Endpoint & identity telemetry rollout
Onboarded Defender for Endpoint and Defender for Identity across on-prem and Azure domain controllers.
The goal
You cannot defend what you cannot see. The goal was to get full visibility of endpoints and identity activity in one place, so attacks could be detected and investigated quickly.
What I did
- Onboarded endpoints to Defender for Endpoint (MDE). Devices now report their security activity to Microsoft Defender.
- Deployed Defender for Identity (MDI) on the domain controllers, both on-premises and in Azure. Domain controllers see every sign-in, which makes them one of the most valuable sources of attack signals.
- Brought it together in Defender XDR, so endpoint and identity signals can be investigated side by side.
Outcome
Endpoints and domain controllers are reporting to Defender XDR.
What others can learn
- Identity signals catch what endpoint tools miss. Many attacks use valid accounts, and only the domain controllers see that activity clearly.
- Hybrid means both sides. If some domain controllers run in the cloud, they need the same coverage as the ones on-premises.
- Visibility comes before automation. Get the signals flowing first, then build alerts and responses on top.