Windows Server 2025 must be configured to audit Account Logon - Credential Validation successes.

Maintaining an audit trail of system activity logs can help identify configuration errors, troubleshoot service disruptions, and analyze compromises that have occurred, as well as detect attacks. Audit logs are necessary to provide a trail of evidence in case the system or network is compromised. Collecting this data is essential for analyzing the security of information assets and detecting signs of suspicious and unexpected behavior.

Credential Validation records events related to validation tests on credentials for a user account logon.

Security Option "Audit: Force audit policy subcategory settings (Windows 7 or later) to override audit policy category settings" must be set to "Enabled" (WN25-SO-000050) for the detailed auditing subcategories to be effective.

Use the "AuditPol" tool to review the current Audit Policy configuration.

Open PowerShell or a command prompt with elevated privileges ("Run as administrator").

Enter "AuditPol /get /category:*"

Compare the "AuditPol" settings with the following.

If the system does not audit the following, this is a finding:

Account Logon >> Credential Validation - Success

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Advanced Audit Policy Configuration >> System Audit Policies >> Account Logon >> Audit Credential Validation with "Success" selected.