How to implement GPOs and secure a MS Windows

Environment with little to NO user awareness!?!?

Most powerful free tool available to the Windows Administrator

If you can imagine locking, it down it can be done with this tool!

Good AD design and organization allows for ease of management

Basic GPMC run through Securing basic workstation features Using the GPMC to secure IE6 and IE7 Using the GPMC to manage the windows

firewall Custom Group Policy applications

Basic Helpful Design and ideas Control Panel Basic context menus to remove Securing certain executables

Easier to secure and patch IE than Firefox Zone Trusts Addon and Attachment management

Separates IE from and Big

Allows IE to surpass 3rd party Advantage

browsers in security

Helps Secure IE.

Setting up this policy allows you to control file extensions downloaded.

Drawback is other browsers. Cannot control what is downloaded through them.

Not easy to configure but once done

Built-in Windows Firewall Traffic

Outgoing not blocked Incoming is blocked Vista blocks outgoing

Does not block outgoing traffic “Vista does”

Duplicates with remote assistance

If you configure the ports for Remote desktop leave the Allow Remote Desktop Exception to

be Not Configured

Notice no changes can be made by the User

Notice Allow echo request!! Don’t be alarmed

ADVANTAGE Windows Firewall is FREE Is easily manageable

DISADVANTAGE CANNOT BLOCK outgoing request

A custom Policy can be made for any software that relies on registry key settings.

Must have a copy of the Custom .adm on the local machine if you want to be able to view the settings locally

Once your policy has been imported. You can view the settings of the policy only by 1. Selecting view from the menu. 2. Then from the pull down menu selecting Filtering 3. Unchecking “Only show policy settings that can be

fully managed."

Importing your Custom GPO will debug and output syntax errors.

Custom GPs control registry keys. Once a key is set you must set it to something else if want to disable.

IN OTHER WORDWS: If you set a value for something to be 30.

Setting the policy to Not Configured does not remove the value. You must disable or change the value.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/technologies/management/gp/admtgp.mspx#E1PAC

http://blog.case.edu/djc6/2005/03/09/automatically_log_off_users

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=power_mgt.pr_pm_ez_gpo