# Sites without domain controllers count should be retrievable

Sites without domain controllers count should be retrievable. A Maester check for Active Directory, Sites and subnets.

Source: https://maester.dev/docs/tests/AD-SITE-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 · Sites and subnets · <a href="/docs/tests">All checks</a></p>

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

## Overview

Sites without domain controllers may indicate:

- **Authentication delays**: Clients in these sites must authenticate across the WAN to another site
- **Single points of failure**: If the WAN link fails, clients cannot authenticate
- **Incomplete deployment**: Sites may have been created but DCs were never deployed
- **Resource gaps**: Branch offices may lack local domain controller presence

Sites without DCs should be carefully evaluated to ensure they represent intentional design decisions rather than configuration gaps.

#### Control Type

**Operational**

#### Security Recommendation

For sites without domain controllers:
- Consider deploying RODCs (Read-Only Domain Controllers) in branch offices
- Ensure WAN links are reliable and have adequate bandwidth
- Document the business justification for sites without local DCs
- Monitor authentication traffic from these sites

#### How the Test Works

This test compares the list of sites with domain controllers against all sites in the domain to identify sites that have no DC presence.

#### Related Tests

- `Test-MtAdSiteWithoutDcDetails` - Lists the specific sites without DCs
- `Test-MtAdSiteTotalCount` - Counts total sites in the domain
- `Test-MtAdDcSiteCoverageCount` - Analyzes DC distribution across sites

## Details

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

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Test ID | AD-SITE-02 |
| Severity | Info |
| Suite | Active Directory |
| Product | Active Directory |
| Feature | Sites and subnets |
| Area | Infrastructure hardening |
| Resource type | AdSite |
| MITRE ATT&CK | None |
| PowerShell test | [Test-MtAdSiteWithoutDcCount](https://github.com/maester365/maester/blob/main/tests/ad/site/Test.AD-SITE-02.ps1) |
| Services | ActiveDirectory |
| Permissions | ActiveDirectory:Ldap:nTDSDSA:ReadProperty, ActiveDirectory:Ldap:site:ReadProperty |

</details>

## Source

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