configuring-active-directory-tiered-model

name	configuring-active-directory-tiered-model
description	Implement Microsoft's Enhanced Security Admin Environment (ESAE) tiered administration model for Active Directory, covering Tier 0/1/2 separation, privileged access workstations (PAWs), administrative forest design, and authentication policy silos. Use when designing or hardening AD privileged-access architecture, segmenting Domain/Enterprise Admin accounts into tiers, or containing lateral movement and credential theft (pass-the-hash, Kerberoasting, golden tickets).
domain	cybersecurity
subdomain	identity-access-management
tags	["iam","identity","access-control","active-directory","tiered-model","paw","esae"]
version	1.0
author	mahipal
license	Apache-2.0
nist_csf	["PR.AA-01","PR.AA-02","PR.AA-05","PR.AA-06"]
mitre_attack	["T1078.002","T1550.002","T1550.003","T1003.001","T1021"]

Configuring Active Directory Tiered Model

Overview

Implement Microsoft's Enhanced Security Admin Environment (ESAE) tiered administration model for Active Directory. Covers Tier 0/1/2 separation, privileged access workstations (PAWs), administrative forest design, authentication policy silos, and credential theft mitigation.

When to Use

• When deploying or configuring configuring active directory tiered model capabilities in your environment
• When establishing security controls aligned to compliance requirements
• When building or improving security architecture for this domain
• When conducting security assessments that require this implementation

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with identity access management concepts and tools
• Access to a test or lab environment for safe execution
• Python 3.8+ with required dependencies installed
• Appropriate authorization for any testing activities

Objectives

• Implement comprehensive configuring active directory tiered model capability
• Establish automated discovery and monitoring processes
• Integrate with enterprise IAM and security tools
• Generate compliance-ready documentation and reports
• Align with NIST 800-53 access control requirements

Security Controls

Control	NIST 800-53	Description
Account Management	AC-2	Lifecycle management
Access Enforcement	AC-3	Policy-based access control
Least Privilege	AC-6	Minimum necessary permissions
Audit Logging	AU-3	Authentication and access events
Identification	IA-2	User and service identification

Verification

• Implementation tested in non-production environment
• Security policies configured and enforced
• Audit logging enabled and forwarding to SIEM
• Documentation and runbooks complete
• Compliance evidence generated