Edit security settings on a Group Policy object

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To edit a security setting on a Group Policy object

Choose the appropriate environment for which you want to edit a security setting:

For your local computer
For a Group Policy object, when you are on a workstation or server that is joined to a domain.
For a Group Policy object, when you are on a domain controller or on a workstation that has the Windows Server 2003Administration Tools Pack installed.
For only domain controllers, when you are on a domain controller.

Open Local Security Settings.
In the console tree, click Security Settings.
Do one of the following:
- To edit Password Policy or Account Lockout Policy, click Account Policies.
- To edit an Audit Policy, a User Right Assignment, or Security Options, click Local Policies.
Double-click the security setting in the details pane that you want to modify.
Modify the security setting, and then click OK.

Notes

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.
To open Local Security Policy, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Local Security Policy.

On the taskbar, click Start, point to Run, type mmc, and then click OK.
In the console, on the File menu, click Add/Remove snap-in.
In Add/Remove Snap-in, click Add, and then, in Add Standalone Snap-in, double-click Group Policy Object Editor.
In Select Group Policy Object, click Browse, browse to the policy object you would like to modify, and then click Finish.
Click Close, and then click OK.
In the console tree, click Security Settings.

Where?
- GroupPolicyObject [ComputerName] Policy\Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings
Do one of the following:
- To edit Password Policy, Account Lockout Policy, or Kerberos Policy, in the details pane, double-click Account Policies.
- To edit Audit Policy, User Rights Assignment, or Security Options, in the details pane, double-click Local Policies.
- To edit event log settings, on the console tree, click Event Log.
In the details pane, double-click the security setting that you want to modify.
(Optional) If this security setting has not yet been defined, select the Define these policy settings check box.
Modify the security setting and then click OK.

Note

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Domain Admins group or the Enterprise Admins group in Active Directory, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.

Open Active Directory Users and Computers.
In the console tree, right-click the Group Policy object for which you want to edit security settings.
Click Properties, and then click the Group Policy tab.
Do one of the following:
- To edit an existing Group Policy object, click Edit.
- To create a new Group Policy object, click New, and then click Edit.
In the console tree, click Security Settings.

Where?
- GroupPolicyObject [ComputerName] Policy\Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings
Do one of the following:
- To edit Password Policy, Account Lockout Policy, or Kerberos Policy, click Account Policies.
- To edit Audit Policy, User Rights Assignment, or Security Options, click Local Policies.
- To edit Event log settings, click Event Log.
Double-click the security setting in the details pane that you want to modify.
(Optional) If this security setting has not yet been defined, select the Define these policy settings check box.
Modify the security setting and then click OK.

Notes

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Domain Admins group or the Enterprise Admins group in Active Directory, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.
To open Active Directory Users and Computers, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Active Directory Users and Computers.

Open Domain Controller Security Policy.
In the console tree, click Security Settings.

Where?
- GroupPolicyObject [ComputerName] Policy\Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings
Do one of the following:
- To edit Password Policy, Account Lockout Policy, or Kerberos Policy, in the console tree, double-click Account Policies.
- To edit Audit Policy, User Rights Assignment, or Security Options, in the console tree, click Local Policies.
- To edit event log settings, in the console tree, click Event Log.
In the details pane, double-click the security setting that you want to modify.
(Optional) If this security setting has not yet been defined, select the Define these policy settings check box.
Modify the security setting, and then click OK.

Notes

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Domain Admins group or the Enterprise Admins group in Active Directory, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.
To open Domain Controller Security Policy, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Domain Controller Security Policy.

Notes

Always test a newly-created policy on a test organizational unit before applying it to your network.
When you change a security setting and click OK, that setting will take effect in the next refresh of settings.
The security settings are refreshed every 90 minutes on a workstation or server and every 5 minutes on a domain controller. The settings are also refreshed every 16 hours, whether or not there are any changes.

Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.