Audit SAM

 

Applies To: Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8

This topic for the IT professional describes the Advanced Security Audit policy setting, Audit SAM, which enables you to audit events that are generated by attempts to access Security Account Manager (SAM) objects.

The Security Account Manager (SAM) is a database that is present on computers running Windows operating systems that stores user accounts and security descriptors for users on the local computer.

SAM objects include the following:

  • SAM_ALIAS: A local group

  • SAM_GROUP: A group that is not a local group

  • SAM_USER: A user account

  • SAM_DOMAIN: A domain

  • SAM_SERVER: A computer account

If you configure this policy setting, an audit event is generated when a SAM object is accessed. Success audits record successful attempts, and failure audits record unsuccessful attempts.

Note

Only the SACL for SAM_SERVER can be modified.

Changes to user and group objects are tracked by the Account Management audit category. However, user accounts with enough privileges could potentially alter the files in which the account and password information is stored in the system, bypassing any Account Management events.

Event volume: High on domain controllers

Note

For information about reducing the number of events generated in this subcategory, see article 841001 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=121698).

Default setting: Not configured

If this policy setting is configured, the following events appear on computers running the supported versions of the Windows operating system as designated in the Applies to list at the beginning of this topic, in addition to Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista.

Event ID

Event message

4659

A handle to an object was requested with intent to delete.

4660

An object was deleted.

4661

A handle to an object was requested.

4663

An attempt was made to access an object.

Advanced Security Audit Policy Settings