Making Honeypots Useful Again: Identity Security, Deception, and the Art of Detection | A Conversation with Sean Metcalf | Redefining CyberSecurity with Sean Martin

Jul 30, 2025

Sean Metcalf, an Identity Security Architect at TrustedSec and a seasoned speaker at major cybersecurity conferences, dives deep into the innovative use of honeypots in identity security. He explains how these deceptive tools can trap intruders while enhancing detection in Microsoft environments. Metcalf shares practical strategies for using old service accounts as bait and discusses the critical role of naming conventions in creating convincing honeypots. His insights highlight the balance between detection accuracy and the need for robust security measures.

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INSIGHT

Inside The Network The Odds Flip

Once attackers are inside they must avoid mistakes because defenders only need one detection.
Plant tripwires so attacker missteps become high-fidelity alerts for defenders.

ADVICE

Repurpose Old Service Accounts As Bait

Repurpose long-lived service accounts as honeypots rather than creating obvious new accounts.
Give them believable SPNs so Kerberoasting attempts expose attacker activity.

ADVICE

Blend Honeypots Into Naming Patterns

Make honeypot accounts mimic your org's naming conventions and small quirks to blend in.
Avoid template-looking or brand-new artifacts that attackers can instantly spot.

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⬥GUEST⬥

Sean Metcalf, Identity Security Architect at TrustedSec | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanmmetcalf/

⬥HOST⬥

Host: Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imsmartin/ | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com

⬥EPISODE NOTES⬥

Sean Metcalf, a frequent speaker at conferences like Black Hat, DEF CON, and RSAC, brings a sharp focus to identity security—especially within Microsoft environments like Active Directory and Entra ID. In this episode, he walks through the practical and tactical role of honeypots and deception in detecting intrusions early and with higher fidelity.

While traditional detection tools often aim for broad coverage, honeypots flip the script by offering precise signal amidst the noise. Metcalf discusses how defenders can take advantage of the attacker’s need to enumerate systems and accounts after gaining access. That need becomes an opportunity to embed traps—accounts or assets that should never be touched unless someone is doing something suspicious.

One core recommendation: repurpose old service accounts with long-lived passwords and believable naming conventions. These make excellent bait for Kerberoasting attempts, especially when paired with service principal names (SPNs) that mimic actual applications. Metcalf outlines how even subtle design choices—like naming conventions that fit organizational patterns—can make a honeypot more convincing and effective.

He also draws a distinction between honeypots and deception technologies. While honeypots often consist of a few well-placed traps, deception platforms offer full-scale phantom environments. Regardless of approach, the goal remains the same: attackers shouldn’t be able to move around your environment without tripping over something that alerts the defender.

Importantly, Metcalf emphasizes that alerts triggered by honeypots are high-value. Since no legitimate user should interact with them, they provide early warning with low false positives. He also addresses the internal politics of deploying these traps, from coordinating with IT operations to ensuring SOC teams have the right procedures in place to respond effectively.

Whether you’re running a high-end deception platform or just deploying free tokens and traps, the message is clear: identity is the new perimeter, and a few strategic tripwires could mean the difference between breach detection and breach denial.

⬥SPONSORS⬥

LevelBlue: https://itspm.ag/attcybersecurity-3jdk3

ThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974

⬥RESOURCES⬥

Inspiring Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7353806074694541313-xzQl/

Article: The Art of the Honeypot Account: Making the Unusual Look Normal: https://www.hub.trimarcsecurity.com/post/the-art-of-the-honeypot-account-making-the-unusual-look-normal

Article: Trimarc Research: Detecting Kerberoasting Activity: https://www.hub.trimarcsecurity.com/post/trimarc-research-detecting-kerberoasting-activity

Article: Detecting Password Spraying with Security Event Auditing: https://www.hub.trimarcsecurity.com/post/trimarc-research-detecting-password-spraying-with-security-event-auditing

⬥ADDITIONAL INFORMATION⬥

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