Windows Domain Controller (DC) Service Monitoring

Problem Overview

A Windows Domain Controller is a critical component of Active Directory (AD) environments, responsible for authentication, directory management, and enforcing security policies. Service disruptions can prevent users from logging in, accessing resources, or authenticating with other systems. This policy ensures that Domain Controller services remain operational, minimizing downtime and mitigating potential business impact.

Description

This policy continuously monitors the health and status of Windows Domain Controller services (e.g., Active Directory Domain Services) on devices tagged with “domaincontroller.” If any critical service stops, the monitor attempts an automatic restart and generates a real-time alert to notify your IT team. By ensuring consistent service availability, it helps maintain uninterrupted network authentication and directory access.

Preview

Use Cases

• Proactively monitoring Active Directory Domain Controllers in enterprise environments.
• Ensuring uptime for authentication services in hybrid or on-premises AD setups.
• Preventing disruptions to critical applications relying on AD authentication.
• Maintaining compliance with SLAs for user access and resource availability.

Recommendations

• Tagging: Tag all Windows Domain Controllers with “DC” for precise monitoring. We recommend automatically tagging to avoid missing key devices. See “Service Based Tagging” automation as an example.
• Testing: Simulate a service failure by stopping Active Directory services to confirm restart functionality and alerts.
• Redundancy: Use multiple Domain Controllers to ensure high availability and avoid single points of failure.
• Regular Maintenance: Perform routine AD health checks, including replication status, DNS configuration, and SYSVOL health.
• Alert Routing: Configure alerts to notify the appropriate administrators during business-critical hours.

FAQ

• Which services are monitored by this policy?
  ‍The policy primarily monitors Active Directory Domain Services but can be customized to include other related services, such as DNS and Kerberos.

• What happens if the service fails to restart?
  ‍Check the server logs for potential issues such as replication errors, resource constraints, or misconfigured group policies.

• Can this policy handle replication issues between Domain Controllers?
  ‍No, this policy focuses on service availability. Use additional tools, such as repadmin or dcdiag, to monitor replication health.

• How can I test this monitor without disrupting users?
  ‍Deploy it in a non-production environment and stop the Domain Controller services manually to validate functionality.

• Does this policy work with virtualized Domain Controllers?
  ‍Yes, it supports both physical and virtualized Domain Controllers, as long as they are tagged appropriately.

• Can I use this policy with Read-Only Domain Controllers (RODCs)?
  ‍Yes, it can monitor RODC services, but ensure the policy aligns with the specific service configurations of the RODC.