Group Policy
How to Force USB Encryption on Removable Devices using GPO
As data breaches become increasingly common, ensuring that sensitive data is encrypted is paramount, especially on removable USB devices. Group Policy Objects (GPO) in Windows allows administrators to enforce such security measures across a network. ...
Using GPO to prevent access to desktop application
Introduction Security breaches via unauthorized application access are a growing concern for system administrators. The challenge of mitigating such vulnerabilities, while ensuring that essential applications remain accessible, is intensified by the ...
How to configure GPO in Active Directory at Site, Domain and OU levels
Introduction Active Directory network multiplies over time and it may become incommodious to manage. There is a myriad of things that need to be controlled such as security permissions, software installation, desktop settings for users and computers, ...
How to copy files or folders to all computers using GPO
Introduction There are several scenarios for when you would need to copy one or multiple files to select computers or all computers in a domain of an Active Directory (AD) network. For example, there might be a shared folder that everyone in the ...
How to create Desktop Shortcuts on Domain Computers via GPO
Introduction Organizations sometimes may want to add certain shortcuts to all or some of the computers in their domain. For example, there might be a set of applications that all employees in an organization would need to use. The organization may ...
How to Deploy Printers to Users/Groups/Computers with GPO
Introduction Employees in an organization would be required to use the printer for various purposes. Unless the employees have a printer installed locally on their system, they will be using one of the shared printers in the organization's Active ...
Using Group Policy to Change Desktop Background Wallpaper
Setting Common Desktop Background Wallpapers using GPO In large organizations, a common desktop background wallpaper is often deployed on all the computers. These are also known as corporate wallpapers and are used for various purposes. It helps ...
How to Add, Edit, Deploy and Import Registry Keys through GPO
The Windows registry is a hierarchical database that contains data required for the operation of Windows and its application and services. The data is structured in a tree format, where each node is referred to as a key. These registry keys contain ...
How to create a Group Policy to Force Logoff Users
Force Logoff Users after Inactivity using Active Directory Group Policy In an organization with many user accounts, some users might forget to log off from the server. Sometimes users may be logged in long after their work has been completed. Besides ...
How to Add a Logon Banner using Group Policy
Configuring Logon Banners/ Legal Notices using Active Directory GPO In an organization, logon banners are used to provide warnings to users who access systems for illegal purposes or in an unauthorized manner. They also contain information for ...
How to Pin a Folder Shortcut to the Start Menu
Adding a Folder Shortcut to the Start Menu using Active Directory GPO The shortcut of a file or folder can be added to the Start menu to be accessed easily by users. Shortcuts of folders that are used frequently can be pinned so that they can be ...
How to Control USB Access on select Devices using GPO
Enabling and Disabling USB access using Active Directory Group Policy Removable storage devices such as USB drives have gained widespread use and become an indispensable way for the storage of data. However, they also pose a threat to the security of ...
Managing Websites using Active Directory Group Policy Objects (GPO)
How to Blacklist/ Whitelist and Bookmark select Websites on Browsers using GPO Organizations frequently need to block or restrict access to specific websites and applications for security and management reasons. Certain websites may not be safe and ...
How to Update GPOs on Remote Computers
Updating GPOs On Remote Computers Group Policy Objects can be added or modified by the administrator according to the requirements of the organization. Generally, the time taken for a new Group Policy Object (GPO) to be applied is between 90 and 120 ...
How to Create Fine Gained Password Policies
How to Create a Fine-Grained Password Policy in Active Directory Before the launch of Windows Server 2008, administrators could apply only one password and account lockout policy to the entire user base in the organization. If the administrators ...
Find and Delete Unliked GPOs
Cleaning up Unlinked GPOs using PowerShell Unlinked GPO's, otherwise called orphaned GPOs are not linked to any Active Directory sites, domains, or organizational units (OUs). To minimize management overhead, these unlinked GPO's should be deleted as ...
Best Practices for Configuring Group Policy Objects
GPO Best Practices Group Policy makes dealing with your operating system easier and more effective. In addition, this allows you further control over network accounts. This makes your network safer from outsiders. Moreover, it reduces the trusted ...
How to Restrict Users from Executing Malicious Code from the Internet
In an organization, it is likely that some users, unknowingly, can help an attacker by downloading or executing a malicious set of code. This is especially true when users meddle with a browser, which can be the primary origin of malicious. ...
How to Whitelist Applications Using Software Restriction Policies (SRP)
Whitelisting Applications with Software Restriction Policy (SRP) With the recent hike in the number of malware attacks on enterprises, application whitelisting through Software Restriction Policies (SRP) is gaining popularity among administrators. ...