Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://specterops-on-prem-install.mintlify.app/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
An on-premises deployment of BloodHound Enterprise is a self-hosted option that runs on infrastructure that you own. It gives you complete control over your deployment while delivering the same powerful capabilities as the SpecterOps-hosted version.
You maintain full control over:
- Data residency - All collected data stays within your environment
- Infrastructure - Deploy on your own servers or virtual machines
- Updates - Control when and how updates are applied
- Network isolation - Run in air-gapped or restricted network environments
SaaS vs on-premises
On-premises deployments provide the same core BloodHound Enterprise functionality, but differ in infrastructure management and control. Choose on-premises if you:- Require data to remain within your infrastructure
- Need full control over the deployment environment
- Have existing infrastructure and operational expertise
- Prefer to manage updates and maintenance on your own schedule
- Want SpecterOps to manage infrastructure and updates
- Don’t have dedicated infrastructure or Kubernetes expertise
- Want automatic updates and new features as they’re released
Deployment
On-premises deployments of BloodHound Enterprise use an embedded cluster deployment option. An embedded cluster packages BloodHound Enterprise and a Kubernetes cluster together for deployment on a single Linux host. This option is based on the open-source Kubernetes distribution k0s, includes a built-in installation UI, and runs preflight checks during installation. It does not require existing Kubernetes infrastructure or operational expertise. An embedded cluster deployment has two primary parts:- BloodHound Enterprise host
- Runs the BloodHound Enterprise application on Linux
- Includes a bundled Kubernetes cluster (k0s)
- Can use an external PostgreSQL database
- Collector hosts and services
- Run one or more collectors that upload configuration data to BloodHound Enterprise
- SharpHound Enterprise runs as a Windows service for on-premises Active Directory and AD CS collection
- AzureHound Enterprise runs as a containerized service for Entra ID, Azure Resource Manager, and Microsoft Graph collection
- OpenHound for BloodHound Enterprise runs as a containerized service for supported platform collection, such as GitHub, Jamf, and Okta
Key data and security characteristics
- Collectors gather configuration data to map identity relationships
- Data is transmitted over HTTPS with TLS
- Collectors do not store collected data locally
- You control upload authorization with a collection schedule in BloodHound Enterprise
Installation
The installation process involves the following steps:| Step | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Confirm prerequisites | Validate Linux host, PostgreSQL 18 (if using an external database), ports, and access. | 0.5-2 hours |
| 2. Install BloodHound Enterprise | Use the web-based installer for a guided setup. | 30-60 min |
| 3. Configure connectivity | Configure hostname, SSL/TLS, and database connections. | 30-60 min |
| 4. Install and deploy collectors | Prepare collector systems and deploy the collectors you need. | 5-15 min each |
| 5. Run first collection | Start with the simplest collection level to minimize friction. | Varies |
| 6. Review results | Validate identity Attack Paths and plan next actions. | Varies |
Next steps
- Review the architecture and system requirements with infrastructure and security owners in your organization.
- Coordinate with your organizational stakeholders to schedule the installation window.
- Proceed to the full installation guide for step-by-step commands and troubleshooting.