Shields up: Stopping identity attacks before they start
Identity-based attacks are escalating at an alarming rate. Yet, many organizations still rely on passive alerts that provide no real defense, leaving them vulnerable to threats that move too fast for manual intervention.
Traditional security measures struggle to keep up, forcing IT teams to sift through an overload of alerts while attackers move undetected. According to IBM, the average time to contain a breach in 2024 was 64 days, a delay that significantly increases financial and operational risks.
Organizations can’t afford to rely solely on detection. They need real-time response capabilities — solutions that actively disrupt attacks, prevent lateral movement, and stop attackers before they escalate control. That’s where the Quest Security Guardian Shields Up capability comes in.
Powered by Azure AI and Deep Machine Learning (ML), and seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Security Copilot, Security Guardian enhances identity threat detection and response (ITDR) and hybrid Active Directory security posture. Built on the Quest unified identity cloud platform, Security Guardian empowers security teams to surface vulnerabilities, protect critical Tier 0 objects, and stay ahead of threats by continuously monitoring for anomalous activity.
A temporary lockdown to disrupt active threats
Attackers frequently exploit legitimate administrative processes — such as Group Policy Object (GPO) changes, privileged account modifications, and access control adjustments — to establish persistence and move laterally within an environment.
The challenge? Many of these same actions are also necessary for normal IT operations, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate administrative changes and malicious activity.
Shields Up capabilities within Security Guardian address this problem by temporarily freezing all changes to powerful Tier 0 objects when a , IT teams can instantly lock down identity configurations, stopping adversaries from modifying critical security settings, hijacking privileged accounts, or spreading across the environment.
But Shields Up isn’t designed to be always on. Locking down Active Directory indefinitely would disrupt normal operations. Instead, it serves as a tactical response tool — activated only when an organization is under attack or facing an imminent security risk.
Once the emergency is resolved, Shields Up can be simply and easily deactivated, restoring normal administrative control without requiring complex permission changes or manual reconfigurations.
Why this can’t be done natively
Some IT teams assume they can achieve the same effect using PowerShell scripts or built-in Active Directory controls — but that’s not the case. Shields Up introduces a security layer that simply doesn’t exist in native AD or Entra ID tools.
- It is impossible to protect privileged objects from privileged users – full stop.
- It’s not just a script – PowerShell-based workarounds lack the ability to enforce a true, immediate lockdown at the identity level.
- It doesn’t modify AD permissions – Unlike traditional lockdown methods that require restructuring permissions, Shields Up acts as an overlay, making it easy and safe to apply and remove.
- It prevents real-time exploitation – Attackers rely on stealth and speed. By freezing critical identity controls, Shields Up cuts them off before they can escalate privileges or persist in the environment.
The future of identity security: From alerts to action
The cybersecurity landscape is evolving. Static defenses and alert-based security models aren’t enough to protect against identity-based attacks. Organizations need automated, real-time response mechanisms that stop threats as they happen — not after damage is done.
The Security Guardian Shields Up capability represents a critical shift in ITDR strategy, giving IT teams a powerful, on-demand defense mechanism that disrupts attackers from manipulating the very identity systems businesses rely on to operate.
When an identity attack is in progress, response time is critical. Organizations can’t afford to sift through alerts while attackers move laterally and escalate privileges. The Shields Up capabilities within Quest Security Guardian deliver immediate action, locking down key identity controls to contain threats before they spread. By integrating real-time response into ITDR, Quest is helping organizations move beyond passive detection and into active defense, ensuring their most critical assets remain secure.
Security Guardian is built on the Quest unified identity cloud platform, which has migrated 100 petabytes of data to date, backed up over 37 billion Entra ID objects over a 12-month period, and helped customers reduce their identity attack surface by over 99%. The Quest unified identity cloud platform is ISO/IEC 27001, 27017 and 27018 certified and is backed by an award-winning, global support team ready to help 24/7/365. Quest simplifies identity security by equipping operators with better tools and resources, improving effectiveness while reducing the need for extensive training.
To learn more about Security Guardian Shields Up Defense, visit Quest Software.