Active Directory (AD) Tripwires
Decoys that Blend In. Alerts that Stand Out.
Close the identity detection gap
Active Directory (AD) is one of the most targeted systems in every environment. Attackers scrape accounts and use legitimate processes to steal and crack passwords, enabling them to escalate privileges and move undetected. The tripwires are real AD accounts configured as decoys — accounts that blend in seamlessly with production identities but are never used in business operations.
Any attempt to access or use them is proof of malicious activity, giving defenders a high-fidelity signal the moment adversaries try to weaponize identity.
Designed by attackers to catch attackers
NodeZero AD Tripwires are designed to be irresistible to real attackers. They seem susceptible to common techniques – kerberoasting, AS-REP roasting, metadata scraping – that would let attackers stay undetected via log-based monitoring tools. When triggered, they expose stealthy privilege escalation attempts that otherwise look just like legitimate activity.
How AD Tripwires work
Planted where attackers escalate
Tripwires are embedded directly into your Active Directory, hiding in your production systems.
Trigger on credential abuse
From Kerberos ticket harvesting to credential cracking, the tripwires respond only to real identity attacks — not background noise.
Deliver context that defenders need
Each alert shows the attempted attack and reveals the adversary’s technique and intention, helping guide investigations.
Why AD Tripwires matter
Stop lateral movement early
Detect privilege escalation attempts at the identity layer before attackers reach domain admin.
Expose hidden escalation attempts
Catch identity attacks that bypass traditional monitoring, such as Kerberoasting or account scraping for credential theft.
Reduce dwell time
Surface AD threats as they happen, cutting attacker persistence from weeks to minutes.
Prove your defenses are working
Validate that your SOC can detect and respond to real AD exploitation attempts.
Protect business operations
Prevent identity-driven compromise from escalating into ransomware, data theft, or costly downtime.
What defenders can now demonstrate
We’re monitoring the crown jewels
AD Tripwires protect the identities and privileges attackers target most.
We’re validating identity defenses in production
Tripwires show which AD escalation attempts are detected — and which are not.
We’re reducing risk tied to identity compromise
By catching exploitation of AD in real time, we stop attacks before they spread.