Book Image

Mastering Windows Group Policy

By : Jordan Krause
5 (1)
Book Image

Mastering Windows Group Policy

5 (1)
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.

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Table of Contents (12 chapters)
Preface
Preface
Who this book is for
What this book covers
To get the most out of this book
Get in touch
Free Chapter
1
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
2
Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)
Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)
Technical requirements
Launching the console locally
Accessing Group Policy remotely
Exploring the GPMC
Summary
3
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
4
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
5
Deploying Policy Settings
Deploying Policy Settings
Managed versus unmanaged policies
Administrative Templates
Computer configuration policies
User configuration policies
Group Policy loopback processing
Summary
6
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
7
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
8
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
9
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
10
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
11
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Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)

The Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) is without a doubt the primary and most common interface that Active Directory (AD) administrators use to work with anything and everything related to Group Policy. In this chapter, we will explore the functionality inside the GPMC and get a feel for working within this console.

The GPMC is installed by default on all of your Domain Controller (DC) servers, but in a security-conscious environment it is common practice to limit access and logins to DCs, so we are also going to take a look at some other options for using the GPMC that don't involve the need to touch one of the DCs.

The following topics will be covered in this chapter:

  • Technical requirements
  • Launching the console locally
  • Accessing Group Policy remotely
  • Exploring the GPMC
Previous Section
End of Section 1
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