Table of Contents

Account Lockout Monitoring and Reporting

Sever Manager includes several different methods to get notified when an account is locked out.

TypeDescription
Real-Time Security Event Log Monitor Subscribes, or optionally scans on a scheduled interval, Security Event Logs for locked out accounts. Monitors Domain Controller Security Event logs for locked out domain accounts and/or monitors stand-alone server Security Event logs for local, non-domain, locked out accounts.
Active Directory MonitorScan Active Directory on a scheduled interval (e.g. Every 15 Minutes) for locked out domain accounts.
WMI MonitorScan stand-alone servers on a scheduled interval (e.g. Every 15 Minutes) for local, non-domain, locked out accounts.
Security Event Log Report Scan multiple Domain Controller Security Event logs for domain account lockout history and/or scan multiple stand-alone server Security Event logs for non-domain local account lockout history.
Active Directory/WMI Report Scan multiple domains on a scheduled interval (e.g. Every 15 Minutes) for currently locked out domain accounts and optionally scan multiple stand-alone servers on a scheduled interval (e.g. Every 15 Minutes) for currenlty locked out non-domain local accounts.

How to get notified in real-time when an account is locked out:

Server Manager includes a sample template that monitors Security Event Logs in real-time for event ID 4740: A user account was locked out. This event generates every time a user account is locked out.

Alert
Domain Controller Replication
Security Event Log entries are replicated accross all domain controllers that have joined the same domain. When monitoring a domain that has multiple replicated domain controllers, assigning the same Security Event Log template to each domain controller results in duplicate triggers, one from each domain controller.
  • From the Explorer View, navigate to Templates | Sample Templates | Real-Time Monitors then right click on Real-Time Account Lockout Monitor and select Template Properties. The Event Log Monitor Template Properties view displays.
  • The Template Properties view contains 6 tabs.

The Options Tab

  • Use the Log drop-down to select the specific log to configure. This template only monitors the Security Event Log.
  • Use the Rules controls to assign the filter and actions. Double-click the existing rule. The Log Monitor Rule displays.
  • Notice, the Account Locked Out filter, which searches for all 4740 Event IDs, is assigned and the Email - Account Locked Out action, which sends an email along with the account name that was locked out in the subject, is assigned.
    Information To filter out specific accounts, either modify the existing filter or create a new filter then assign your new filter to this template or a copy of this template.
    For more information see: Log Monitor.

Host Assignment

  • When monitoring domain controllers, assign a single domain controller from each domain in the forest to this template.
  • When monitoring stand-alone servers, assign each stand-alone server to this template template.

Related Topics

Account Lockout Monitor

Account Lockout Reports

Directory Services