How to Track Changes in Domain Administrator Passwords

One of the critical aspects of cybersecurity in an organization is monitoring and managing changes in domain administrator passwords. When a domain administrator password is changed, it is essential to identify who made the change for security and accountability purposes. Here are some steps you can take to track changes in domain administrator passwords:

1. Enable Audit Policies: By enabling audit policies on your domain controllers, you can track changes in passwords. The audit logs will contain information about who changed the password and when.
2. Review Event Logs: Regularly review the event logs on your domain controllers to look for any password change events. Event IDs such as 4723 and 4724 indicate password changes.
3. Use Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Tools: SIEM tools can help automate the process of monitoring password changes and provide real-time alerts for any suspicious activity.
4. Implement Principle of Least Privilege: Limit the number of users who have access to change domain administrator passwords. By following the principle of least privilege, you can reduce the risk of unauthorized password changes.
5. Regularly Monitor Active Directory: Monitor your Active Directory for any unauthorized changes, including changes to domain administrator passwords. Act promptly if any suspicious activity is detected.

By following these steps, you can effectively track changes in domain administrator passwords and enhance the security of your IT infrastructure.