Can the Windows Universal Forwarder package run as a domain user without local admin privileges?

The Windows Universal Forwarder can indeed run as a domain user without requiring local admin privileges. This capability is particularly beneficial in environments where security policies restrict the use of local admin accounts, allowing for a more secure and manageable deployment of Splunk's data collection capabilities.

Running as a domain user enables the Universal Forwarder to send data to the Splunk indexers without needing the elevated privileges that a local admin account would typically provide. This allows organizations to adhere to the principle of least privilege, ensuring that users and services have only the permissions they need to perform their functions.

In addition, as a domain user, the Universal Forwarder can still access the necessary files and directories to monitor logs and data without compromising the security framework of the network. Therefore, this configuration is ideal for many enterprises aiming to maintain a secure and efficient operational environment.