Would you like to learn how to configure a group policy to audit the logon success and failure? In this tutorial, we will show you how to configure the logon audit feature using a GPO.

• Windows 2012 R2
• Windows 2016
• Windows 2019
• Windows 10
• Windows 7

Equipment list

The following section presents the list of equipment used to create this tutorial.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Tutorial GPO - Audit logon success and failure

On the domain controller, open the group policy management tool.

Windows 2012 - Group Policy Management

Create a new group policy.

Windows 2012 - Group Policy Objects

Enter a name for the new group policy.

Windows - Add GPO

In our example, the new GPO was named: MY-GPO.

On the Group Policy Management screen, expand the folder named Group Policy Objects.

Right-click your new Group Policy Object and select the Edit option.

Windows - Edit GPO

On the group policy editor screen, expand the Computer configuration folder and locate the following item.

Copy to Clipboard

Access the folder to Audit logon and logoff.

GPO Advanced Audit logon events

Edit the configuration item named Audit logon.

Enable the options to audit logon successful and failed attempts.

GPO Audit Logon Success and Failure

Edit the configuration item named Audit logoff.

Enable the options to audit logoff successful and failed attempts.

GPO Audit Logoff Success and Failure

Optionally, enable the configuration item named Audit Other Logon, Logoff Events.

GPO Audit Other logon logoff events

This option will enable the audit of screen lock and unlock, RDP connections and RDP disconnects.

To save the group policy configuration, you need to close the Group Policy editor.

Congratulations! You have finished the GPO creation.

Tutorial GPO - Audit logon events

On the Group policy management screen, you need to right-click the Organizational Unit desired and select the option to link an existent GPO.

Windows-2012-Applocker application

In our example, we are going to link the group policy named MY-GPO to the root of the domain.

GPO- tutorial linking

After applying the GPO you need to wait for 10 or 20 minutes.

During this time the GPO will be replicated to other domain controllers.

On a remote computer, start an elevated Powershell command-line.

Windows 10 - powershell elevated

Verify the advanced logon security audit policy settings.

Copy to Clipboard

Here is the command output.

Copy to Clipboard

List failed logon attempts.

Copy to Clipboard

Here is the command output.

Copy to Clipboard

Get details from the last failed logon attempt.

Copy to Clipboard

Here is the command output.

Copy to Clipboard

List successful logon attemps.

Copy to Clipboard

In our example, we configured a GPO to audit logon success and failure events.