Domain Controller solution guards against bad behavior from unmanaged devices. Credit: Natali Mis / Getty Images A popular target of attackers, Microsoft Active Directory will receive an extra measure of protection under a new offering announced Thursday by Attivo Networks. The company’s ADSecure-DC solution expands its Active Directory protection to non-Windows endpoints.About a year ago Attivo introduced an endpoint product that could detect suspicious attempts to query Active Directory, intercept the queries, and steer them off course. “That was done on every Windows machine on the endpoint,” says Attivo Chief Security Advocate and CMO Carolyn Crandall, “but there are situations where you have Linux, Mac devices, or IoT devices that you can’t load the Windows agent onto, or where you don’t want to load an agent on a Windows endpoint. Now, with AD Secure Domain Controller, attacks can be detected from unmanaged devices.”“With ADSecure-DC, the agent is on the Domain Controller itself,” adds Lead Architect for Active Directory Products Steve Griffiths. “When the endpoint queries the Domain Controller, the same activity goes on but it happens at the Domain Controller.”In addition to identifying enumeration and attacks targeting Active Directory, ADSecure-DC also detects suspicious user behaviors using deep packet inspection and behavior analytics, as well as delivering high-fidelity alerts. Wide usage makes Active Directory an attractive targetActive Directory is used by 90% of enterprises worldwide, which contributes to its popularity as an attack vector for digital raiders. It also contains a treasure trove of data attractive to attackers. “As a database that maps and controls user profiles, network resources, and services, it contains not only a wealth of information about all users but also all the resources that they can access,” says Tony Anscombe, chief security evangelist at ESET, an information technology security company.Once attackers compromise Active Directory, they can elevate privileges, change security and group policies, and encrypt domain controllers. “Domain controllers provide the intelligence to know what users get to access and controls their authorization to be able to get to those things,” Crandall says. Related content news UK government plans 2,500 new tech recruits by 2025 with focus on cybersecurity New apprenticeships and talent programmes will support recruitment for in-demand roles such as cybersecurity technologists and software developers By Michael Hill Sep 29, 2023 4 mins Education Industry Education Industry Education Industry news UK data regulator orders end to spreadsheet FOI requests after serious data breaches The Information Commissioner’s Office says alternative approaches should be used to publish freedom of information data to mitigate risks to personal information By Michael Hill Sep 29, 2023 3 mins Government Cybercrime Data and Information Security feature Cybersecurity startups to watch for in 2023 These startups are jumping in where most established security vendors have yet to go. By CSO Staff Sep 29, 2023 19 mins CSO and CISO Security news analysis Companies are already feeling the pressure from upcoming US SEC cyber rules New Securities and Exchange Commission cyber incident reporting rules don't kick in until December, but experts say they highlight the need for greater collaboration between CISOs and the C-suite By Cynthia Brumfield Sep 28, 2023 6 mins Regulation Data Breach Financial Services Industry Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe