Active Directory Security Risk Assessment
Review Active Directory security risk across privileged access, legacy protocols, service accounts, GPOs, monitoring, and hybrid identity.

Built for audit and compliance decisions
OC Security Audit focuses on independent assessment, cybersecurity audit, compliance readiness, control validation, and executive-level risk communication. This page does not duplicate ITperfection managed IT services. If remediation or implementation is needed after validation, that work can be handled separately through ITperfection.
Assessment items with audit guidance
Open each item to review what it means, how to check it, why it matters, the likely risk level, the business impact, and trusted reference links.
Domain admin and privileged group hygieneRisk: HighImpact: High
Description
Domain admin and privileged group hygiene should be reviewed as an evidence-based audit area for identity security audit. The goal is to determine whether the organization can prove the control exists, works consistently, and has an accountable owner.
How to check
Check administrator portals, identity policies, privileged role assignments, conditional access or MFA reports, and recent sign-in logs. Confirm both ordinary users and administrators are covered.
Why it is important
Identity compromise is one of the fastest paths to ransomware, data theft, cloud compromise, and unauthorized administrative change.
Trusted reference links
Microsoft Security BaselinesMicrosoft Entra Security OperationsCISA Zero Trust Maturity Model
Legacy protocols and weak authenticationRisk: HighImpact: High
Description
Legacy protocols and weak authentication should be reviewed as an evidence-based audit area for identity security audit. The goal is to determine whether the organization can prove the control exists, works consistently, and has an accountable owner.
How to check
Review the related admin console, screenshots, policies, logs, reports, tickets, exception records, and owner accountability evidence. Validate the control by evidence, not by memory.
Why it is important
This control supports audit readiness, risk reduction, executive visibility, and practical remediation planning.
Trusted reference links
Microsoft Security BaselinesMicrosoft Entra Security OperationsCISA Zero Trust Maturity Model
Service account governanceRisk: HighImpact: High
Description
Service account governance should be reviewed as an evidence-based audit area for identity security audit. The goal is to determine whether the organization can prove the control exists, works consistently, and has an accountable owner.
How to check
Review the related admin console, screenshots, policies, logs, reports, tickets, exception records, and owner accountability evidence. Validate the control by evidence, not by memory.
Why it is important
This control supports audit readiness, risk reduction, executive visibility, and practical remediation planning.
Trusted reference links
Microsoft Security BaselinesMicrosoft Entra Security OperationsCISA Zero Trust Maturity Model
Group Policy and baseline hardeningRisk: MediumImpact: Medium
Description
Group Policy and baseline hardening should be reviewed as an evidence-based audit area for identity security audit. The goal is to determine whether the organization can prove the control exists, works consistently, and has an accountable owner.
How to check
Review approved policies, risk registers, board or leadership reporting, exception approvals, remediation tracking, and evidence that risk owners understand their responsibilities.
Why it is important
This control supports audit readiness, risk reduction, executive visibility, and practical remediation planning.
Trusted reference links
Microsoft Security BaselinesMicrosoft Entra Security OperationsCISA Zero Trust Maturity Model
Password and lockout policy maturityRisk: HighImpact: Medium
Description
Password and lockout policy maturity should be reviewed as an evidence-based audit area for identity security audit. The goal is to determine whether the organization can prove the control exists, works consistently, and has an accountable owner.
How to check
Review approved policies, risk registers, board or leadership reporting, exception approvals, remediation tracking, and evidence that risk owners understand their responsibilities.
Why it is important
This control supports audit readiness, risk reduction, executive visibility, and practical remediation planning.
Trusted reference links
Microsoft Security BaselinesMicrosoft Entra Security OperationsCISA Zero Trust Maturity Model
Domain controller patching and backup readinessRisk: MediumImpact: High
Description
Domain controller patching and backup readiness should be reviewed as an evidence-based audit area for identity security audit. The goal is to determine whether the organization can prove the control exists, works consistently, and has an accountable owner.
How to check
Review backup configuration, immutability or offline-copy settings, restore-test records, recovery time objectives, and the most recent successful restore evidence.
Why it is important
Recovery confidence depends on tested, protected backups. Untested backups often fail exactly when the business depends on them most.
Trusted reference links
Microsoft Security BaselinesMicrosoft Entra Security OperationsCISA Zero Trust Maturity Model
Hybrid identity and Entra ID alignmentRisk: MediumImpact: Medium
Description
Hybrid identity and Entra ID alignment should be reviewed as an evidence-based audit area for identity security audit. The goal is to determine whether the organization can prove the control exists, works consistently, and has an accountable owner.
How to check
Check administrator portals, identity policies, privileged role assignments, conditional access or MFA reports, and recent sign-in logs. Confirm both ordinary users and administrators are covered.
Why it is important
Identity compromise is one of the fastest paths to ransomware, data theft, cloud compromise, and unauthorized administrative change.
Trusted reference links
Microsoft Security BaselinesMicrosoft Entra Security OperationsCISA Zero Trust Maturity Model
Monitoring of risky directory changesRisk: MediumImpact: Medium
Description
Monitoring of risky directory changes should be reviewed as an evidence-based audit area for identity security audit. The goal is to determine whether the organization can prove the control exists, works consistently, and has an accountable owner.
How to check
Review the related admin console, screenshots, policies, logs, reports, tickets, exception records, and owner accountability evidence. Validate the control by evidence, not by memory.
Why it is important
This control supports audit readiness, risk reduction, executive visibility, and practical remediation planning.
Trusted reference links
Microsoft Security BaselinesMicrosoft Entra Security OperationsCISA Zero Trust Maturity Model
Quick self-score
Use this scoring panel after reviewing the detail sections above. Score based on evidence: screenshots, policies, logs, reports, tickets, and owner accountability.
Select each control area to see the readiness level.
Priority remediation roadmap
1. Validate
Confirm the real control state with evidence and identify gaps that could affect audit, insurance, compliance, or executive risk decisions.
2. Prioritize
Rank findings by business impact, likelihood, compliance exposure, and operational dependency.
3. Track
Create a remediation roadmap with owners, dates, evidence requirements, and follow-up validation.

Created by Ali Hassani, CISO
Ali Hassani brings 25+ years of IT, cybersecurity, compliance, Microsoft infrastructure, cloud security, network security, firewall, vulnerability management, and executive advisory experience. OC Security Audit uses this experience to help organizations understand risk clearly before making remediation, compliance, or insurance decisions.
CISSPCCISOvCISO25+ Years Experience


View Ali Hassani’s profile for professional background, certifications, and consulting focus.
Request a professional review from OC Security Audit
Use the self-score as a starting point. For audit-ready evidence, executive reporting, and professional validation, schedule a focused review with OC Security Audit.