# Empty zone count should be retrievable

Empty zone count should be retrievable. A Maester check for Active Directory, DNS.

Source: https://maester.dev/docs/tests/AD-DNS-14

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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-14
```

## Overview

Empty DNS zones (zones with no resource records) may indicate:

- **Incomplete configuration**: Zones created but never populated
- **Abandoned infrastructure**: Services that were planned but never deployed
- **Configuration errors**: Failed zone creation or replication issues
- **Cleanup opportunities**: Removing unused zones reduces complexity

Empty zones add administrative overhead without providing value and may confuse administrators.

#### Control Type

**Detective**

#### Security Recommendation

- Audit empty zones regularly
- Delete zones that are no longer needed
- Document the purpose of any intentionally empty zones
- Investigate unexpected empty zones for potential issues

#### How the Test Works

This test identifies DNS zones that contain zero resource records of any type.

#### Related Tests

- `Test-MtAdDnsZoneCount` - Counts zones with records
- `Test-MtAdDnsZonesWithOnlySoaNs` - Finds zones with only default records

## Details

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

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Test ID | AD-DNS-14 |
| Severity | Info |
| Suite | Active Directory |
| Product | Active Directory |
| Feature | DNS |
| Area | Infrastructure hardening |
| Resource type | DnsZone |
| MITRE ATT&CK | None |
| PowerShell test | [Test-MtAdDnsEmptyZoneCount](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/dns/Test.AD-DNS-14.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-14.ps1`](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/dns/Test.AD-DNS-14.ps1)
- Documentation: [`tests/ad/dns/Test.AD-DNS-14.md`](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/dns/Test.AD-DNS-14.md)