---
title: "Air Gap Security for Active Directory"
description: "Implement air gap security for Active Directory environments without adding complexity. Try UserLock for free today."
locale: "en"
updated_at: "2026-04-15T13:29:58.812Z"
canonical: "https://www.isdecisions.com/en/userlock/solutions/air-gap-security"
---

# Air gap security for Active Directory

_Use Case_

Bring modern access control to machines that have a logical or physical air gap from external networks. With UserLock, implement air gap security designed for on-premises Active Directory.

## Why it’s hard to control access to isolated systems

Air-gapped networks provide strong data protection by design. 

However, isolation is not enough to stop unauthorized access.

Common security gaps in air-gapped environments: 

- No multi-factor authentication (MFA) for offline logins
- No visibility into session history or anomalies
- No centralized access control enforcement
- Limited ability to audit access to critical systems

## How UserLock secures air-gapped systems

Implement strong authentication, access controls, and auditing in airgapped environments. UserLock’s agent-based software enforces identity and access policies locally, even in isolated networks without an internet connection.

UserLock sits at the Active Directory authentication layer via the Windows credential provider. Built for on-prem AD, UserLock lets you set access policies by AD user, group, and OU to support strict [cybersecurity compliance standards](/compliance/).

## Comprehensive air-gapped cyber security

### Enforce MFA in an air-gapped network

Secure access to air gapped environments with [Active Directory MFA](/userlock/features/multi-factor-authentication-mfa-active-directory) that doesn't depend on a connection to the outer Internet. Set different MFA policies for different AD users, groups, and OUs, and adjust frequency according to session type.

### Apply context-aware access controls

Enforce contextual logon requirements to limit user account access by location, time, device, and IP address. Limit concurrent logins and simultaneous sessions.

### Monitor and manage sessions

Track all access to your air-gapped environment. Capture session data like time, user, device, and session type. Set up alerts to detect threats and remotely respond from the console.

### Audit protected Windows access

Get accurate insights on all AD account access with tamper-proof, searchable audit logs.

### Report on air-gapped system access

Produce clear reports of who accessed what, when, and from where across physically isolated or logically air gapped systems. Support full compliance auditing and reporting with tamper-proof, exportable reports.

## Why security teams choose UserLock for air-gapped environments

#### Easy to use MFA at the sign-in screen

Add hardware or TOTP-based MFA at the credential provider level. Verify AD identities before a user session starts.

#### Context-aware access policies

Restrict logons by workstation, IP address, time of day, geolocation, or concurrent session count. Policies follow AD users, groups, and OUs, making setup easy and audits clean.

#### Built for legacy & locked-down environments

Bring modern controls to on-prem AD, terminal servers, and legacy apps.

#### Granular policies

Apply MFA differently by session type, and adjust how often you want to prompt users for each connection and session type.

#### Visibility and response

See who logs on, where, and how in real time. Block, log off, or disable an account with one click the moment a session looks risky.

#### Compliance-ready audit trail

Capture all access events in tamper-proof, searchable logs. Report on user session history, MFA events, admin actions, and more to satisfy cyber-insurance and regulatory requirements.