Add workstations to domain
Applies to
- Windows Server
Describes the best practices, location, values, policy management and security considerations for the Add workstations to domain security policy setting.
Reference
This policy setting determines which users can add a device to a specific domain. For it to take effect, it must be assigned so that it applies to at least one domain controller. A user who is assigned this user right can add up to 10 workstations to the domain. Adding a machine account to the domain allows the device to participate in Active Directory-based networking.
Constant: SeMachineAccountPrivilege
Possible values
- User-defined list of accounts
- Not Defined
Best practices
- Configure this setting so that only authorized members of the IT team are allowed to add devices to the domain.
Location
Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\User Rights Assignment\
Default values
By default, this setting allows access for Authenticated Users on domain controllers, and it isn't defined on stand-alone servers.
The following table lists the actual and effective default policy values for the most recent supported versions of Windows. Default values are also listed on the policy’s property page.
| Server type or GPO | Default value |
|---|---|
| Default Domain Policy | Not Defined |
| Default Domain Controller Policy | Not Defined |
| Stand-Alone Server Default Settings | Not Defined |
| Domain Controller Effective Default Settings | Authenticated Users |
| Member Server Effective Default Settings | Not Defined |
| Client Computer Effective Default Settings | Not Defined |
Policy management
Users can also join a computer to a domain if they've the Create Computer Objects permission for an organizational unit (OU) or for the Computers container in the directory. Users who are assigned this permission can add an unlimited number of devices to the domain regardless of whether they've the Add workstations to domain user right.
Furthermore, machine accounts that are created through the Add workstations to domain user right have Domain Administrators as the owner of the machine account. Machine accounts that are created through permissions on the computer’s container use the creator as the owner of the machine account. If a user has permissions on the container and also has the Add workstation to domain user right, the device is added based on the computer container permissions rather than the user right.
A restart of the device isn't required for this policy setting to be effective.
Any change to the user rights assignment for an account becomes effective the next time the owner of the account logs on.
Group Policy
Settings are applied in the following order through a Group Policy Object (GPO), which will overwrite settings on the local computer at the next Group Policy update:
- Local policy settings
- Site policy settings
- Domain policy settings
- OU policy settings
When a local setting is greyed out, it indicates that a GPO currently controls that setting.
Security considerations
This policy has the following security considerations:
Vulnerability
The Add workstations to domain user right presents a moderate vulnerability. Users with this right could add a device to the domain that is configured in a way that violates organizational security policies. For example, if your organization doesn't want its users to have administrative privileges on their devices, users could install Windows on their computers and then add the computers to the domain. The user would know the password for the local administrator account, could sign in with that account, and then add a personal domain account to the local Administrators group.
Countermeasure
Configure this setting so that only authorized members of the IT team are allowed to add computers to the domain.
Potential impact
For organizations that have never allowed users to set up their own computers and add them to the domain, this countermeasure has no impact. For those organizations that have allowed some or all users to configure their own devices, this countermeasure forces the organization to establish a formal process for these procedures going forward. It doesn't affect existing computers unless they're removed from and then added to the domain.