The Active Directory Event Detection Guide is a comprehensive resource developed to enhance the detection and monitoring of critical Active Directory (AD) events using Splunk. This guide is intended for cybersecurity professionals, system administrators, and incident responders aiming to boost visibility into AD activities and strengthen their organization's security posture.
- Simulate and Document AD Events
Conduct simulations of various AD events—including user account actions, group policy modifications, and privilege assignments—to observe log generation and categorization. - Analyze Event Logs
Capture logs for each event and identify key details, including event IDs and log sources, to map events to relevant Splunk categories. - Develop Splunk Use Cases for Detection
Create use cases in Splunk with custom detection rules, queries, and alerts to monitor each event type in real-time.
{% hint style="warning" %} Please keep a note that the documentation was prepared based on Win2008, Win2012R2, Win2016 and Win10+, Win2019 {% endhint %}
This guide leverages a combination of:
- Automation Tools: Using Caldera for selected simulations.
- Command Line: Executing PowerShell and Windows CLI commands for event generation.
- Graphical Interface: Performing manual operations through the Windows GUI where needed.
Each use case provides:
- Event Execution Steps: Detailed instructions for event simulation.
- Log Analysis: Identification of log categories and event IDs associated with each activity.
- Splunk Detection Guidelines: Configuration of queries, alerts, and thresholds within Splunk to support continuous monitoring.
Following this guide will empower anyone to:
- Enhance AD Visibility by detecting and analyzing key security events.
- Establish Proactive Monitoring with custom detection strategies.
- Strengthen Incident Response by promptly identifying and responding to critical AD changes.
By implementing these use cases, anyone can gain hands-on experience with AD monitoring, improve its overall security stance, and ensure adherence to best practices in AD event detection.