Business password manager integrated with Active Directory: benefits and complications
Integrating a password manager with Active Directory (AD) can bring many benefits to an organisation, particularly in terms of streamlining user management, increasing security and improving efficiency.
Microsoft's Active Directory (as an on-premises directory service) has been around since 2000 and is well suited to large enterprise environments and a reliable solution for secure internal single sign-on (SSO). Today, however, Active Directory (AD) is often used as an umbrella term for directory-based identity services.
Regardless of how you use the term, a password manager integrated with AD is a great asset to an organisation in many ways, as we'll discuss below.
But first, we should mention Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Microsoft Azure Active Directory or Azure AD), which is a cloud-based identity and access management service. Don't let the "AD" part of its former name mislead you, Entra ID is not a directory service, but can also provide a robust SSO service in an organisation.
However, it's worth noting that our password manager PassSecurium™ integrates with both classic AD and Entra ID.
This brings us to the main topic of this article: the benefits and complications of integrating a password manager with AD.
Here are some key points on how this integration can be beneficial:
1. Centralised User Management
Active Directory is the central hub for managing user credentials and access rights across an organisation. An AD-integrated password manager also becomes a visible part of the centrally managed system.
This way, you also don't have to worry about the extra labour costs of onboarding and offboarding users when the password manager is integrated with your AD.
2. Enhanced Security
Having an embedded password manager in the corporate IT system, an organisation reduces the risk of employees using shadow IT or other insecure methods of password management.
Through AD, the administrator can configure authentication and access policies that will also be applied to the integrated password manager.
3. Improved User Experience
A single set of access data to corporate services and applications reduces password fatigue and improves usability.
4. Audit and Compliance
Integration enables detailed access and activity logs and, together with robust security policies, helps to comply with regulatory requirements.
By enforcing consistent policies, organisations can better comply with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, FADP and others.
5. Scalability and Flexibility
Centralised user management helps an organisation scale without significantly increasing administrative overhead.
Granular user access control via AD allows an administrator to set role, department and user-specific permissions.
6. Cost Efficiency
Integrating an additional tool (such as a password manager) into an existing infrastructure (such as AD) extends functionality and allows you to optimise maintenance costs.
The same benefits apply to a use case where a password manager is integrated with an access and identity management service (e.g. Microsoft Entra ID).
However, while there are many benefits to integrating a password manager with Active Directory (AD), there are also potential complications and challenges that organisations should consider. Here are some of the key complications that can arise:
1. Complex Implementation
The integration process can be technically challenging, especially for organisations using custom or legacy AD environments.
As the integration process is often unique to each case, it is difficult to predict what vulnerabilities or difficulties may arise.
When integrating our password manager PassSecurium™, we provide full setup assistance.
2. Dependency and Single Point of Failure
If AD experiences downtime or problems, all connected systems can be affected.
If single sign-on through AD is not well protected, a hacker only needs to obtain one set of credentials to gain access to all system services and applications.
3. Maintenance
If your AD is over-customised, there is a risk of technical debt when updating the software.
We develop our password manager with modern technical requirements in mind, but if you experience any problems, our responsive technical support and development team will help you solve the problem.
4. Security Concerns
Integrating two complex systems can create vulnerabilities that can lead to unauthorised access. That's why we offer our expertise and assistance in setting up the integration.
In systems with centralised access management, a malicious insider or compromised administrator account poses an increased risk.
5. Compliance issues
Misconfiguring the logging and monitoring of all relevant activity can complicate security and compliance audits or distort data.
6. User Experience
According to statistics, around 30% of internet users are required to use a password manager at work. For many users, this can be an unfamiliar and incomprehensible piece of software, which can lead to user resistance.
Training can also take time and other resources, although we provide clear and comprehensive user manuals for the PassSecurium™ password manager.
7. Costs
Complex customisation and development may incur additional costs.
In the event of a fault, support and troubleshooting may also be an additional cost.
Conclusion
While integrating a password manager with Active Directory or Entra ID can streamline operations and enhance security, it requires careful planning, robust security practices, and ongoing maintenance to mitigate potential risks and complications. Organisations should weigh these factors against the benefits to determine if this solution is in line with their IT strategy and risk management framework.
Our company always puts the customer's needs first, so we are always open to communication. If you have any questions regarding the integration of PassSecurim™ with AD or Entra ID, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Directory
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/business/identity-access/microsoft-entra-id
