Top 5 Active Directory Reports You Can Build with AD FastReporter

Top 5 Active Directory Reports You Can Build with AD FastReporter

Maintaining a clean and secure Active Directory (AD) environment is a constant challenge for IT administrators. Outdated accounts, insecure passwords, and unmanaged groups pose significant security risks and drain network resources.

AD FastReporter simplifies compliance and security audits by allowing you to generate comprehensive reports without writing complex PowerShell scripts. Here are the top five Active Directory reports you can build with AD FastReporter to optimize your infrastructure. 1. Inactive User Accounts Report Why It Matters

Users who leave an organization or switch roles often leave behind enabled accounts. These orphaned accounts are prime targets for attackers looking for an unmonitored entry point into your network. How to Build It in AD FastReporter Select the User category from the reporting wizard. Choose the Inactive Users built-in form.

Define your inactivity threshold (e.g., 90 days since the last logon).

Add fields for Display Name, sAMAccountName, and Last Logon Date.

Run the report to identify accounts that should be disabled or deleted. 2. Expired and Soon-to-Expire Passwords Why It Matters

Password expiration policies ensure that users change their credentials regularly. Identifying users with expired passwords—or those whose passwords are about to expire—helps helpdesk teams proactively prevent lockout tickets. How to Build It in AD FastReporter Launch the reporting wizard and select User.

Filter by the Password Expired status or use the date filters for Password Expiry Date.

Set the date range to look for passwords expiring within the next 7 days.

Include contact fields like Email Address and Department to easily notify affected users. 3. Empty Active Directory Groups Why It Matters

Over time, nesting changes and project conclusions leave behind empty security and distribution groups. These clutter your directory, complicate administration, and can obscure your actual security posture. How to Build It in AD FastReporter Select the Group category in the report builder. Choose the filter condition where Member Count equals zero.

Include fields such as Group Name, Group Type (Security or Distribution), and Description.

Use this output during your monthly maintenance windows to safely decommission unused groups. 4. Recently Created or Modified Computer Objects Why It Matters

Tracking newly joined machines helps administrators ensure that all devices on the network are authorized, properly imaged, and compliant with corporate policies. Unexpected new computer objects can indicate rogue devices on your network. How to Build It in AD FastReporter Choose the Computer category from the main menu.

Apply a filter on the When Created attribute (e.g., within the last 30 days).

Include critical fields like Computer Name, Operating System, and OS Version.

Export this report to verify that every new machine aligns with your inventory management system. 5. User Accounts with “Password Never Expires” Set Why It Matters

Accounts configured so that passwords never expire bypass standard rotation security policies. While often necessary for service accounts, this setting should rarely be applied to standard user accounts due to the risk of credential theft. How to Build It in AD FastReporter Navigate to the User reporting section.

Filter the results by enabling the flag for Password Never Expires.

Add a secondary filter to isolate standard user accounts from service accounts (e.g., by filtering specific Organizational Units).

Review this list regularly to enforce password rotation or transition service accounts to Managed Service Accounts (MSAs). Automating Your Reports

AD FastReporter allows you to schedule these vital reports to run automatically. You can configure the built-in scheduler to email the generated spreadsheets directly to your inbox or save them to a secure network share, ensuring your compliance data is always up to date without manual intervention.

To help you get the most out of your reporting setup, let me know:

Do you need to focus on specific compliance regulations (like HIPAA, GDPR, or PCI-DSS)?