Managing service accounts: Pains, Patterns and Practices

Overview

One of the more awkward aspects of Windows administration is the management of service accounts. Even some of the most security-conscious organisations will sheepishly admit that they don't change service account passwords all that often, due primarily to the pain involved in doing so. Changing the password is easy enough, of course - but finding and changing every service that uses the account can be time-consuming, error-prone, and fraught with risk: One mistake and critical services suddenly won't start, leaving users in the lurch.

In this whitepaper, we will discuss the risks of ignoring the problem, a DIY solution, using brute force and a better service management option through automation.