Lithnet Access Manager
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v3.0
v3.0
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  • Installation
    • Getting started
    • System Requirements
    • Downloads
    • Upgrading from Access Manager v1
    • Upgrading from Access Manager v2
      • Considerations for migrating from Access Manager v2
    • Installing the Access Manager Server
      • Creating a service account for the Access Manager Service
      • SQL installation options
      • Installing the Access Manager Service
      • High availability options
        • Load balancing Access Manager
    • Installing the Access Manager Agent
      • Enabling agent support on the AMS server
      • Installing the Access Manager Agent on Windows
      • Installing the Access Manager Agent on Linux
      • Installing the Access Manager Agent on macOS
  • Configuration
    • Setting up Authentication
      • Setting up authentication with ADFS
      • Setting up authentication with Microsoft Entra ID
      • Setting up authentication with Okta
      • Setting up smart card authentication
      • Setting up integrated windows authentication
    • Deploying Features
      • Setting up RapidLAPS
      • LAPS
        • Setting up Microsoft LAPS for Active Directory
        • Setting up Microsoft LAPS for Entra
        • Setting up Lithnet LAPS
      • Just-in-time Authentication (JIT)
        • Setting up JIT for computers
        • Setting up JIT for roles
      • Setting up BitLocker access
        • Setting up access to BitLocker keys stored in Active Directory
        • Setting up BitLocker recovery key backup and access using the Access Manager Agent
    • Importing authorization rules
      • Import Microsoft LAPS permissions from Active Directory
      • Importing BitLocker permissions from Active Directory
      • Importing local administrator group membership from domain-joined Windows devices
      • Import mappings from a CSV file
      • Performing an offline discovery of local admins
  • Help and support
    • Frequently asked Questions
    • Troubleshooting
    • Quick start guides
      • Getting started with Windows LAPS and Lithnet Access Manager
      • Getting started with Windows LAPS for Active Directory
      • Getting started with Windows LAPS for Microsoft Entra
      • Getting started with RapidLAPS
    • Product lifecycle
    • Choosing between the Lithnet and Microsoft agent for LAPS
    • Support Articles
      • KB000001: The Access Manager Agent cannot connect and logs a token-validation-failed error
      • KB000002: Users retain their admin rights after their JIT period expires
      • KB000003: Configuring the Access Manager Agent to manage an account other than 'root' on Linux
      • KB000004: Creating a log file to troubleshoot installation issues with the Access Manager Service
      • KB000005: Access Manager stops working after applying the November 2022 Windows update
      • KB000006: Migrating the Access Manager Database
      • KB000007: Adding JIT groups via Group Policy doesn't work with NTLM Disabled
      • KB000008: AMS is unable to JIT into privileged groups such as Domain Admins
      • KB000009: Access Manager may return an out-of-date LAPS password, or no password at all
      • KB000010: The Access Manager agents fail to register on macOS 15 (Sequoia)
      • KB000011: Users report delays in obtaining just-in-time access via AD
      • KB000012: Troubleshooting Windows authentication in the Access Manager Web App
      • KB000013: Access Manager cannot be installed on Windows Server 2016 with TLS 1.0 disabled
    • Advanced help topics
      • Creating an Entra app registration or Access Manager
      • Setting up agent policies
      • Managing word lists
      • Password history retention
      • Ports and traffic flows
      • Internet access requirements
      • Access evaluation in Access Manager Service (AMS)
      • Recovering from a lost encryption certificate
      • Script-based authorization
      • Customized auditing with PowerShell notification channels
      • Variables available in audit notification channels
      • Setting up audit templates
      • Backup and Restore
      • Event ID reference
      • Group policy configuration
    • PowerShell reference
      • Add-AmsDeviceRegistrationKeyGroup
      • Add-AmsGroupMember
      • Add-AmsIdpClaimMapping
      • Clear-AmsIdpClaimMapping
      • Export-AmsServerDiagnostics
      • Get-AmsActiveDirectoryJitOptions
      • Get-AmsActiveDirectoryJitGroupCreationRule
      • Get-AmsComputerAuthorizationRule
      • Get-AmsDevice
      • Get-AmsDeviceRegistrationKey
      • Get-AmsFveRecoveryKey
      • Get-AmsGroup
      • Get-AmsGroupMembers
      • Get-AmsHostConfig
      • Get-AmsIdpClaimMapping
      • Get-AmsJitSchedulerJob
      • Get-AmsLocalAdminPassword
      • Get-AmsLocalAdminPasswordHistory
      • Get-AmsRoleAuthorizationRule
      • Get-AmsServiceConfig
      • New-AmsActiveDirectoryJitGroupCreationRule
      • New-AmsComputerAuthorizationRule
      • New-AmsDeviceRegistrationKey
      • New-AmsGroup
      • New-AmsRoleAuthorizationRule
      • Remove-AmsActiveDirectoryJitGroupCreationRule
      • Remove-AmsComputerAuthorizationRule
      • Remove-AmsDevice
      • Remove-AmsDeviceRegistrationKey
      • Remove-AmsDeviceRegistrationKeyGroup
      • Remove-AmsGroup
      • Remove-AmsGroupMember
      • Remove-AmsJitSchedulerJob
      • Remove-AmsRoleAuthorizationRule
      • Set-AmsActiveDirectoryJitGroupCreationRule
      • Set-AmsActiveDirectoryJitOptions
      • Set-AmsComputerAuthorizationRule
      • Set-AmsDevice
      • Set-AmsDeviceRegistrationKey
      • Set-AmsGroup
      • Set-AmsHostConfig
      • Set-AmsRoleAuthorizationRule
      • Set-AmsServiceConfig
    • Application help pages
      • Host configuration page
      • App Configuration
        • AMS License configuration page
        • Authentication configuration page
        • Email configuration page
        • Rate limit configuration page
        • IP Address detection configuration page
        • User interface configuration page
        • Auditing page
        • Security page
        • Database configuration page
      • Access Manager Agent
        • Access Manager Agent - Agent registration page
        • Agent Policies
          • Access Manager Agent - Windows polices page
          • Access Manager Agent - macOS polices page
          • Access Manager Agent - Linux polices page
          • Access Manager Agent - Legacy AMSv2 policies page
        • Access Manager Agent - Password settings page
        • Access Manager Agent - Devices page
        • Access Manager Agent - Groups page
      • Directory Configuration
        • Active Directory configuration page
          • Microsoft LAPS configuration page
          • Lithnet LAPS configuration page (Active Directory)
          • Just-in-time access configuration page
          • BitLocker configuration page
        • Microsoft Entra configuration page
      • Authorization Rules
        • Computer authorization rules page
        • Role authorization rules page
      • Effective access page
    • Getting Support
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On this page
  • Backing up the AMS server
  • Backing up the AMS master key
  • Backing up the encryption certificates
  • Restoring AMS from a backup
  • Restoring the database when using the pre-configured SQL Express instance
  • Restoring the database when using an externally-managed database
  • Restoring the encryption certificate
  • Recovering from a lost encryption certificate private key

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  1. Help and support
  2. Advanced help topics

Backup and Restore

PreviousSetting up audit templatesNextEvent ID reference

Last updated 10 months ago

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Backing up the AMS server

All the data for your AMS instance is stored in the AMS database. It is important that you regularly back up this database, and ensure that the backups are stored safely.

If you chose to install AMS using the pre-configuration SQL express instance, then you can configure backups through the App configuration/Database screen.

If you are using Azure SQL, Amazon RDS, or an external SQL server instance, you must configure the backups manually on those host platforms.

Backing up the AMS master key

The AMS master key protects all sensitive information inside the database. It is uniquely protected so that the AMS service account can decrypt it automatically. If that process fails, you will need a master key recovery password to restore access to the service.

From the App config/Security page, ensure that you have created a recovery password, and store this password in an offline, secure location.

In the event that the service cannot decrypt its own master key, you'll be prompted for a recovery password when you launch the configuration tool.

Backing up the encryption certificates

If you have deployed the Access Manager Agent, you'll need to ensure you have a backup of your password encryption certificates, and their private key.

From the Access Manager Agent/Password settings page, export the certificates that appear here. Choose a very strong password, and store the resulting PFX somewhere very safe. Preferably in offline storage. Remember that access to this key will allow someone to decrypt all the local admin passwords in your environment.

If you have have legacy (v2) agents in your environment, you'll also need to backup the certificates used to encrypt passwords stored in Active Directory. The v3 agent does not store passwords in AD, so you can skip this step if you only have v3 agents deployed.

From the Directory configuration/Active Directory/Lithnet LAPS (deprecated) page, select the forest that contains the certificate you want to back up, and click View Certificate. From the Details tab, click Copy to file, making sure to select the option to export the private key when prompted.

Restoring AMS from a backup

Restoring the database when using the pre-configured SQL Express instance

  • Stop the Lithnet Access Manager service using the Windows services console.

  • Once installed, connect to the SQL express instance using the server and instance of .\AMS in the Server field

  • Once the database has been restored, restart the Lithnet Access Manager Service from the services console

  • Open the configuration tool and confirm the new settings

Restoring the database when using an externally-managed database

  • Stop the Lithnet Access Manager service using the Windows services console.

  • Refer to the Azure or Amazon RDS documentation for restoring the database in their respective environments.

  • Once the database has been restored, restart the Lithnet Access Manager Service from the services console

  • Open the configuration tool and confirm the new settings

Restoring the encryption certificate

If you have an encryption key backup you want to restore, then use the AMS configuration tool to import the PFX file into the database.

This can be performing using the import button on either the Access Manager Agent/Password settings or Directory configuration/Active Directory/Lithnet LAPS (deprecated), depending on which type of encryption certificate it is.

Recovering from a lost encryption certificate private key

If you lose access to the encryption certificate's private key, any current and historical passwords encrypted with that key are not recoverable. This is why backups are so important.

Download and install

Follow for performing the actual restore.

However, you can publish a new key, and force the agents to generate a new password and encrypt it with that key. See the guide on for more details.

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
the steps located in this guide
Recovering from a lost encryption certificate