Active Directory Was Created For Your Company DCH Corporatio

Active Directory Was Created For Your Company Dch Corporation When T

Active Directory was created for your company, DCH Corporation, when the organization was very small. One organizational unit (OU) was created for users and one for computers. Now, the organization spans four geographic sites around the world, with over 2,000 employees. At each site, one or two members of desktop support personnel provide help to users with desktop applications and are responsible for installing systems and joining them to the domain. In addition, a small team at headquarters occasionally installs systems, joins them to the domain, and ships them to the site. If a user has forgotten their password, a centralized help desk telephone number is directed to one of the support personnel members on call, regardless of which site the user is located. Answer the following questions for your manager, who is concerned about manageability and least privilege (or principle of minimal privilege), and explain how delegation would be managed: Should computer objects remain in a single OU, or should the objects be divided by site? If divided, should the site OUs be under a single parent OU? Why? Should the ability to manage computer objects in sites be delegated directly to the user accounts of the desktop support personnel, or should groups be created, even though those groups might have only one or two members? How would this be accomplished? Should users be divided by site or remain within a single OU? Detail why you are making this recommendation. What other recommendations could be implemented for these OUs? What security aspects must be considered when implementing this OU strategy?

Paper For Above instruction

The evolution of organizational structures and technological management practices necessitates a reevaluation of Active Directory (AD) OU design, particularly for expanding organizations like DCH Corporation. Proper structuring of OUs is imperative to enhance manageability, uphold the principle of least privilege, and ensure secure delegation of administrative permissions. This paper discusses the optimal organization of computer objects, user accounts, and delegation strategies within AD, considering DCH’s geographic and operational context.

Organization of Computer Objects: Single OU vs. Site-based OUs

Initially, DCH’s AD likely contained a single OU for all computer objects; however, as the company expanded across four geographically dispersed sites, this setup may have become less manageable. Keeping all computer objects in a single OU can hinder delegated management and pose security challenges. A more effective approach involves dividing computer objects into site-specific OUs under a common parent OU, such as "Sites."

Dividing computer objects by site offers several advantages. It facilitates delegated administration, enabling site-specific support personnel to manage only the computers within their respective locations. It simplifies application of site-specific policies, reduces accidental changes affecting other sites, and improves scalability. Organizing site OUs under a parent OU ensures logical grouping, enabling centralized policy application while maintaining isolated control per site.

Delegation of Management Rights to Support Personnel

For managing computer objects, delegation should be implemented precisely. Assignments should be made via security groups that include only the support personnel members at each site, rather than directly to individual user accounts. Creating site-specific groups, such as "Helpdesk_Site1," "Helpdesk_Site2," etc., allows clear, manageable delegation.

Delegating rights directly to user accounts can become unmanageable and pose security risks due to lack of oversight. Use of groups aligns with the principle of least privilege, as it allows delegating specific permissions to groups rather than individuals, streamlining management and reducing administrative errors.

The delegation process can be accomplished through the Delegation of Control Wizard in Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC). This wizard permits designated administrators to delegate specific tasks, such as "Reset Passwords" or "Manage Computer Objects," to the designated groups within each site-specific OU.

User Account Organization: Single OU vs. Site-based OU

Regarding user accounts, dividing users by site is advantageous. A single OU for all users becomes increasingly difficult to manage as the organization grows and policies become more granular. Creating site-specific OUs, such as "Users_Site1," "Users_Site2," etc., allows tailored Group Policy Objects (GPOs), improving policy enforcement, auditability, and fault isolation.

This segregation supports administrative delegation, enabling site managers or support personnel to manage user accounts or settings related exclusively to their site, which bolsters security by limiting unnecessary access. Centralized management might be preferable at headquarters for global policies, but local management at sites optimizes responsiveness and security.

Additional Recommendations for OU Management and Security Considerations

Other recommendations include implementing strict GPOs tied to each OU to enforce security policies such as password complexity, account lockout policies, and software deployment. Separate OUs help prevent accidental policy misapplication and facilitate auditing.

Security aspects must be prioritized during OU implementation. Delegation should follow the principle of least privilege, limiting permissions only to necessary objects and actions. Use security groups consistently, and implement regular reviews of delegated permissions. Encrypt communication channels and audit all administrative actions to detect unauthorized access.

Moreover, consider implementing Read-Only Delegation for elements requiring auditing but not management, and employ Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to further segment administrative responsibilities. Regularly reviewing and refining OU structure and delegation policies ensure ongoing security and manageability.

Conclusion

Executing an OU structure that divides computer and user objects by site, with delegation managed through security groups and GPOs, aligns with best practices. It enhances manageability, supports least privilege principles, and improves security posture. Correct implementation ensures that support personnel operate within their scope, minimizes risks associated with over-privileged accounts, and provides a scalable, secure foundation for ongoing organizational growth.

References

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  • Microsoft Docs. (2023). Active Directory delegation of control. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/delegating-administration
  • Budd, T. (2021). Security Strategies in Windows six edition. Pearson Education.
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  • MSDN. (2023). Active Directory Organizational Units. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/get-started/active-directory-objects
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  • Microsoft Tech Community. (2022). Best practices for OU design and delegation. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com

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