Without this additional layer of protection, threat actors can masquerade as real users and gain unwarranted access. Most organizations rely on directory services such as Active Directory (AD) to authorize account access verifying a username and password combination. The problem is that attackers can steal and misuse these credentials for malicious purposes, and it becomes very challenging for the organization to know. With a valid credential, the attacker gains access to everything that AD authorizes the legitimate user. If attackers steal credentials that have higher privileges to the network’s resources, they can use these to escalate their attack and cause more material damage.

To protect against credential-based attacks, organizations have implemented solutions, such as Multifactor Authentication or Privileged Access Management, that seek to curtail unauthorized access. However, these solutions still have gaps that an organization can close with Attivo Networks technology. Learn more in this whitepaper.