4714 Security log · Policy Change medium severity low volume

Windows Event ID 4714 — Encrypted data recovery policy was changed

EFS recovery policy was changed. Can affect encrypted file recovery capabilities.

Why event 4714 matters

EFS policy manipulation to prevent encrypted file recovery. Ransomware may modify EFS recovery agents to complicate data recovery.

How to detect it

Alert: EFS recovery policy changes outside documented maintenance.

Log source
Security
Advanced Audit Policy — enable the 'Policy Change' subcategory (Success and/or Failure).
Fields to pivot on
SubjectUserNameTargetUserNameLogonTypeIpAddressWorkstationName

Detection queries

Starting points — adapt the log source, projected fields and thresholds for your environment.

Sentinel / Defender KQL
SecurityEvent
| where EventID == 4714   // Encrypted data recovery policy was changed
| project TimeGenerated, Computer, SubjectUserName, TargetUserName, LogonType, IpAddress, WorkstationName
| sort by TimeGenerated desc
Splunk SPL
index=* sourcetype="WinEventLog:Security" EventCode=4714
| stats count earliest(_time) as first_seen latest(_time) as last_seen by ComputerName
| sort - count   `# Encrypted data recovery policy was changed — add EventData fields: SubjectUserName, TargetUserName, LogonType, IpAddress`
Hunt event 4714 in Sentinel/Defender →
Build a KQL query for this event in the KQL Query Builder.
Search all event IDs →
Open the interactive Windows Event ID lookup.

Related Policy Change events

4698 A scheduled task was created 4699 A scheduled task was deleted 4700 A scheduled task was enabled 4701 A scheduled task was disabled 4702 A scheduled task was updated 4703 A token right was adjusted 4704 A user right was assigned 4705 A user right was removed 4706 A new trust was created to a domain 4707 A trust to a domain was removed 4713 Kerberos policy was changed 4715 The audit policy (SACL) on an object was changed

Frequently asked questions

What is Windows Event ID 4714?

Encrypted data recovery policy was changed. EFS recovery policy was changed. Can affect encrypted file recovery capabilities.

Which log records event 4714?

Event 4714 is written to the Security channel by Microsoft-Windows-Security-Auditing. Advanced Audit Policy — enable the 'Policy Change' subcategory (Success and/or Failure).

How do you detect activity around event 4714?

Alert: EFS recovery policy changes outside documented maintenance.