Chapter 17 - Working with Group Policy in an Active Directory Environment

Abstract

The chapter focuses on Group Policy in Windows Server 2003. Group Policy is used to manage and control various features and components of the Windows Server 2003 network. Group Policy settings can be used to define users' desktop environments, to specify security settings, and configure and control application behavior. It can be used to automatically deploy software to users and computers. Policies can be applied to a site, a domain, an organizational unit, or a local computer. Because Group Policy is used for so many important management functions, it is important for network administrators to be intimately familiar with how Group Policy works, and how they can use it for more flexibility and control of network components. The chapter provides a brief review of the basics of Group Policy terminology and concepts, including user and computer policies and Group Policy Objects (GPOs). The chapter also discusses the scope and application order of policies and Group Policy integration in Active Directory.