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Mastering Windows Group Policy

By : Jordan Krause

4.5 (10)

Mastering Windows Group Policy

4.5 (10)

By: Jordan Krause

Overview of this book

This book begins with a discussion of the core material any administrator needs to know in order to start working with Group Policy. Moving on, we will also walk through the process of building a lab environment to start testing Group Policy today. Next we will explore the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) and start using the powerful features available for us within that interface. Once you are well versed with using GPMC, you will learn to perform and manage the traditional core tasks inside Group Policy. Included in the book are many examples and walk-throughs of the different filtering options available for the application of Group Policy settings, as this is the real power that Group Policy holds within your network. You will also learn how you can use Group Policy to secure your Active Directory environment, and also understand how Group Policy preferences are different than policies, with the help of real-world examples. Finally we will spend some time on maintenance and troubleshooting common Group Policy-related issues so that you, as a directory administrator, will understand the diagnosing process for policy settings. By the end of the book, you will be able to jump right in and use Group Policy to its full potential.

Preface

Preface

Who this book is for

What this book covers

To get the most out of this book

Get in touch

Free Chapter

Group Policy - The Basics

Group Policy - The Basics

Terminology

What is Group Policy?

Requirements for Group Policy

Hierarchy of Group Policy processing

Building a lab to test Group Policy today

Summary

Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)

Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)

Technical requirements

Launching the console locally

Accessing Group Policy remotely

Exploring the GPMC

Summary

Daily Tasks in Group Policy

Daily Tasks in Group Policy

Default policies and permissions

Modifying an existing GPO

Creating a new GPO

More on GPO links

Everyday command-line tools

Summary

Advanced Filtering of Group Policy Objects

Advanced Filtering of Group Policy Objects

Link order precedence

Blocking GPO inheritance

Enforcing GPOs

User settings versus computer settings

Exercises with OUs and links

Filtering GPOs with security filters

Filtering GPOs with WMI filters

Summary

Deploying Policy Settings

Deploying Policy Settings

Managed versus unmanaged policies

Administrative Templates

Computer configuration policies

User configuration policies

Group Policy loopback processing

Summary

Group Policy Preferences

Group Policy Preferences

How is a preference different from a policy setting?

Create, Replace, Update, or Delete

Green and red marks

The Common tab

Implementing Preferences

Summary

Group Policy as a Security Mechanism

Group Policy as a Security Mechanism

Password rules and regulations

A plethora of security settings

Windows Firewall with Advanced Security

Manipulating Local Users and Groups

Denying access to Command Prompt

Prohibiting user software-installation

Disabling IPv6 via Group Policy

User Account Control

Blocking USB Drives

Summary

Group Policy Maintenance

Group Policy Maintenance

Documenting Group Policy

Searching Group Policy

Starter GPOs

Backing up and restoring GPOs

Implementing ADMX/ADML files

Delegating permissions to manage Group Policy

Summary

Group Policy Troubleshooting

Group Policy Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting tools and procedures

GPO version numbers

Checking the replication status via GPMC

Detecting slow links

The trouble with FRS

Group Policy results wizard

Group Policy Modeling

Summary

PowerShell for Group Policy Administration

PowerShell for Group Policy Administration

Importing PowerShell Group Policy modules

PowerShell for GPOs and Links

GPO information and reporting

GPO permissions via PowerShell

Using PowerShell to back up and restore GPOs

Remotely running GPUpdate

Using PowerShell Help

Summary

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Daily Tasks in Group Policy

In this chapter, we will get more hands-on with Group Policy. There are certain functions within the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) that will be so common that you may literally be performing them every single day in your role as a directory administrator. Let's cover those topics now, and keep them lumped together in a single chapter so that this can also serve as a quick reference guide for any reminders that may be needed in the future.

The following topics will be covered in this chapter:

Default policies and permissions
Modify an existing Group Policy Object (GPO)
Creating a new GPO
More on GPO links
Everyday command-line tools

CONTINUE READING

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Programming languages

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