Case Study: Reducing Risk Through Identity Governance and Privileged Access Control
Executive Summary
A growing organization onboarding with Secure Strategic Technologies operated with fragmented identities across on-premises Active Directory and Microsoft 365. User accounts were managed separately in each system, leading to duplication, inconsistent access controls, and unnecessary privileged exposure. There was no single source of truth for identities, limited visibility into administrative access, and inconsistent enforcement of security policies such as multi-factor authentication.
Cyber insurance requirements and broader risk concerns highlighted the importance of stronger governance. During the onboarding of managed services, SST created a structured identity governance model aligned with the Center for Internet Security (CIS) Critical Security Controls. Active Directory was established as the authoritative identity source, synchronized with Entra ID, and improved through Microsoft 365 hardening and ThreatLocker privileged access controls.
Within the first 2 to 4 weeks of engagement, the organization reduced privileged accounts, eliminated stale identities, enforced MFA for all users, and implemented measurable governance practices. Identity shifted from an operational liability to a controlled, auditable security foundation that lowered risk and boosted cyber insurance readiness.
Customer Overview
Customer Name: Confidential Organization
Industry: Confidential
Location: United States
Size: Fewer than 50 Employees
Challenge
The organization had grown without a formal identity governance strategy. Active Directory and Microsoft 365 identities were managed separately, leading to dual accounts, inconsistent access provisioning, and limited visibility into user permissions. Over time, this fragmentation increased complexity and risk.
There was no clear source of truth for identity. User onboarding and offboarding processes were informal, increasing the risk of orphaned accounts and excessive access. Administrative privileges were broader than necessary, and some shared or standing privileged accounts remained active. Multi-factor authentication was enabled but not enforced, and legacy authentication methods were still active in Microsoft 365.
Although security investments had been made, leadership lacked a clear way to measure identity risk or demonstrate alignment with recognized standards. Cyber insurance questionnaires increasingly emphasized MFA enforcement, least privilege, and removal of shared accounts. The organization needed a structured governance approach that reduced risk while supporting daily operations.
CIS Guided Identity Governance Approach
SST aligned their efforts with the CIS Critical Security Controls, beginning with identity as a key foundational safeguard. Instead of adding unnecessary new tools, SST emphasized standardization, visibility, and enforcement using existing platforms.
Initial efforts focused on establishing a single authoritative identity source by formalizing Active Directory as the system of record. SST reviewed identities across Active Directory and Entra ID, identifying accounts requiring cleanup or consolidation and standardizing naming conventions to support consistent identity governance in the future.
Synchronization between Active Directory and Entra ID was achieved using Azure AD Connect, removing dual identity management and maintaining consistent access control enforcement across environments.
Microsoft 365 was fortified in accordance with CIS benchmarks. Multi-factor authentication was implemented for all users. Legacy authentication protocols were turned off. Password policies were enhanced to align with CIS guidance. These updates greatly decreased common attack vectors.
Privileged access governance was strengthened by reducing the number of standing administrative accounts. Privileged roles were reviewed and reduced from about 10 accounts to 4, aligning with CIS benchmark guidance wherever possible. Shared accounts were eliminated, and local administrator rights on workstations were removed or heavily limited.
ThreatLocker was deployed to enforce application allowlisting, ringfencing, and controlled privilege elevation. Users can request elevated access for specific applications, which can be approved for defined durations or, when justified, permanently assigned. All privileged actions are logged, providing auditable evidence of governance in action.
Solution
SST shifted the organization from informal identity management to a structured governance model focused on least privilege and measurable controls. Active Directory became the primary identity platform, synchronized with Entra ID to ensure consistency across cloud services. Role-based groups were created to support long-term access management and reduce reliance on individual account customizations.
ThreatLocker enhanced security by managing which applications can run and limiting privilege elevation. This greatly reduced the attack surface for ransomware and abuse of administrative rights.
Account reviews are conducted monthly, with quarterly on-site governance reviews aligned to CIS Controls. CyberCheck scoring provides measurable visibility into cybersecurity posture, including MFA enforcement and identity-related safeguards.
Results
Following implementation, the organization saw measurable improvements in identity governance and risk reduction. Privileged accounts were significantly decreased, stale and duplicate identities were removed, and multi-factor authentication was fully enforced across Microsoft 365 while legacy authentication was eliminated. Administrative privileges were limited to reduce ransomware exposure and insider threats.
Audit readiness improved through documented governance reviews, privilege logging, and CyberCheck reporting aligned with CIS Controls, enabling the organization to deliver clearer and more defensible responses to cyber insurance requirements. Operationally, identity management became more efficient, consistent, and auditable, replacing reactive processes with a predictable governance framework.
How Secure Strategic Technologies Supports Similar Clients
Secure Strategic Technologies uses the CIS Critical Security Controls as the foundation for identity and security governance. During onboarding, SST prioritizes stabilizing identity by establishing a clear source of truth, eliminating fragmentation, and enforcing least privilege.
This identity-first approach offers immediate risk reduction while laying the foundation for future improvements, including the expansion of SaaS single sign-on, the deployment of conditional access policies, and the enforcement of device compliance.
By turning identity into a managed, measurable control, organizations enhance operational resilience, lower cyber risk, and better align with changing insurance and regulatory requirements.
