Why should you automate Active Directory cleanup? 

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Why should you automate Active Directory cleanup
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Why should you automate Active Directory cleanup? 

 While managing Active Directory (AD), you’ve probably seen how quickly it can become disorganized. Whether it’s dealing with ghost accounts, expired or disabled accounts, or groups created for long-finished projects, it can get messy quickly.

So, why is this a concern? Inactive and outdated AD accounts clutter up storage space, lead to data inconsistencies, and threaten network security. IT admins often postpone routine AD cleanup due to a lack of well-defined procedures. As a result, numerous obsolete user and computer accounts remain until compliance audits are conducted. Unfortunately, hackers exploit these unused or expired accounts to gain unauthorized access to your system. As outlined in this in-depth guide, automation helps reduce risks, ensure compliance, and save time. Tools like ManageEngine AD360 offer automated cleanup capabilities to tackle this challenge proactively.

 How to  clean up AD the right way  

 Remove disabled accounts 

When employees are on temporary or long leave, companies often disable their AD accounts. Especially in environments with temporary or contract workers, users may not log in for extended periods, resulting in account deletions. This can create vulnerabilities that hackers may exploit by targeting inactive accounts or attempting phishing attacks through IT desk requests, potentially resulting in costly security breaches. Moreover, disabled accounts, if left unnoticed, can slow down the system and escalate security risks. They can also cause compliance issues, as they appear in audit reports. Therefore, it’s essential to conduct periodic checks and monitor disabled accounts to identify any signs of activity and promptly remove them as needed.

 Delete inactive, unused, and duplicate accounts 

Regularly identifying and addressing unused accounts is crucial, even though the IT team should be disabling departed employees’ user accounts. Many of these unused accounts are duplicated or forgotten, potentially compromising security and slowing down AD. By analyzing the last logon timestamp, you can identify accounts created but never used. Typically, accounts not used for 90 days are considered obsolete. Deleting these inactive and duplicate accounts not only clears outdated data but also fortifies network security against potential breaches, safeguarding your organization’s integrity.

 Take action on accounts with expired passwords 

Expired passwords and user accounts often serve as a red flag indicating that an account has remained inactive for an extended period. These accounts are particularly vulnerable to security risks since their activities may remain unnoticed. It’s critical to note that expired accounts are different from inactive accounts, and they might still be used. Therefore, when checking for expired passwords, admins should confirm whether these passwords or accounts have been actively used before considering deletion.

 Manage AD groups and OUs 

Creating groups or OUs in AD simplifies administration and helps admins manage similar users in terms of delegation, sharing information, etc. These groups may become inactive, empty, or obsolete periodically. For example, a few users of those groups may switch teams but continue to have permissions from their previous role that aren’t appropriate anymore. Auditing AD regularly will help identify and clean up such groups and OUs.

 Automate AD cleanups 

To mitigate security risks and prevent obsolete accounts from impacting AD performance, AD cleanups should be conducted regularly. Most AD management and cleanup tasks, such as removing disabled and inactive accounts or locating expired user accounts and passwords, can be done with scripts. However, as organizations grow and AD cleanup becomes more complex, writing PowerShell scripts can become time-consuming. Automation accelerates cleanup, minimizes human error, and ensures adherence to best practices.

 How to facilitate AD cleanup with AD360 

Why should you automate Active Directory cleanup

ManageEngine’s AD360 is an enterprise IAM solution that comes with AD management, risk assessment, identity life cycle management, workflow orchestration, and integration capabilities to streamline identity management effortlessly.

AD360′ AD cleanup capabilities allow you to:

  • Generate reports to detect stale user and computer accounts in AD.
  • Automate the entire AD cleanup process, including the removal of stale accounts and groups and the cancellation of unnecessary access permissions, saving valuable help desk time and improving operational efficiency.
  • Review and authorize AD cleanup tasks through a review-approval process, ensuring compliance regulations are met and a secure IT environment is maintained.
  • Keep track of deleted AD objects, including the time and date of deletion and the responsible technician, using audit trails to enhance security and accountability.

 Closing thoughts: Prioritizing regular AD cleanups 

Maintaining an organized and secure AD environment through AD cleanup best practices is paramount for data integrity and network security. Regularly cleaning up AD using appropriate AD cleanup tools and adhering to an AD cleanup checklist is crucial. This process helps mitigate risks associated with ghost accounts and expired or disabled accounts. Native tools like PowerShell, while useful, can be time-consuming and require expertise to write and maintain scripts.

By automating tasks, you save valuable time and reduce human error. With AD360, you can enhance AD security, safeguard against potential breaches, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. This comprehensive approach ensures that your AD environment remains organized, secure, and optimized for your organization’s needs.

Further Reads:

7 Free Active Directory Tools for IT Professionals

Which RSAT Contains Active Directory Users and Computers Windows 11?

Ravi Chopra
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