azure for robust solutions to manage and protect their data effectively. One crucial aspect is configuring virtual machine backups using Azure, ensuring resilience against potential data loss…
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Azure Active DirectoryAzure AD Best practices

How to monitor and backup Azure resources

July 23, 2024
Monitoring and backing up your Azure resources is critical to ensuring the availability, performance, and resilience of your cloud infrastructure and data. Azure provides several tools and services for effective monitoring and backup. Here’s a general guide to monitoring and backing up Azure resources. Monitoring Azure resources Azure offers several tools to monitor your cloud environment…
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