In today’s digital world, a strong password policy is crucial for your organisation’s security. One of our customers, a large secondary school in Gelderland, the Netherlands, runs monthly AD Password Audit scans and has since optimised their password policy. NodeZero from Horizon3.ai offers a powerful tool to audit the strength and security of passwords within your Active Directory (AD) environment: the AD Password Audit.

Why have a Password Audit?

Weak passwords are a common cause of security breaches. Attackers often use techniques such as password guessing, password spraying, and credential stuffing to gain access to networks. Conducting a regular password audit will help you identify and address potential weaknesses in your password policies.

How does the AD Password Audit work?

NodeZero’s AD Password Audit analyses users’ passwords in your AD environment and identifies passwords that are vulnerable to attack. The process includes:

• Identification of Weak Passwords: The audit reveals passwords that are easy to guess or crack, based on public data leaks and other sources.
• Prioritisation of Risks: Users are ranked according to the risk their password poses, which helps prioritise which accounts should be addressed first.
• Detailed Report: After the audit, you will receive a detailed report with evidence of cracked passwords and recommendations for improvement.

Benefits of Regular Audits

Regularly performing an AD Password Audit offers several benefits:

• Increased Security: By identifying and strengthening weak passwords, you reduce the chances of successful attacks.
• Compliance with Policy: Make sure your password policy is effective and complies with security standards.
• Proactive Security: Stay one step ahead of attackers by regularly evaluating your password policy and adapting it to new threats.

Case study: Secondary school in Gelderland

The Secondary school in Gelderland has optimised their password policy by running monthly AD Password Audit scans. Periodic password changes are no longer enforced through their Identity Management system, resulting in fewer questions at the service desk. Previously, some users regularly asked for help to change their passwords. This modified policy also provides more convenience for end users, as they no longer need to change their passwords regularly.

The school’s system administrator asked himself aloud: why change passwords periodically anymore? Especially when MFA is used and passwords are not leaked or rated as weak. The only time when a password should be changed is when the AD Password Audit prompts it.

With NodeZero’s AD Password Audit, you can easily and effectively improve your organisation’s password security and protect your network from potential attacks. Are you ready to take your password policy to the next level? Try NodeZero’s AD Password Audit and find out how to make your organisation more secure.