Group Policy is a Microsoft Windows feature that has significant importance in controlling the working environments of user accounts in enterprise computers. Whether it’s enforcing a password policy, preventing unidentified remote users to connect to a network share, restricting access to folders, Group Policy provides the centralized management and configuration to set policies in the Active Directory environment. A Group Policy Object (GPO) is a collection of settings that determine what a system will look like and how it will behave for a defined group of users. GPOs are associated with selected Active Directory containers such as sites, domains, or Organizational Units (OUs).
Microsoft provides native Group Policy editing tools within the Windows operating system.
• Group Policy Edit tool was originally integrated with Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in
• It is now available as a separate snap-in called Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) which is now a user component in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
• GPMC is also provided as a download as part of the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Facing the need to set policies in hundreds of end-user computers, IT admins are having to individually log into each system to add/modify/delete GPOs. With such a daunting uphill task at hand, the options to have these executed are NOT so benefitting in terms of manual effort and time spent.
Physically logging into every system from the end-users’ desktops is not an option anymore. And native Windows Group Policy editing tools (above) do not make the process practically simpler. Using a remote administration software to work on GPOs from a centralized command interface can be the best option.
DameWare NT Utilities, an easy-to-use remote access software, provides out-of-the-box a Group Policy Object Editor and Group Policy Browser for all your Group Policy management and administration needs within the Active Directory.
• Group Policy Browser can help in quickly reviewing what policies are in place on the local system, site, domain, or OU level.
• Group Policy Object Editor helps you manage your GPOs and Organizational Units (OUs) from multiple systems within a single centralized console. You can add, delete or edit the GPOs without remote controlling to your domain controller.
Group Policy Browser
Launch Group Policy Editor from within the DameWare NT Utilities Console
This saves a ton of time for a busy IT admin like you who’s inundated in a heap of administrative chores. And Group Policy management is not one to be sidetracked as it has critical application in registry-based policy definitions, security settings, and role-based user access. Remote controlling your way into Group Policy Management could make you the smart IT admin you always wanted to be!