When configuring scheduled tasks on Windows Server 2008 R2 (or later versions), you might encounter this security restriction:

This task requires that the user account specified has Log on as batch job rights

This is a local machine policy setting, though it can be controlled through Active Directory Group Policy in domain environments. The permission is stored in the Local Security Policy under:

Security Settings -> Local Policies -> User Rights Assignment

For non-domain joined machines, add the user through the Local Security Policy editor:

1. Open secpol.msc
2. Navigate to: Local Policies -> User Rights Assignment
3. Find "Log on as a batch job"
4. Add the service account or user

In Active Directory environments, deploy this via Group Policy:

Computer Configuration -> Policies -> Windows Settings -> 
Security Settings -> Local Policies -> User Rights Assignment -> 
"Log on as a batch job"

For large-scale deployments, use this PowerShell script:

# Grant batch logon rights to a user
$account = "DOMAIN\User"
$tmp = New-Object System.Security.Principal.NTAccount($account)
$sid = $tmp.Translate([System.Security.Principal.SecurityIdentifier])

$policy = "SeBatchLogonRight"
$adsi = [ADSI]"WinNT://$env:COMPUTERNAME"
$existing = $adsi.psbase.Invoke("Get", $policy)

if ($existing -notcontains $sid.Value) {
    $adsi.psbase.Invoke("Add", $policy, $sid.Value)
}

• Verify effective permissions with whoami /priv
• Group Policy updates may require gpupdate /force
• For service accounts, ensure password never expires

Best practices for batch job accounts:

- Use dedicated service accounts
- Apply principle of least privilege
- Regularly audit account usage
- Consider Managed Service Accounts (gMSA) in modern environments

When configuring scheduled tasks on Windows Server 2008 R2 (or newer versions), you might encounter this security-related error:

This task requires that the user account specified has Log on as batch job rights.

This is a local security policy setting, though it can be configured through Group Policy in Active Directory environments. The permission is part of Windows' User Rights Assignment under:

Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\User Rights Assignment

Method 1: Using GUI (Local Machine)

1. Open secpol.msc (Local Security Policy)
2. Navigate to: Security Settings > Local Policies > User Rights Assignment
3. Find "Log on as a batch job" in the right pane
4. Add the required user account

Method 2: Command Line (For Server Core/automation)

secedit /export /cfg C:\temp\secpol.cfg
(Edit the file to add user under [Privilege Rights] SeBatchLogonRight)
secedit /configure /db C:\Windows\security\local.sdb /cfg C:\temp\secpol.cfg

For domain environments, create/edit a GPO:

1. Open Group Policy Management
2. Edit your GPO or create new one
3. Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > User Rights Assignment
4. Configure "Log on as a batch job" to include required groups

Use this PowerShell to verify the setting:

$user = "DOMAIN\username"
$right = "SeBatchLogonRight"
$policy = whoami /priv | Select-String $right
if ($policy) {
    Write-Host "$user has batch logon rights"
} else {
    Write-Host "$user needs rights configuration"
}

• Forgetting to run gpupdate /force after GPO changes
• Confusing local vs domain account permissions
• Not accounting for UAC when testing

Instead of assigning individual users:

1. Create a security group (e.g., "Batch Job Users")
2. Assign the right to this group
3. Add users to the group as needed