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Microsoft has retired the Enhanced Security Admin Environment (ESAE), also known as the Red Forest or Admin Forest model, after 25 years of Active Directory (AD) dominance. The new recommendation shifts toward a cloud-integrated approach using Azure Arc and Modern Server Management.
Updated Microsoft Recommendations
- Microsoft’s new AD design guide: Active Directory Updated Design
- Andreas Hartig’s blog on modern security with Azure Arc: Modern Security Design
You Should Know: Key Commands & Configurations
1. Azure Arc Integration for Hybrid AD Management
To onboard on-prem servers to Azure Arc:
Download and install the Azure Connected Machine agent Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://aka.ms/azcmagent-windows" -OutFile "$env:TEMP\AzureConnectedMachineAgent.msi" Start-Process -FilePath "msiexec.exe" -Args "/i $env:TEMP\AzureConnectedMachineAgent.msi /quiet" -Wait Connect to Azure Arc azcmagent connect --resource-group "YourRG" --tenant-id "YourTenantID" --location "eastus" --subscription-id "YourSubID"
- Securing AD with Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Enable Just-In-Time (JIT) access for admin roles:
Enable PIM for a security group Register-AzureADMSPrivilegedRoleAssignmentScheduleRequest -ProviderId aadRoles -RoleDefinitionId "your-role-id" -SubjectId "user-or-group-id" -Type "eligible"
3. Modern Group Policy Alternatives
Use Azure Policy and Intune for cloud-based policy enforcement:
Assign an Azure Policy New-AzPolicyAssignment -Name "RequireDiskEncryption" -PolicyDefinition (Get-AzPolicyDefinition -Id "/providers/Microsoft.Authorization/policyDefinitions/your-policy-id") -Scope "/subscriptions/YourSubID"
4. Monitoring AD with Azure Sentinel
Hunt for suspicious logins:
SecurityEvent | where EventID == 4625 | where AccountType == "User" | summarize FailedAttempts = count() by Account | where FailedAttempts > 5
5. Hardening AD FS & Kerberos
Disable weak encryption:
Set-ADFSProperties -EncryptionLevel "High" Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\Kerberos\Parameters" -Name "SupportedEncryptionTypes" -Value 0x7FFFFFFF
What Undercode Say
The shift from ESAE to cloud-native security reflects Microsoft’s push toward hybrid identity and zero-trust. However, organizations must balance cloud adoption with on-prem hardening:
- For Linux: Use `sssd` for AD integration:
sudo apt install sssd-ad sudo realm join -U admin domain.com
- For Windows: Enforce LAPS (Local Admin Password Solution):
Install-Module LAPS Set-AdmPwdPassword -ComputerName "Server01"
- For Incident Response: Log critical events via
auditpol:auditpol /set /subcategory:"Logon" /success:enable /failure:enable
The debate continues: Is cloud-centric security truly superior, or is Microsoft sunsetting proven models too soon?
Expected Output:
- Microsoft’s AD Design Update: https://lnkd.in/eDQ_Wgjj
- Azure Arc & Modern Security: https://lnkd.in/ezUV-PSN
References:
Reported By: Andreas Hartig – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
