Managing Windows Environments with Group Policy

Preparing Windows 8 for Domain Policies

Preparing Windows 7 for Domain Policies

Preparing Windows Vista for Domain Policies

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Define Group Policy

List the ways you can use Group Policy

Describe the tools, features, and policies you can use to manage group policies

This module describes the differences between local and domain policies and the Group Policy management tools you can use to manage these policies. This module also describes the Group Policy refresh process and hot to manually force a refresh ahead of the default interval.

Local and Domain Policies

Using Group Policy Management Console?

Understanding Group Policy Refresh

Working with Multiple Local Policies

Installing the GPMC on Windows 8 Client

Basic Group Policy Management

Navigating the Windows 8 Client Interface with a Mouse and Keyboard

Navigating the Windows Server 2012 Console

Installing the GPMC on Windows 7

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the advantages of using domain policies instead of local policies

List the capabilities of the Group Policy Management Console

Describe the requirements for installing the Group Policy Management Console

Explain how to use the different GPMC features to create and manage policies

Describe the elements of the gpupdate command

This module details the steps a successful Group Policy deployment should follow, linking your design to how your company can best use the features. Essential network components and security design are also defined.

Overview of Active Directory

Introducing the Design Stages for Implementing Group Policy

Planning your Group Policy Design

Designing Your Group Policy Solution

Deploying Your Group Policy Solution

Managing Your Group Policy Solution

Creating an OU Structure for Group Policy

Delegating GPO Management

Creating Starter GPOs

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the basic structure of Active Directory

Describe the four stages of implementing Group Policy

Explain how to plan Group Policy in accordance with a company’s requirements

Describe the guidelines that you should follow when you create new GPOs

This module details the concepts that you must grasp in order to troubleshoot Group Policy. The module also describes the options that are available to change the standard Group Policy processing sequence.

Group Policy Components in AD DS

Understanding the Group Policy Deployment Order

Modifying Group Policy Processing

Working with Multiple GPO Levels

Using the Block Inheritance and Enforce Options

Implementing Security Filtering

Creating a WMI Filter

Working with Loopback Processing

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the Active Directory components that you can use to deploy Group Policy

Explain the order in which Group Policy is deployed in Active Directory

Describe the methods that are available to modify Group Policy processing

This module explains how to use the RSoP tools to determine whether policies are being processed in the correct manner. This module discusses how to use the available tools to troubleshoot policy issues; back up, restore, import, copy, and search for GPOs; and migrate GPOs from one domain to another.

Using Group Policy Troubleshooting Tools

Integration of RSoP Functionality

Using Logging Options

Backing Up, Restoring, Importing, and Copying GPOs

Building Migration Tables

Using Tools for Troubleshooting

Backing Up and Restoring GPOs

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the Group Policy troubleshooting tools

Describe the GPMC tools that have RSoP functionality

Describe the GPO logging tools used to obtain more detail about the GPO processing issues

Explain how to back up, restore, import, and copy GPOs using the GPMC

Explain how to build migration tables

This module explains how to navigate and use basic Windows PowerShell commands and how to use Windows PowerShell to manage Group Policy. This module will also describe how you can use PowerShell logon scripts with Group Policy.

Introduction to PowerShell

Windows PowerShell Library for Group Policy

Windows PowerShell Cmdlets for Group Policy

Windows PowerShell-Based Logon Scripts

Exploring Windows PowerShell

Using PowerShell to Manage GPOs

Using PowerShell ISE to Write More Scripts

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the Windows PowerShell features

Explain how to perform the basic Windows PowerShell operations

Explain how to access the Windows PowerShell library for Group Policy

List the third-party Windows PowerShell-based login script tools

This module defines the Windows security model and describes the process of using Group Policy to implement user account, computer account, and domain security.

Exploring the Windows Security Architecture

Securing User Accounts

Exploring Local Policies

Hardening Windows Environments

Implementing Domain Security

Using the Security Compliance Manager

Configuring Enterprise Auditing through Group Policy Deployment

Configuring Standard Password Policies

Configuring Fine-Grained Password Policies

Configuring Restricted Groups

Using Security Templates

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the Widows security architecture

Explain how to secure user accounts with Group Policy

Describe the purpose of local policies

Explain how to harden computer accounts

Explain how to control the domain security policy with a GPO

This module explains many of the settings that are available to configure and restrict the user desktop environment, such as Control Panel restrictions, Start Menu settings, and Windows Explorer configuration.

Exploring Script Types and Controlling Script Execution

Defining the Desktop, Start Menu, and Taskbar Settings

Defining the Control Panel Settings

Defining the Windows Components Settings

Configuring the Printer Management and Pruning Settings

Defining the Network Settings

New Settings for Windows 8 Client and Windows Server 2012

Using Logon Scripts

Configuring Desktop Settings

Managing Windows Components

Configuring Printers with Group Policy

Managing Network Settings

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the startup, shutdown, logon, and logoff scripts and settings.

Identify the many ways to control the user desktop, Start menu, and taskbar settings

Explain how to restrict the Control Panel settings

Explain how to restrict operations that users can perform in Windows Explorer, Windows Internet Explorer, and Remote Desktop Services

Explain how to configure the printer management and pruning settings

Describe the network settings

This module explains how to use roaming profiles and Folder Redirection to maintain the user’s personal files and settings.

Managing User Profiles

Configuring Folder Redirection

Using Folder Redirection and Roaming Profiles Together

Preparing for Profiles and Folder Redirection

Configuring Folder Redirection

Managing Roaming Profiles

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Explain how to customize the processing of user profiles and roaming user profiles

Explain how to redirect user folders to a server

Describe what happens when roaming profiles and Folder Redirection are both enabled

This module explains how to use Group Policy for deploying software.

Using MSI Packages to Distribute Software

Using Group Policy as a Software Deployment Method

Deploying Software

Setting Up Distribution Points

Using the Systems Center Configuration Manager to Distribute Software

Preparing for Distribution

Creating Custom Software Packages

Repackaging Applications

Deploying Software Packages

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the basic elements of an MSI package

Determine when to build or repackage your own

Define the requirements for distributing software via Group Policy

Describe when you might want to assign and publish software

Explain how to upgrade and remove packages

Explain how to set up distribution points for software deployment

List the advantages of using SCCM to distribute software instead of Group Policy

This module explains the deployment of software restriction policies including the essential components, rules, and the order of precedence of such policy. You will learn how to use software restriction policies to prevent users from running unauthorized software reducing the likelihood that viruses, Trojan horses, or spyware might intrude upon the environment.

What is a Software Restriction Policy?

Creating a Software Restriction Policy

Using additional Rules to Help Identify Software

What Makes an Effective Software Restriction Policy

Using AppLocker in Windows 7 and later

Enforcing Software Restriction Policies

Using AppLocker to Restrict Software

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Define software restriction policies

Explain how to create software restriction policies

Describe the additional rules that you can apply to software restriction policies

Describe the characteristics of an effective software restriction policy

Describe the AppLocker features

This module explains the logic behind administrative templates, when to use them, and the basics of how to write them. This module also explains how to deploy templates by loading legacy ADM templates into the Group Policy Management Editor, and copying ADMX templates to the Central Store.

Introducing ADM Templates

Legacy ADM Templates

Custom ADM Templates

Using the New ADMX Templates

Converting and Creating Custom ADMX Templates

Using the ADMX Central Store

Importing ADMX Files

Implementing the ADMX Central Store

Converting Legacy ADM Files

Creating a Custom ADMS File

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the benefits of using ADM templates

List some of the ADM templates that are included with each version of Windows

List tips that you can use to write your own customer ADM templates

Describe the advantages of using the new ADMX file format

Identify which tool converts the ADM templates to ADMX templates and also creates new ADMX templates

Define ADMX Central Store

This module describes the function of Group Policy Preferences. You will learn how to combine Preferences with Policies, and how Preferences are different from Policies.

Introducing Group Policy Preferences

Comparing Preferences and Policy Settings

Configuring Preferences Settings

Implementing Computer Preferences

Implementing User Preferences

Preparing Legacy Clients for Preferences

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the purpose of Group Policy Preferences

Describe the differences between Preferences and Policy Settings

Identify the settings that you can configure in the Computer Configuration and User Configuration sections of the Group Policy Management Console

Describe the Windows and Control Panel settings