Tech700: Understanding and Auditing Windows Active Directory

Description: This full-day workshop will provide attendees with a solid understanding of Active Directory, the core of Windows based security and the driving force behind many of the weaknesses seen in corporate implementations. You will gain a clear understanding of the Active Directory architecture and its Domains, Forests and Trees and how these elements are tied together to customize your implementation of Windows. You’ll learn how Trusts work and the weaknesses in this system that can negatively impact your security. In addition, you will discover what FSMO roles are and how to audit them and how an effective Organizational Unit deployment can help vastly improve security and control or weaken it! Attendees will also learn all about Administrative rights and how to ensure that an accurate assessment of where they reside within Active Directory is made during your audit. You will complete this course with a full understanding of this critical component of Windows and ensure that your own implementation of it is accurate, secure and effective.

Audience: This seminar is intended for internal and external audit professionals, security analysts and administrators, consultants and individuals who wish to learn more about Active Directory.

Prerequisites: There is no prerequisite for this seminar.

Objectives: After completing this seminar, participants will be able to:

· Recognize the importance of Active Directory to security and control of Windows systems

· Learn to organize and structure AD to facilitate improved controls

· Understand critical areas that are often ignored

· Describe the threats involved in inaccurate or inappropriate implementation decisions

· Understand the tools and techniques available to analyze Active Directory

· Know the key steps in auditing

· Conduct an assessment and technical review

Course Outline:

The key elements of Active Directory

· The Logging in process

· Forests and Trees

· Trusts

· Domains

· Sites

· The Schema

· FSMO Roles

· Organizational Units

· Users and Groups

· Files and Folders

· Audit and logging

Learn what is new in each version of the Windows Operating System

· Windows 2000

· Windows 2003

· Windows 2008

Tools and techniques for auditing Active Directory

A step by step audit process

Lewis’ seminar will draw upon his numerous Windows books including Teach Yourself Windows 2000 in 21 Days and his almost 30 years of experience in the areas of IT operations and information security in both industry and consulting and with his expertise in leading seminars around the world for over 20 years.