How to grant users rights to manage services

This article describes how to grant users the authority to manage system services in Windows Server.

By default, only members of the Administrators group can start, stop, pause, resume, or restart a service. This article describes methods that you can use to grant the appropriate rights to users to manage services.

Applies to:   Supported versions of Windows Server
Original KB number:   325349

Method 1: Use Group Policy

You can use Group Policy to change permissions on system services. See How To Configure Group Policies to Set Security for System Services for more information.

Method 2: Use Security Templates

To use security templates to change permissions on system services, create a security template following these steps:

1. Select Start, search mmc and select it.
2. On the File menu, click Add/Remove Snap-in.
3. Select Security Configuration and Analysis, select Add, and then select OK.
4. In the console tree, right-click Security Configuration and Analysis, and then select Open Database.
5. Specify a name and location for the database, and then click Open.
6. In the Import Template dialog box that appears, click the security template that you want to import, and then click Open.
7. In the console tree, right-click Security Configuration and Analysis, and then click Analyze Computer Now.
8. In the Perform Analysis dialog box that appears, accept the default path for the log file that is displayed in the Error log file path box or specify the location that you want, and then click OK.

After the analysis is complete, configure the service permissions as follows:

1. In the console tree, select System Services.
2. In the right pane, double-click the service whose permissions you want to change.
3. Select the Define this policy in the database check box, and then select Edit Security.
4. To configure permissions for a new user or group, select Add. In the Select Users, Computers, or Groups dialog box, type the name of the user or group that you want to set permissions for, and then select OK.
5. In the Permissions for User or Group list, configure the permissions that you want for the user or group. When you add a new user or group, the Allow check box next to the Start, stop and pause permission is selected by default. This setting permits the user or group to start, stop, and pause the service.
6. Select OK two times.

To apply the new security settings to the local computer, right-click Security Configuration and Analysis, and then click Configure Computer Now.