What Is a Domain Local Security Group?

Updated on August 14, 2025

Active Directory Domain Local Security Groups are essential for managing permissions in enterprise environments. They can include members from any domain in the forest but assign permissions only within their own domain. As part of the AGDLP model, Domain Local groups connect users from multiple domains to local resources, providing granular access control in multi-domain setups.

Definition and Core Concepts

A Domain Local Security Group operates within specific parameters that distinguish it from Global and Universal group types. Its primary characteristic lies in its asymmetric membership and permissions model: broad membership capabilities combined with restricted permissions scope.

Active Directory Group Scope Framework

Active Directory defines group scope as the property that determines where a group can have members from and where it can be applied for permissions. Three group scopes exist:

• Domain Local: Members from any domain in the forest, permissions only in the local domain.
• Global: Members from the same domain only, permissions in any domain.
• Universal: Members from any domain, permissions in any domain.

AGDLP Model Integration 

The AGDLP model represents Microsoft’s recommended best practice for permissions assignment. In this framework:

• Accounts are added to Global groups
• Global groups are added to Domain Local groups 
• Permissions are assigned to Domain Local groups

This structure provides scalability, reduces administrative overhead, and maintains clear security boundaries across domain structures.

Permissions vs Rights Distinction

Domain Local groups manage permissions (access to specific resources) rather than rights (system-level capabilities). When you assign a Domain Local group read access to a file share, you’re granting permissions. User rights assignments like “Log on as a service” require different group configurations.

How It Works

Domain Local Security Groups function through a multi-step process that validates user access against group membership and assigned permissions.

Membership Resolution Process

When a user attempts to access a resource protected by a Domain Local group, Active Directory performs these operations:

1. Token Generation: The user’s access token includes all security identifiers (SIDs) for groups they belong to, including nested group memberships
2. Permission Check: The system compares the user’s token against the resource’s Access Control List (ACL) 
3. Group Evaluation: If a Domain Local group appears in the ACL, the system checks whether any of the user’s group memberships match
4. Access Decision: Access is granted or denied based on the most restrictive applicable permission

AGDLP Workflow Example

Consider this scenario: A user in Domain A needs access to a file server in Domain B.

Step 1: Add the user account to a Global group in Domain A (G-Marketing-Users)

Step 2: Create a Domain Local group in Domain B (DL-FileServer-ReadAccess) 

Step 3: Add the Global group as a member of the Domain Local group

Step 4: Assign the Domain Local group read permissions to the file server

Step 5: The user can now access the file server through their Global group membership

This model enables administrators to manage user access by modifying Global group memberships while keeping resource permissions stable through Domain Local groups.

Nested Group Processing

Domain Local groups support nesting with other Domain Local groups within the same domain. This capability allows for hierarchical permission structures where broader access groups contain more specific access groups.

Key Features and Components

Domain Local Security Groups possess specific characteristics that define their operational parameters and use cases.

Membership Flexibility

Domain Local groups accept these member types:

• User accounts from any domain in the forest
• Global groups from any domain in the forest 
• Universal groups from any domain in the forest
• Other Domain Local groups from the same domain only
• Computer accounts from any domain in the forest

This flexibility enables cross-domain collaboration while maintaining security boundaries.

Resource Scope Limitations

The fundamental constraint of Domain Local groups lies in their permissions scope. These groups can only be assigned permissions to resources within their own domain. You cannot use a Domain Local group from Domain A to assign permissions to resources in Domain B.

Replication Behavior 

Domain Local groups replicate only to domain controllers within their own domain. This replication scope reduces network traffic and limits the visibility of sensitive group memberships to administrators outside the domain.

Security Identifier Structure

Each Domain Local group receives a Security Identifier (SID) that includes the domain’s identifier. This SID structure ensures that group permissions cannot be applied across domain boundaries, maintaining the security model’s integrity.

Use Cases and Applications

Domain Local Security Groups serve specific purposes in enterprise directory architectures, particularly in scenarios requiring controlled resource access.

Multi-Domain Resource Management

In organizations with multiple domains, Domain Local groups provide the mechanism for granting cross-domain resource access. A manufacturing company might have separate domains for Engineering and Production, with shared CAD file servers requiring access from both domains.

Implementation: Create Domain Local groups on the file server domain, add Global groups from Engineering and Production domains as members, then assign file system permissions to the Domain Local groups.

Application Access Control

Enterprise applications often require granular permission sets that map to business functions rather than organizational units. Domain Local groups enable this mapping by grouping users based on application roles.

Example: An ERP system might have Domain Local groups for Purchase-Orders-Approvers, Inventory-Managers, and Financial-Reviewers, each containing Global groups from relevant business units.

Printer and Hardware Resource Sharing

Physical resources like printers, scanners, or specialized equipment often serve multiple departments across different domains. Domain Local groups provide the access control mechanism for these shared resources.

Database and Service Access 

Database servers, web applications, and network services frequently require user authentication from multiple domains. Domain Local groups simplify this access management by providing a single permissions assignment point.

Advantages and Trade-offs

Understanding the benefits and limitations of Domain Local groups enables informed decisions about their implementation.

Administrative Benefits

• Centralized Permissions Management: Administrators assign permissions once to the Domain Local group rather than managing individual user permissions
• Simplified User Provisioning: Adding users to existing Global groups automatically grants appropriate resource access 
• Reduced Permission Sprawl: Resources maintain clean ACLs with group-based permissions rather than extensive user lists
• Cross-Domain Collaboration: Users from different domains can access shared resources without compromising domain security boundaries

Scalability Advantages

Domain Local groups support enterprise growth by providing a framework that accommodates new domains and users without restructuring existing permissions. The AGDLP model scales efficiently because changes occur at the Global group level rather than requiring modifications to resource permissions.

Security Enhancements

• Principle of Least Privilege: Users receive only permissions necessary for their roles through Global group membership
• Domain Boundary Enforcement: Permissions cannot accidentally extend beyond intended domain boundaries
• Audit Trail Clarity: Group-based permissions provide clearer audit trails than user-based permissions

Implementation Trade-offs

• Administrative Complexity: Organizations with single domains may find Domain Local groups unnecessarily complex compared to direct Global group permissions
• Training Requirements: IT staff must understand group scope implications to implement the AGDLP model correctly 
• Troubleshooting Challenges: Multiple group layers can complicate access troubleshooting, requiring tools to trace nested memberships

Troubleshooting and Considerations

Effective Domain Local group implementation requires understanding common failure points and diagnostic approaches.

Permission Issues Resolution

• Nested Group Delays: Group membership changes may not take effect immediately due to token refresh intervals. Users may need to log off and log back on for changes to apply.
• Token Size Limitations: Excessive group nesting can cause token bloat, potentially preventing user logon. Monitor group membership depth and consider flattening structures if authentication failures occur.
• Cross-Domain Trust Problems: Verify that appropriate trust relationships exist between domains when users cannot access resources despite correct group membership.

Diagnostic Methods

• Effective Permissions Analysis: Use tools like icacls or PowerShell’s Get-Acl cmdlet to analyze the effective permissions for specific users on resources.
• Group Membership Verification: The whoami /groups command displays all groups in a user’s current token, helping identify missing memberships.
• Event Log Analysis: Security event logs (Event ID 4624, 4625) provide detailed information about authentication successes and failures, including group membership details.

Implementation Best Practices

• Naming Conventions: Implement consistent naming schemes that identify group scope and purpose. Example: “DL-ShareName-Permission” clearly indicates Domain Local scope, target resource, and permission level.
• Documentation Requirements: Maintain clear documentation of group purposes, membership sources, and assigned permissions. This documentation becomes critical during security audits and troubleshooting scenarios.
• Regular Membership Reviews: Establish processes for periodic review of Domain Local group memberships to ensure continued appropriateness and remove outdated access grants.

Key Terms Appendix

• Active Directory (AD): Microsoft’s directory service that provides authentication, authorization, and directory services for Windows networks.
• Global Security Group: A group scope that can contain members only from its own domain but can be used to assign permissions in any domain within the forest.
• Universal Security Group: A group scope that can contain members from any domain and can be used to assign permissions in any domain within the forest.
• AGDLP: The recommended permissions assignment model where Accounts join Global groups, Global groups join Domain Local groups, and Permissions are assigned to Domain Local groups.
• Group Scope: The Active Directory property that defines where a group can have members from and where it can be used for permissions assignment.
• Security Identifier (SID): A unique identifier assigned to security principals in Windows environments, including users and groups.
• Access Control List (ACL): A list of permissions attached to an object that specifies which users or groups can access the object and what operations they can perform.