5 Best Active Directory Security Tools [2024 List]
Proven and tested Active Directory tools by our experts
5 min. read
Updated on
Share this article
Improve this guide
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial team Read more
Key notes
- Active Directory is a proprietary directory service designed by Microsoft to run on Windows Server.
- The Active Directory Security tools are essential to keep it safe from external and internal threats that can result in data loss.
- Some of the tools don't just detect threats, but also offer guidance for the appropriate response.
Active Directory stores information about objects on the network, making it available for administrators and users to find and use. Sadly, hackers are infiltrating the Active Directory, attacking the network it controls.
Due to the increasing incidence, the need for Active Directory security tools is essential. However, our readers can check our article about the best Open Source Network Monitoring tools they can use.
Is Active Directory a security tool?
Active Directory (AD) is not a security tool. It is Microsoft’s proprietary directory service designed to run on Windows Server.
It allows administrators to control remote computers, manage permissions, and access network resources.
However, there are third-party tools that organizations can employ to make it easier and faster to audit and secure the Active Directory. Also, they can help with monitoring, managing, and reporting on the AD.
Check our guide on what to do if Windows Server Manager is not opening on your PC.
Many Active Directory security tools are available for securing AD, but not all are reliable. Hence, we’ll take you through our pick of the best and most reliable Active Directory security tools to use.
What are the best Active Directory security tools?
ADAudit Plus – Best for Logon active tracking
ADAudit Plus is the number one choice of Active Directory security tool because of its ability to secure Windows servers.
It protects its ecosystem and keeps it compliant by providing comprehensive visibility into all activities.
Furthermore, some notable features of the ADAudit Plus security tool are:
- Monitors logins by tracking user logon activities at all times
- It audits the login processes, such as login failure, success, and other data related to the login history
- Uses a UBA (User Behavior Analytics)-driven change auditor to secure the Active Directory and keep the Windows Servers ecosystem compliant
- Manages and tracks the changes in the operating system, programs, and other local files on the PC
- Offers a real-time change notification service that tells who made a change and when it was made and specifies where in your Windows Server environment
- Audits privileged use, limiting access to only admins and privileged users
ADAudit Plus
Check all the logon activities and manage all the failed attempts on your endpoints quickly.Semperis Directory Services Protector – Blocks unauthorized access
Semperis Directory Services Protector is a Windows and Azure Active Directory Service security tool. It secures the Active Directory by preventing access to the Active Directory and monitors the login activities.
More so, some distinctive features of the Directory Services Protector (DSP) by Semperis are:
- Notifies the admin of any changes or activities that bypass security logs
- Tracks login successfully and failed attempts on the Server
- Blocks unauthorized access to the Active Directory and analyzes lockouts
- Offers a detailed retrieval of Active Directory settings for later usage
- It helps produce reports of modifications and aid in locating and modifying AD attributes
- Finds and removes unwanted Active Directories
Varonis For Active Directory – Best in communicating risks
Varonis For Active Directory is a security software that helps you to fish out and instantly fix Active Directory loopholes that hackers can exploit.
It enforces strict security that prevents unauthorized access that may result in data loss.
Furthermore, some notable features of the Varonis For Active Directory security tool are:
- Notification system for Active Directory reporting, especially on security threats
- Flags risky Active Directory accounts that attackers may exploit
- Detects and fixes misconfigurations in the Active Directory and provides a comprehensive security search for changes on the AD
- Offers a consistent auditing service and reports any potential threat in the process
- Sends alerts regarding behavior anomalies and malicious actions
Tenable One security tool – Best for cloud-based threat detection
Tenable One is a fully integrated cloud-based security platform. It uses the exposure management approach to ensure Taft all activities across your Server are visible and secure.
Also, it offers an accurate view of your organization’s cyber risks and ways to curb them.
The platform comes with many features that make it more secure than others. Some features are:
- Detects vulnerabilities and provides remediation guidance to fix them
- Real-time Active Directory and cloud security, protecting your organization’s assets
- Web app security framework for setting up web app scans and assessment
- Responds to Active Directory attacks by analyzing the kill chain of threats such as DCShadow, DCSync, and brute force
- Detects any changes to the Active Directory, provides auditing for the activities and reports the changes to the proper authorities
Netwrix StealthAUDIT – Includes great monitoring features
Netwrix StealthAUDIT is an Active Directory security tool for mitigating threats and risks around sensitive data.
It automatically collects and analyzes the data needed to reduce attacks, intrusion, and other security vulnerabilities.
However, some notable features you can utilize in the Netwrix StealthAUDIT are:
- Detects threats and alerts the admin about attacks against sensitive data
- Reduces the risk of data loss and a breach by reducing access to a minimum and allocating privileges to a few users
- More than 40 built-in data collection modules that cover cloud-based and on-premise platforms
There are other tools you can opt-in for when considering an Active Directory security tool. You may be interested in our article about the best auditing software for your devices.
Also, you can read about how to demote a dominant controller on Windows Servers in a simple way.
Let us know about your product choice in the comments area below.
