{ "api_version": "1", "kind": "dse_post", "self": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/api/v1/posts/use-monitored-identity-activities-to-scope-and-triage-threats/", "item": { "id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/use-monitored-identity-activities-to-scope-and-triage-threats/", "slug": "use-monitored-identity-activities-to-scope-and-triage-threats", "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/use-monitored-identity-activities-to-scope-and-triage-threats/", "alternate_urls": { "markdown": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/use-monitored-identity-activities-to-scope-and-triage-threats.md", "json": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/api/v1/posts/use-monitored-identity-activities-to-scope-and-triage-threats/" }, "title": "Use monitored identity activities to scope and triage potential threats", "summary": "Use Microsoft Defender for Identity monitored activities to review this narrow operational decision without extending the source beyond its stated scope.", "format": { "slug": "guide", "name": "Guide" }, "priority": { "slug": "advisory", "name": "Advisory" }, "featured": false, "image": { "theme": "identity-cloud", "label": "Identity & cloud", "alt": "Governed cloud identity system with connected service and lifecycle nodes.", "card_url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/assets/editorial/identity-cloud-card.webp?v=1.8.20", "hero_url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/assets/editorial/identity-cloud-hero.webp?v=1.8.20", "social_url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/assets/editorial/identity-cloud-social-v2.jpg?v=1.8.20", "width": 2400, "height": 1350 }, "topics": [ { "slug": "cybersecurity", "name": "Cybersecurity", "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/topic/cybersecurity/" }, { "slug": "it", "name": "IT", "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/topic/it/" }, { "slug": "microsoft-365-identity", "name": "Microsoft 365 & Identity", "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/topic/microsoft-365-identity/" } ], "author": { "name": "DSE Security Editorial Team", "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/#editorial-team", "type": "Organization" }, "publisher": { "name": "Detection Systems & Engineering", "url": "https://dsesecurity.com/" }, "published_at": "2026-08-27T12:12:57+00:00", "modified_at": "2026-08-27T13:04:09+00:00", "reviewed_on": "2026-08-26", "reading_minutes": 3, "word_count": 510, "potentially_affected": "Teams, systems, services, or facilities within the stated scope of Microsoft Defender for Identity monitored activities", "dse_recommendation": "Compare the observed state with the cited official source, document applicability and exceptions, and test any approved change with rollback safeguards.", "primary_source": { "name": "Microsoft Defender for Identity monitored activities", "url": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-for-identity/monitored-activities", "published_on": "2024-02-12", "authority": "Microsoft Learn" }, "publishing_principles": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/dse-updates-editorial-methodology/", "usage_info": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/usage/", "copyright_notice": "Copyright © 2026 Detection Systems & Engineering. All rights reserved.", "content_html": "

Use this document to connect an official requirement or behavior to observable evidence: Use monitored identity activities to scope and triage potential threats. Only the official source and traced locations below supply facts. Confirm applicability before acting.

\n

Source fact:

\n

The official Microsoft Defender for Identity monitored activities from Microsoft supports the following bounded statements:

\n\n

Only the traced statements above are asserted as source facts. Apply the review to identity detections, contributing events, entities, alert logic, tuning, exclusions, investigation, and response decisions after confirming that the source and deployed context match.

\n

What the source does not establish

\n

A monitored activity is context rather than proof of malicious intent, and the documented activity list is not a complete enterprise audit catalog. The citation is not a substitute for observed state, authorization, compliance evidence, or dependency health. Examine Active Directory, Windows DNS, sensor health, time, network visibility, cloud analytics, endpoint evidence, and security operations before translating the source into an operational decision.

\n

Applicability questions

\n\n

DSE recommendation:

\n

DSE recommends using the cited source as the evidence anchor for this decision. Begin by recording scope and current state before deciding whether a change is warranted. Record the source location, examined part of identity detections, contributing events, entities, alert logic, tuning, exclusions, investigation, and response decisions, observed and expected states, owner, and reason for deviation.

\n

For an approved change, define prerequisites, a limited test path, success and stop conditions, monitoring, and rollback. Check Active Directory, Windows DNS, sensor health, time, network visibility, cloud analytics, endpoint evidence, and security operations in design order. Protect credentials, keys, recovery material, personal data, and sensitive topology in evidence.

\n

Verification and evidence

\n

A reviewer should be able to retrace the decision from Opening overview; True-positive investigation paragraph through sanitized alerts, source events, entity timelines, tuning conditions, exclusion scope, analyst findings, and response outcomes. Record what was collected, where, when, by whom, and which system or role it represents.

\n

Close the review only when the evidence, exception handling, resulting action, and after-state are linked. Schedule a new review after material technical, organizational, incident, or source changes; today’s observation is not a continuing guarantee.

\n

Official references

\n", "content_text": "Use this document to connect an official requirement or behavior to observable evidence: Use monitored identity activities to scope and triage potential threats. Only the official source and traced locations below supply facts. Confirm applicability before acting.\nSource fact:\nThe official Microsoft Defender for Identity monitored activities from Microsoft supports the following bounded statements:\n\nDefender for Identity monitors information from Active Directory, network activities, and event activities to detect suspicious activity. The research record locates this support at Opening overview.\nFor a validated threat, the monitored information can help determine incident scope, involved entities, and remediation. The research record locates this support at True-positive investigation paragraph.\n\nOnly the traced statements above are asserted as source facts. Apply the review to identity detections, contributing events, entities, alert logic, tuning, exclusions, investigation, and response decisions after confirming that the source and deployed context match.\nWhat the source does not establish\nA monitored activity is context rather than proof of malicious intent, and the documented activity list is not a complete enterprise audit catalog. The citation is not a substitute for observed state, authorization, compliance evidence, or dependency health. Examine Active Directory, Windows DNS, sensor health, time, network visibility, cloud analytics, endpoint evidence, and security operations before translating the source into an operational decision.\nApplicability questions\n\nFor source statement 1 at Opening overview, which observable configuration, record, or test can confirm applicability here?\nFor source statement 2 at True-positive investigation paragraph, which observable configuration, record, or test can confirm applicability here?\nWhich deployed instance of identity detections, contributing events, entities, alert logic, tuning, exclusions, investigation, and response decisions will be compared with the source, and why that instance?\nHow will the review distinguish a source mismatch from a failure in Active Directory, Windows DNS, sensor health, time, network visibility, cloud analytics, endpoint evidence, and security operations?\nWho approves the conclusion, exception, test window, and rollback threshold?\n\nDSE recommendation:\nDSE recommends using the cited source as the evidence anchor for this decision. Begin by recording scope and current state before deciding whether a change is warranted. Record the source location, examined part of identity detections, contributing events, entities, alert logic, tuning, exclusions, investigation, and response decisions, observed and expected states, owner, and reason for deviation.\nFor an approved change, define prerequisites, a limited test path, success and stop conditions, monitoring, and rollback. Check Active Directory, Windows DNS, sensor health, time, network visibility, cloud analytics, endpoint evidence, and security operations in design order. Protect credentials, keys, recovery material, personal data, and sensitive topology in evidence.\nVerification and evidence\nA reviewer should be able to retrace the decision from Opening overview; True-positive investigation paragraph through sanitized alerts, source events, entity timelines, tuning conditions, exclusion scope, analyst findings, and response outcomes. Record what was collected, where, when, by whom, and which system or role it represents.\nClose the review only when the evidence, exception handling, resulting action, and after-state are linked. Schedule a new review after material technical, organizational, incident, or source changes; today’s observation is not a continuing guarantee.\nOfficial references\n\nMicrosoft Defender for Identity monitored activities — Microsoft", "content_markdown": "Use this document to connect an official requirement or behavior to observable evidence: Use monitored identity activities to scope and triage potential threats. Only the official source and traced locations below supply facts. Confirm applicability before acting.\n\n## Source fact:\n\nThe official [Microsoft Defender for Identity monitored activities](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-for-identity/monitored-activities) from Microsoft supports the following bounded statements:\n\n- Defender for Identity monitors information from Active Directory, network activities, and event activities to detect suspicious activity. The research record locates this support at Opening overview.\n\n- For a validated threat, the monitored information can help determine incident scope, involved entities, and remediation. The research record locates this support at True-positive investigation paragraph.\n\nOnly the traced statements above are asserted as source facts. Apply the review to identity detections, contributing events, entities, alert logic, tuning, exclusions, investigation, and response decisions after confirming that the source and deployed context match.\n\n## What the source does not establish\n\nA monitored activity is context rather than proof of malicious intent, and the documented activity list is not a complete enterprise audit catalog. The citation is not a substitute for observed state, authorization, compliance evidence, or dependency health. Examine Active Directory, Windows DNS, sensor health, time, network visibility, cloud analytics, endpoint evidence, and security operations before translating the source into an operational decision.\n\n## Applicability questions\n\n- For source statement 1 at Opening overview, which observable configuration, record, or test can confirm applicability here?\n\n- For source statement 2 at True-positive investigation paragraph, which observable configuration, record, or test can confirm applicability here?\n\n- Which deployed instance of identity detections, contributing events, entities, alert logic, tuning, exclusions, investigation, and response decisions will be compared with the source, and why that instance?\n\n- How will the review distinguish a source mismatch from a failure in Active Directory, Windows DNS, sensor health, time, network visibility, cloud analytics, endpoint evidence, and security operations?\n\n- Who approves the conclusion, exception, test window, and rollback threshold?\n\n## DSE recommendation:\n\nDSE recommends using the cited source as the evidence anchor for this decision. Begin by recording scope and current state before deciding whether a change is warranted. Record the source location, examined part of identity detections, contributing events, entities, alert logic, tuning, exclusions, investigation, and response decisions, observed and expected states, owner, and reason for deviation.\n\nFor an approved change, define prerequisites, a limited test path, success and stop conditions, monitoring, and rollback. Check Active Directory, Windows DNS, sensor health, time, network visibility, cloud analytics, endpoint evidence, and security operations in design order. Protect credentials, keys, recovery material, personal data, and sensitive topology in evidence.\n\n## Verification and evidence\n\nA reviewer should be able to retrace the decision from Opening overview; True-positive investigation paragraph through sanitized alerts, source events, entity timelines, tuning conditions, exclusion scope, analyst findings, and response outcomes. Record what was collected, where, when, by whom, and which system or role it represents.\n\nClose the review only when the evidence, exception handling, resulting action, and after-state are linked. Schedule a new review after material technical, organizational, incident, or source changes; today’s observation is not a continuing guarantee.\n\n## Official references\n\n- [Microsoft Defender for Identity monitored activities](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-for-identity/monitored-activities) — Microsoft" }, "json_ld": { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://dsesecurity.com/#organization", "name": "Detection Systems & Engineering", "alternateName": "DSE Security", "url": "https://dsesecurity.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/assets/dse-logo-20260812.png?v=1.8.20" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/#editorial-team", "name": "DSE Security Editorial Team", "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/", "parentOrganization": { "@id": "https://dsesecurity.com/#organization" } }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/#website", "name": "DSE Updates", "alternateName": "DSE Security Knowledge Hub", "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/", "inLanguage": "en-US", "publisher": { "@id": "https://dsesecurity.com/#organization" }, "potentialAction": { "@type": "SearchAction", "target": { "@type": "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/?q={search_term_string}" }, "query-input": "required name=search_term_string" } }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/use-monitored-identity-activities-to-scope-and-triage-threats/", "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/use-monitored-identity-activities-to-scope-and-triage-threats/", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/#website" }, "lastReviewed": "2026-08-26" }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/use-monitored-identity-activities-to-scope-and-triage-threats/#breadcrumbs", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "DSE Updates", "item": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Use monitored identity activities to scope and triage potential threats", "item": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/use-monitored-identity-activities-to-scope-and-triage-threats/" } ] }, { "@type": [ "Article", "TechArticle" ], "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/use-monitored-identity-activities-to-scope-and-triage-threats/#article", "identifier": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/use-monitored-identity-activities-to-scope-and-triage-threats/", "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/use-monitored-identity-activities-to-scope-and-triage-threats/", "headline": "Use monitored identity activities to scope and triage potential threats", "description": "Use Microsoft Defender for Identity monitored activities to review this narrow operational decision without extending the source beyond its stated scope.", "abstract": "Use Microsoft Defender for Identity monitored activities to review this narrow operational decision without extending the source beyond its stated scope.", "articleBody": "Use this document to connect an official requirement or behavior to observable evidence: Use monitored identity activities to scope and triage potential threats. Only the official source and traced locations below supply facts. Confirm applicability before acting.\nSource fact:\nThe official Microsoft Defender for Identity monitored activities from Microsoft supports the following bounded statements:\n\nDefender for Identity monitors information from Active Directory, network activities, and event activities to detect suspicious activity. The research record locates this support at Opening overview.\nFor a validated threat, the monitored information can help determine incident scope, involved entities, and remediation. The research record locates this support at True-positive investigation paragraph.\n\nOnly the traced statements above are asserted as source facts. Apply the review to identity detections, contributing events, entities, alert logic, tuning, exclusions, investigation, and response decisions after confirming that the source and deployed context match.\nWhat the source does not establish\nA monitored activity is context rather than proof of malicious intent, and the documented activity list is not a complete enterprise audit catalog. The citation is not a substitute for observed state, authorization, compliance evidence, or dependency health. Examine Active Directory, Windows DNS, sensor health, time, network visibility, cloud analytics, endpoint evidence, and security operations before translating the source into an operational decision.\nApplicability questions\n\nFor source statement 1 at Opening overview, which observable configuration, record, or test can confirm applicability here?\nFor source statement 2 at True-positive investigation paragraph, which observable configuration, record, or test can confirm applicability here?\nWhich deployed instance of identity detections, contributing events, entities, alert logic, tuning, exclusions, investigation, and response decisions will be compared with the source, and why that instance?\nHow will the review distinguish a source mismatch from a failure in Active Directory, Windows DNS, sensor health, time, network visibility, cloud analytics, endpoint evidence, and security operations?\nWho approves the conclusion, exception, test window, and rollback threshold?\n\nDSE recommendation:\nDSE recommends using the cited source as the evidence anchor for this decision. Begin by recording scope and current state before deciding whether a change is warranted. Record the source location, examined part of identity detections, contributing events, entities, alert logic, tuning, exclusions, investigation, and response decisions, observed and expected states, owner, and reason for deviation.\nFor an approved change, define prerequisites, a limited test path, success and stop conditions, monitoring, and rollback. Check Active Directory, Windows DNS, sensor health, time, network visibility, cloud analytics, endpoint evidence, and security operations in design order. Protect credentials, keys, recovery material, personal data, and sensitive topology in evidence.\nVerification and evidence\nA reviewer should be able to retrace the decision from Opening overview; True-positive investigation paragraph through sanitized alerts, source events, entity timelines, tuning conditions, exclusion scope, analyst findings, and response outcomes. Record what was collected, where, when, by whom, and which system or role it represents.\nClose the review only when the evidence, exception handling, resulting action, and after-state are linked. Schedule a new review after material technical, organizational, incident, or source changes; today’s observation is not a continuing guarantee.\nOfficial references\n\nMicrosoft Defender for Identity monitored activities — Microsoft", "datePublished": "2026-08-27T12:12:57+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-08-27T13:04:09+00:00", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/use-monitored-identity-activities-to-scope-and-triage-threats/" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "isAccessibleForFree": true, "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "DSE Security Editorial Team", "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/#editorial-team" }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://dsesecurity.com/#organization" }, "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/use-monitored-identity-activities-to-scope-and-triage-threats/#primaryimage", "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/assets/editorial/identity-cloud-social-v2.jpg?v=1.8.20", "contentUrl": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/assets/editorial/identity-cloud-social-v2.jpg?v=1.8.20", "width": 1200, "height": 630, "caption": "Use monitored identity activities to scope and triage potential threats" }, "articleSection": [ "Cybersecurity", "IT", "Microsoft 365 & Identity" ], "keywords": [ "Cybersecurity", "IT", "Microsoft 365 & Identity", "Guide", "Advisory priority" ], "genre": "Guide", "about": [ { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cybersecurity", "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/topic/cybersecurity/" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "IT", "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/topic/it/" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Microsoft 365 & Identity", "url": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/topic/microsoft-365-identity/" } ], "wordCount": 510, "timeRequired": "PT3M", "publishingPrinciples": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/dse-updates-editorial-methodology/", "usageInfo": "https://update.dsesecurity.com/usage/", "copyrightHolder": { "@id": "https://dsesecurity.com/#organization" }, "copyrightNotice": "Copyright © 2026 Detection Systems & Engineering. All rights reserved.", "citation": { "@type": "CreativeWork", "name": "Microsoft Defender for Identity monitored activities", "url": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-for-identity/monitored-activities", "datePublished": "2024-02-12" } } ] } }