The Top 10 Identity Threats and the Critical Role of Entra ID Backups
Introduction
As organizations continue their shift to cloud-based identity management with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), the importance of securing and backing up identity data has never been more critical. Cyber threats targeting identity systems can lead to unauthorized access, privilege escalation, and data breaches. Proper backup and recovery strategies, alongside proactive security measures, ensure resilience against these threats.
Let’s explore the top 10 identity attack methods and how Entra ID, coupled with robust backup strategies, can help mitigate risks and ensure business continuity.
1. Kerberoasting
Attackers request Kerberos service tickets and crack them offline to extract passwords. Attackers use Kerberoasting to request Kerberos service tickets for service accounts, which are encrypted with the account's password hash. They then crack these tickets offline to extract the plaintext password, potentially gaining access to privileged accounts in the Active Directory environment.
Mitigation Strategies:
Implement strong password policies in Entra ID to prevent weak credentials.
Regularly back up Entra ID configurations to ensure rapid recovery in case of a breach.
Monitor sign-in logs to detect unusual ticket requests.
Backup Consideration: Ensure that role assignments and conditional access policies are backed up regularly to restore settings after compromise.
2. Password Spraying
Using common passwords across multiple accounts, attackers attempt to gain access while avoiding lockouts.
Mitigation Strategies:
Utilize Entra ID Conditional Access to block repeated failed login attempts.
Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users.
Backup Consideration: Backup Entra ID security policies and configurations to restore quickly after a brute-force attack attempt.
3. LLMNR Exploitation
Legacy protocols can be exploited to capture and relay credentials on the network.
Mitigation Strategies:
Disable legacy protocols in group policies and enforce secure authentication methods with Entra ID.
Adopt passwordless authentication to eliminate credential exposure risks.
Backup Consideration: Regularly back up authentication settings and access control lists to ensure continuity in case of protocol-based attacks.
4. Pass-the-Hash Attacks with Mimikatz
Attackers steal password hashes and use them to authenticate without needing the actual password.
Mitigation Strategies:
Deploy Entra ID MFA to reduce the impact of compromised credentials.
Use Microsoft Defender for Identity to detect credential abuse attempts.
Backup Consideration: Ensure that Entra ID authentication policies and risk detection rules are regularly backed up to restore security configurations rapidly.
5. Default Credentials
Using factory-set or weak credentials to gain unauthorized access.
Mitigation Strategies:
Enforce password updates and block known compromised passwords in Entra ID.
Monitor sign-ins for accounts with default credentials.
Backup Consideration: Regular backups of Entra ID identity protection policies ensure that security settings can be reinstated in the event of unauthorized access.
6. Hard-Coded Credentials
Attackers exploit credentials stored in scripts or applications.
Mitigation Strategies:
Use Entra ID-managed identities to eliminate the need for hard-coded credentials.
Conduct regular scans to detect exposed secrets.
Backup Consideration: Back up role assignments and access control settings to quickly restore secure configurations if credentials are exposed.
7. Privilege Escalation
Exploiting vulnerabilities to gain higher permissions and compromise accounts.
Mitigation Strategies:
Enforce least privilege access with Entra ID Privileged Identity Management (PIM).
Conduct regular audits of role assignments.
Backup Consideration: Frequent backups of role-based access control (RBAC) settings allow for quick rollback in case of privilege abuse.
8. LDAP Reconnaissance
Attackers use LDAP queries to gather information on users and groups.
Mitigation Strategies:
Restrict LDAP access and enforce strict conditional access controls in Entra ID.
Use role-based access control (RBAC) to limit exposure of directory information.
Backup Consideration: Ensure directory schema and attribute settings are backed up to restore configurations in the event of reconnaissance attempts.
9. BloodHound Reconnaissance
Mapping privilege relationships to find attack paths within Entra ID.
Mitigation Strategies:
Implement just-in-time access through Entra ID PIM to reduce the attack surface.
Regularly audit and minimize unnecessary privilege assignments.
Backup Consideration: Backup role assignments and access reviews to quickly revert any suspicious privilege changes.
10. NTDS.dlt Extraction
Stealing Active Directory database files for offline password cracking.
Mitigation Strategies:
Secure domain controllers and rely on Entra ID for modern cloud-based authentication.
Reduce reliance on on-premises AD by migrating fully to Entra ID.
Backup Consideration: Maintain secure backups of cloud identity settings to ensure quick recovery and business continuity after an attack.
Why Backing Up Entra ID is Critical
While Entra ID provides a cloud-based, highly resilient identity service, it’s crucial to implement a robust backup strategy. Identity settings, configurations, and role assignments must be protected against accidental misconfigurations, insider threats, or sophisticated cyberattacks.
Best Practices for Entra ID Backup:
Automate Backups: Use third-party backup solutions or Microsoft tools to regularly capture Entra ID configurations.
Test Recovery Plans: Regularly simulate restoration scenarios to ensure business continuity.
Monitor for Changes: Implement change tracking to detect unauthorized modifications to security policies.
Store Backups Securely: Ensure backups are stored in an encrypted, access-controlled environment.
Enable Versioning: Maintain multiple versions of Entra ID settings to allow rollback to known good states.
How Veeam Backups of Entra ID Help....
Rollback Unauthorized Changes – Quickly restore user roles, group memberships, and security policies after an attack.
Incident Response & Forensics – Compare backup snapshots to track attack impact and timeline.
Restore Authentication Policies – Recover MFA, Conditional Access, and Pass-Through Authentication settings.
Prevent Privilege Escalation – Revert admin role changes and remove attacker persistence.
Recover Deleted Accounts & Groups – Ensure continuity in hybrid AD environments.
By implementing a comprehensive Entra ID backup strategy alongside proactive security measures, organizations can ensure that their identity infrastructure remains resilient against evolving threats.
By implementing a comprehensive Entra ID backup strategy alongside proactive security measures, organizations can ensure that their identity infrastructure remains resilient against evolving threats.
Key Differences Between Microsoft Entra ID and Active Directory
Lessons from "How Hackers Persist & Privesc in Microsoft 365"
Veeam: 5 Reasons Why You Should Be Backing Up Microsoft Entra ID
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