Default Security Groups in Windows Server 2003
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
This topic contains security groups with attributes and values.
Account Operators
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-32-548 |
Type |
BuiltIn Local |
Default container |
CN=BuiltIn, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
None |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
Yes |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Cannot be moved |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
By default, this built-in group has no members. It can create, manage, and delete users and groups in the Users and Computers containers and other organizational units (OUs), but it cannot manage service administrator accounts. In addition, members of this group cannot create computer accounts in the Domain Controllers OU, although they can modify and delete them. Members of this group can log on locally to domain controllers, but they cannot shut down or restart them. As a best practice, do not add members to this group, and do not use it for any delegated administration. |
Administrator
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-<domain>-500 |
Type |
User |
Default container |
CN=Users, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
N/A |
Default member of |
Administrators, Domain Admins, Enterprise Administrators, Domain Users* |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
Yes |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Yes |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
This account is the first account created during operating system installation. The account cannot be deleted or locked out. It is a member of the Administrators group and cannot be removed from that group. |
* This membership is due to the fact that the Primary Group ID of all user accounts is Domain Users.
Administrators
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-32-544 |
Type |
BuiltIn Local |
Default container |
CN=BuiltIn, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
Administrator, Domain Admins, Enterprise Admins |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
Yes |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Cannot be moved |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
The Administrators group has built-in capabilities that give its members full control over the system. This group cannot be renamed, deleted or moved. This built-in group controls access to all the domain controllers in its domain, and it can change the membership of all administrative groups. Its own membership can be modified by the default service administrator groups BA and DA in the domain, as well as the EA group. This group has the special privilege to take ownership of any object in the directory or any resource on a domain controller. This account is considered a service administrator because its members have full access to the domain controllers in the domain. |
Backup Operators
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-32-551 |
Type |
Builtin Local |
Default container |
CN=BuiltIn, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
None |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
Yes |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Cannot be moved |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
Backup Operators can back up and restore all files on a computer, regardless of the permissions that protect those files. Backup Operators also can log on to the computer and shut it down. This group cannot be renamed, deleted or moved. By default, this built-in group has no members, and it can perform backup and restore operations on domain controllers. Its membership can be modified by the default service administrator groups BA and DA in the domain, as well as the EA group. It cannot modify the membership of any administrative groups. While members of this group cannot change server settings or modify the configuration of the directory, they do have the permissions needed to replace files (including operating system files) on the domain controllers. Because of this, they are considered service administrators. |
Cert Publishers
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-<domain>-517 |
Type |
Domain Local |
Default container |
CN=Users, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
None |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
Yes |
Safe to move out of default container? |
No |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
A group that includes all computers that are running an enterprise certification authority (CA). Cert Publishers are authorized to publish certificates for User objects in Active Directory. |
Domain Admins
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-<domain>-512 |
Type |
Domain Global |
Default container |
CN=Users, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
Administrator |
Default member of |
Administrators |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
Yes |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Yes |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
A group whose members are authorized to administer the domain. By default, the Domain Admins group is a member of the Administrators group on all computers that have joined a domain, including the domain controllers. Domain Admins is the default owner of any object that is created in the domain’s Active Directory by any member of the group. If members of the group create other objects, such as files, the default owner is the Administrators group. This group controls access to all domain controllers in a domain, and it can modify the membership of all administrative accounts in the domain. Its own membership can be modified by the service administrator groups BA and DA in its domain, as well as the EA group. This is a service administrator account because its members have full access to a domain’s domain controllers. |
Domain Computers
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-<domain>-515 |
Type |
Domain Global |
Default container |
CN=Users, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
All computers joined to the domain, excluding domain controllers |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Yes (but not required) |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
Yes |
Notes |
The group includes all computers that have joined the domain, excluding domain controllers. |
Domain Controllers
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-<domain>-516 |
Type |
Domain Global |
Default container |
CN=Users, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
Computer accounts for all Domain Controllers of the domain |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
No |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
The group includes all domain controllers in the domain. New domain controllers are added to this group automatically. |
Domain Guests
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-<domain>-514 |
Type |
Domain Global |
Default container |
CN=Users, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
Guest |
Default member of |
Guests |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Can be moved out but it is not recommended |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
This group includes the domain’s built-in Guest account. |
Domain Users
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-<domain>-513 |
Type |
Domain Global |
Default container |
CN=Users, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
All user accounts in the domain |
Default member of |
Users |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Yes |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
This group includes all user accounts in a domain. When you create a user account in a domain, it is added to this group automatically. |
Enterprise Admins
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-<root domain>-519 |
Type |
Universal (if Domain is in Native-Mode) else Domain Global |
Default container |
CN=Users, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
Administrator |
Default member of |
Administrators |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
Yes |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Yes |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
This group exists only in the root domain of an Active Directory forest of domains. It is a universal group if the domain is in native-mode, a global group if the domain is in mixed-mode. The group is authorized to make forest-wide changes in Active Directory, such as adding child domains. By default, the only member of the group is the Administrator account for the forest root domain. This group is automatically added to the Administrators group in every domain in the forest, providing complete access to the configuration of all domain controllers. This group can modify the membership of all administrative groups. Its own membership can be modified only by the default service administrator groups in the root domain. This account is considered a service administrator. |
Group Policy Creators Owners
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-<domain>-520 |
Type |
Domain Global |
Default container |
CN=Users, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
Administrator |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
No |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
This group that is authorized to create new Group Policy objects in Active Directory. By default, the only member of the group is Administrator. |
Guest
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-<domain>-501 |
Type |
User |
Default container |
CN=Users, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
None |
Default member of |
Domain Guests, Guests |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Can be moved out but it is not recommended |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
A user account for people who do not have individual accounts. This user account does not require a password. By default, the Guest account is disabled. |
Guests
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-32-546 |
Type |
Builtin Local |
Default container |
CN=BuiltIn, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
Guest |
Default member of |
Guest, Domain Guests |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Cannot be moved |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
A built-in group. By default, the only member is the Guest account. The Guests group allows occasional or one-time users to log on with limited privileges to a computer’s built-in Guest account. |
Incoming Forest Trust Builders
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-32-557 |
Type |
BuiltIn Local |
Default container |
CN=BuiltIn, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
None |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Cannot be moved |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
This group cannot be renamed, deleted or moved. |
KRBTGT
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-<domain>-502 |
Type |
User |
Default container |
CN=Users, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
None |
Default member of |
Domain Users* |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
Yes |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Can be moved out but it is not recommended |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
A service account that is used by the Key Distribution Center (KDC) service. |
* This membership is due to the fact that the Primary Group ID of all user accounts is Domain Users.
Network Configuration Operators
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-32-556 |
Type |
BuiltIn Local |
Default container |
CN=BuiltIn, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
None |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Cannot be moved |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
Yes |
Notes |
This group cannot be renamed, deleted or moved. |
Performance Log Users
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-32-559 |
Type |
BuiltIn Local |
Default container |
CN=BuiltIn, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
None |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Cannot be moved |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
Yes |
Notes |
This account cannot be renamed, deleted or moved. |
Performance Monitor Users
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-32-558 |
Type |
BuiltIn Local |
Default container |
CN=BuiltIn, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
None |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Cannot be moved |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
Yes |
Notes |
This group cannot be renamed, deleted or moved. |
Pre-Windows 2000 Compatible Access
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-32-554 |
Type |
BuiltIn Local |
Default container |
CN=BuiltIn, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
Refer to the Notes column |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Cannot be moved |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
In Windows 2000, if you choose the Pre-Windows 2000 Compatible Permissions mode, Everyone (including Anonymous) is a member, and if you choose the Windows 2000-only permissions mode, the membership is empty. In Windows Server 2003, if you choose the Pre-Windows 2000 Compatible Permissions mode, Everyone and Anonymous are members, and if you choose the Windows 2000-only permissions mode, Authenticated Users are members. |
RAS and IAS Servers
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-<domain>-553 |
Type |
Domain Local |
Default container |
CN=Users, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
None |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Yes |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
Yes |
Notes |
By default, this group has no members. Computers that are running the Routing and Remote Access service are added to the group automatically. Members of this group have access to certain properties of User objects, such as Read Account Restrictions, Read Logon Information, and Read Remote Access Information. |
Remote Desktop Users
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-32-555 |
Type |
BuiltIn Local |
Default container |
CN=BuiltIn, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
None |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Cannot be moved |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
Yes |
Notes |
This group cannot be renamed, deleted or moved. |
Schema Admins
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-<root domain>-518 |
Type |
Universal (if Domain is in Native-Mode) else Domain Global |
Default container |
CN=Users, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
Administrator |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
Yes |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Yes |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
This group exists only in the root domain of an Active Directory forest of domains. It is a universal group if the domain is in native-mode, a global group if the domain is in mixed-mode. The group is authorized to make schema changes in Active Directory. By default, the only member of the group is the Administrator account for the forest root domain. This group has full administrative access to the schema. The membership of this group can be modified by any of the service administrator groups in the root domain. This account is considered a service administrator because its members can modify the schema, which governs the structure and content of the entire directory. |
Server Operators
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-32-549 |
Type |
BuiltIn Local |
Default container |
CN=BuiltIn, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
None |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
Yes |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Cannot be moved |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
This group exists only on domain controllers. By default, the group has no members. Server Operators can log on to a server interactively; create and delete network shares; start and stop services; back up and restore files; format the hard disk of the computer; and shut down the computer. This group cannot be renamed, deleted or moved. By default, this built-in group has no members, and it has access to server configuration options on domain controllers. Its membership is controlled by the service administrator groups BA and DA in the domain, as well as the EA group. It cannot change any administrative group memberships. This is a service administrator account because its members have physical access to domain controllers and they can perform maintenance tasks (such as backup and restore), and they have the ability to change binaries that are installed on the domain controllers. |
Terminal Server License Servers
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-32-561 |
Type |
BuiltIn Local |
Default container |
CN=BuiltIn, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
None |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Cannot be moved |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
Yes |
Notes |
This group cannot be renamed, deleted or moved. |
Users
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-32-545 |
Type |
Builtin Local |
Default container |
CN=BuiltIn, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
Authenticated Users, Domain Users |
Default member of |
Domain Users* |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Cannot be moved |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
No |
Notes |
After the initial installation of the operating system, the only member is the Authenticated Users group. When a computer joins a domain, the Domain Users group is added to the Users group on the computer. Users can perform tasks such as running applications, using local and network printers, shutting down the computer, and locking the computer. Users can install applications that only they are allowed to use if the installation program of the application supports per-user installation. This group cannot be renamed, deleted or moved. |
*This membership is due to the fact that the Primary Group ID of all user accounts is Domain Users.
Windows Authorization Access Group
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Well-Known SID/RID |
S-1-5-32-560 |
Type |
Builtin Local |
Default container |
CN=BuiltIn, DC=<domain>, DC=… |
Default members |
Enterprise Domain Controllers |
Default member of |
None |
Protected by ADMINSDHOLDER? |
No |
Safe to move out of default container? |
Cannot be moved |
Safe to delegate management of this group to non-Service admins? |
Yes |
Notes |
This group cannot be renamed, deleted or moved. |