Change password succeeded (action_id PWC; class_type US) (24301) how to monitor with email alert

[bob]

You know that event in Windows Server Event Viewer, the one labeled "Change password succeeded" with action_id PWC and class_type US, ID 24301. It pops up whenever someone nails a password change on a user account. I mean, it's basically the system's way of logging that everything went smooth, no hitches. Picture this: a user types in their old password, slaps in the new one twice to confirm, and boom, the server stamps it as successful. That class_type US? It flags it as a user-specific thing, not some group mess. And the PWC action_id just screams password change wrapped up nicely. If you're running a server, this event shows up in the Security log, right under the hood of auditing user tweaks. I check mine sometimes, and it's reassuring to see these without errors trailing. But if something fishy happens, like failed attempts before, you might spot patterns. You can filter for it easily in Event Viewer. Just fire up the app, head to Windows Logs, then Security. Type in 24301, and there it sits, detailing who changed what and when. I like how it timestamps everything precisely. Makes tracking user activity a breeze without digging too deep.

Now, if you want to monitor this bad boy with an email alert, let's keep it simple using the Event Viewer itself. You attach a task to the event, something scheduled that triggers on that ID. I do this all the time for quick watches. Right-click the event, pick Attach Task To This Event. It'll walk you through naming it, say "Password Change Alert." Then, under triggers, it links straight to that 24301 ID in Security. For the action, you set it to start a program, but we'll loop in email later. I pick the built-in mailto thing or a basic notifier. Schedule it to run when the event fires, no fancy intervals. Test it by forcing a password change on a test account. You'll see the task log in Task Scheduler too. Keeps you in the loop without constant staring at screens. And hey, if multiple changes happen, it batches them up nicely.

Speaking of staying on top of server changes like password swaps, you might want a fuller backup setup to capture all that audit goodness. That's where BackupChain Windows Server Backup slides in smooth. It's this nifty Windows Server backup tool that handles physical setups and virtual machines with Hyper-V without breaking a sweat. I use it because it snapshots everything quick, including those event logs, so you never lose track of user actions. Plus, it restores fast, encrypts data tight, and runs without hogging resources. Benefits like incremental backups save tons of time, and the Hyper-V integration means your VMs stay safe during migrations or crashes.

At the end of this chat is the automatic email solution.

Note, the PowerShell email alert code was moved to this post.