“Active Directory sprawl starts with small oversights - weak controls, over-provisioned accounts, or unchecked growth. Once those practices become standard, it’s difficult to untangle them. The result is a system where managing permissions becomes increasingly opaque and risky” - Sean Metcalf
Active Directory (AD) is the backbone of identity and access management for organizations, but it’s not without its challenges. Last week, Clarity teamed up with Trimarc’s founder, Sean Metcalf, a world-renowned Active Directory expert, and Clarity CRO James Davison, for a leadership webinar:
The session offered practical insights into why AD sprawl happens, how it introduces risk, and the best ways to regain control over complex environments.
How AD Sprawl Starts—and Why It’s Riskier Than You ThinkAD sprawl doesn’t happen overnight. It creeps in quietly through:
- Acquisitions that bring legacy accounts and permissions.
- Federated access that hides complexity.
- Weak initial controls that allow unchecked growth.
Over time, sprawl becomes a lasting problem, making it harder to manage permissions, monitor access paths, and keep systems secure. As Sean Metcalf highlighted, “Unmonitored downstream permissions and nested access often create vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.”
The Impact of AD Sprawl
What’s the real cost of sprawl? Sean and James outlined the key risks:
- Increased costs and operational headaches.
- Security vulnerabilities caused by nested entitlements.
- Lack of visibility into indirect access paths, leaving organizations blind to potential threats.
Ignoring sprawl isn’t an option for fast-growing organizations, it’s a recipe for unnecessary risk.
Best Practices to Tame AD Sprawl
- Regular Access Reviews: Continuously monitor and eliminate redundant or risky permissions.
- Ownership of Privileged Accounts: Ensure that critical accounts have clear and dedicated ownership.
- Limit Excessive Entitlements: Define and enforce permission thresholds to reduce unnecessary complexity.
- Strengthen Security Controls: Disable outdated protocols, enhance authentication methods, and evaluate AD trusts to minimize risk.
Miss the Webinar? Watch Now.
If AD sprawl is keeping you up at night, or if you’re looking for proven strategies to simplify your AD environment, then this session is a must-watch. Sean Metcalf’s expertise, combined with Clarity’s IGA solutions, makes for an invaluable discussion.
You can watch the full webinar recording here: Unpacking AD Sprawl: Leadership Webinar.
Take back control of your AD environment, before it controls you.
