# Zones with only SOA/NS records should be retrievable

DNS zones that contain only SOA (Start of Authority) and NS (Name Server) records are essentially placeholder zones. These zones:

Source: https://maester.dev/docs/tests/AD-DNS-02

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<div class="test-byline"><div class="test-byline-avatars"><a class="test-byline-avatar test-byline-avatar--author" href="/contributors/soulemike" title="Michael Soule · Original author"><img src="https://github.com/soulemike.png" alt="Michael Soule" width="28" height="28" loading="lazy" decoding="async" /></a></div><div class="test-byline-meta"><span class="test-byline-text">Contributed by <a href="/contributors/soulemike">Michael Soule</a></span><a class="test-byline-link" href="/contributors">All contributors →</a></div></div>

<p class="test-part">Part of <a href="/docs/tests/ad">Active Directory</a> · Active Directory · DNS · <a href="/docs/tests">All checks</a></p>

```powershell title="Run this check"
Invoke-Maester -TestId AD-DNS-02
```

## Overview

DNS zones that contain only SOA (Start of Authority) and NS (Name Server) records are essentially placeholder zones. These zones:

- **May indicate incomplete configuration**: Zones created but never populated with actual records
- **Could represent abandoned infrastructure**: Services that were planned but never deployed
- **Might be unnecessary**: Adding complexity without providing value
- **Can cause confusion**: Administrators may assume these zones are actively used

#### Control Type

**Operational**

#### Security Recommendation

Review zones with only SOA/NS records and either:
- Populate them with necessary resource records if they serve a purpose
- Delete them if they are no longer needed
- Document their purpose if they are intentionally placeholder zones

#### How the Test Works

This test identifies DNS zones that contain only SOA and NS records, with no A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, SRV, or other record types.

#### Related Tests

- `Test-MtAdDnsZoneCount` - Counts all zones with records
- `Test-MtAdDnsEmptyZoneCount` - Finds zones with zero records

## Details

<details>
<summary>Every attribute of this check</summary>

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Test ID | AD-DNS-02 |
| Severity | Info |
| Suite | Active Directory |
| Product | Active Directory |
| Feature | DNS |
| Area | Infrastructure hardening |
| Resource type | DnsZone |
| MITRE ATT&CK | None |
| PowerShell test | [Test-MtAdDnsZonesWithOnlySoaNs](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/dns/Test.AD-DNS-02.ps1) |
| Services | ActiveDirectory |
| Permissions | ActiveDirectory:Remoting:Microsoft.PowerShell, ActiveDirectory:Cim:root\MicrosoftDNS:MicrosoftDNS_Zone:Read, ActiveDirectory:Cim:root\MicrosoftDNS:MicrosoftDNS_ResourceRecord:Read, ActiveDirectory:Cim:root\MicrosoftDNS:MicrosoftDNS_RootHints:Read |

</details>

## Source

- Test: [`tests/ad/dns/Test.AD-DNS-02.ps1`](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/dns/Test.AD-DNS-02.ps1)
- Documentation: [`tests/ad/dns/Test.AD-DNS-02.md`](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/dns/Test.AD-DNS-02.md)