MDM & GP Tips Blog

Thanks to GPanswers.com member Bart for the meat of this tip !

You might have a situation where you want GPOs to apply to a collection of computers but only within certain time blocks.

Sure, you could manually link and unlink the GPO when the proper times come. But you're too busy for that.

Instead, use PowerShell, and automate the task!

First things first. Make sure the policy refresh interval on the workstations is set small enough to apply the activated GPO settings during the times you want. Normally, computers update every 90 120 minutes. To use this tip, you might want to tighten up the refresh interval just for this collection (like a Training room OU or Kiosk OU or something.) I wouldn't recommend you do this for your whole population. Do this using the policy settings located at “Computer Configuration | Administrative Templates | System | Group Policy | Group Policy refresh interval for computers.”

Where this came in handy was to activate and deactivate additional (outgoing) firewall rules specifically for a classroom setup for specific classes.

To use, simply set up a scheduled task to LINK and UNLINK the GPOs as needed.

To Enable:
Powershell -importsystemmodules -command “& {set-gplink -name ‘GPO_Computer_Classroom Outgoing Firewall’ -target ‘ou=classroom,ou=computer management,dc=yourdomain,dc=local’ -linkenabled YES}”

To Disable:
Powershell -importsystemmodules -command “& {set-gplink -name ‘GPO_Computer_Classroom Outgoing Firewall’ -target ‘ou=classroom,ou=computer management,dc=yourdomain,dc=local’ -linkenabled NO}”

PS: For more information, the PowerShell Cmdlets for managing GPO’s come with Windows 7 and W2k8-R2. For an overview of all GPO Cmdlets have a look at the TechNet site: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee461027.aspx

The Lockdown Question

Hey Jeremy, what's the best way to lock down my Windows machines? I hear this question dozens of times a year from students who are sitting down at the first day of my Group Policy training workshops. They are often very eager to get right down to business and wrestle this particular problem to the ground because they know that when they go back to their offices and implement what they're about to learn, that their environment will be more predictable and more secure.

See, I know we all feel it would be best if our pesky users would just stop playing with stuff within Windows, their applications and on their desktops.

And, sure, that's part of the art of desktop lockdown. But my suggestion would be to look at desktop lockdown from a holistic and incremental approach. There's no one best way to lock down your Windows machines.

But what is true, is that the technologies built-in to Windows 7 have enabled more control than ever and enabled a wide variety of situations. Lets explore some of my favorite ways to get started with desktop lockdown, then I'll give you some tips on how to expand your controls as you need to.

Lead with Group Policy and Group Policy Preferences

This pair of technologies is arguably the most powerful arrow in your quiver. But using Group Policy, you can restrict a user from some of Windows most tempting locations such as the control panel, desktop, Start Menu, Task Bar and more. Once a GPO is created, most of these settings are found within the User Configuration | Administrative Templates section. There are way too many settings to review here, but I would encourage you to poke around, take stock of the ones that are most interesting to you then try them out in your test lab — before rolling out into production.

When performing lockdown tests, I would suggest that you use two people, a designer and a tester. The Designer should set up the Group Policy settings and lockdown tests, then the Tester would validate the tests and try to wiggle around the designers intentions. Using two people during testing ensures good feedback. One person always validates the other.

As you're working through your resting, do note that some policy settings are reliant upon other policy settings being enabled or other conditions being set or present on the client machine before you actually see the result you're expecting. So again, having a Designer design and a Tester test helps make sure the settings you want to achieve have actually occurred on the client machine.

Group Policy Preferences also enables you to deliver desktop settings. Though not specifically designed for desktop lockdown, they can helpful in guiding users away from temptation and toward standardization.

Caption: The Group Policy Preferences can implement IE settings

Sometimes what the doctor ordered is a blend between both Group Policy and Group Policy Preferences. For instance, you might want use Group Policy Preferences to set a particular setting, plus use Group Policy controls to lock down certain areas of IE.

This is an advanced skill, which takes a little practice and patience. But with enough time, you'll find the right balance using the two.

I would also suggest that you check out a favorite document of mine entitled Group Policy Settings for Creating a Steady State which can be found here with literally dozens of ideas to help you get started.

Focus, then Expand

So going back to my students who ask me Hey Jeremy, what's the best way to lock down my Windows machines? As you can tell, I love to lead with the core lockdown starting with Group Policy and Group Policy Preferences, then expand outward using additional Windows 7 technologies.

If you're looking for more hard-core controls, you might want to consider checking out this the recently published document from Microsoft entitled Creating a Steady State by Using Microsoft Technologies.

Inside you'll discover some extra ideas you can try out, such as mandatory profiles, working with AppLocker to prevent applications from running, and even wiping back the hard drive of a machine every night!

We've just scratched the surface. For additional specific tips and tricks on desktop lockdown, it's a common feature in my GPanswers.com Tip of the Week. You can sign up the free tip of the week at https://www.gpanswers.com/register. You can also get hands-on experience with Group Policy and desktop lockdown in my in-person or online-based Group Policy Master Class at www.GPanswers.com/training.

BIO:

Jeremy Moskowitz, GPanswers.com and PolicyPak.com

Jeremy Moskowitz is a Enterprise Mobility MVP, the Chief Propeller-Head for GPanswers.com and Founder of PolicyPak, which makes software to increase desktop lockdown using Group Policy. Thousands of IT professionals have taken his Group Policy training. GPanswers.com was ranked as one of “The 20 most useful Microsoft sites for IT professionals” by ComputerWorld magazine. Jeremy is also a STEP member.

This is a short and a sweet one. Sort of.

Google has announced an MSI file for deploying their Chrome browser, en-mass to your PCs.

How?

Well, they've got an MSI now. And you can use, say, your favorite software distribution mechanism, like.. oh, gosh, I don't know the in-the-box-and-widely-under-used Group Policy Software Installation ?

Check out the link here.. Now before you DO, I suggest you read onward.

http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/business/chromebrowser.html

The trick appears to be that, while the MSI is available to anyone, I'm actually NOT SURE if anyone (everyone) is allowed to use it unless they're a Google Chrome for Business company. I clicked on the link to download the MSI, and saw a huge EULA in front of me. I copied and pasted it into Word (take THAT, Google Docs !) and it was a whopping 13 pages and 6,553 words.

Ohkay.

First things first Item 1.3 in the Eula has double-word typo, as in 1.3 Your agreement with Google will also include the the terms I'm not above typos myself, but then again, I don't have 11 billion lawyers working for me.

Next.. I did try to buzz through the document looking for words like Customer and other such stuff to help me learn what the scoop is. But I really can't tell if I'm allowed to use it. Honestly, this isn't my area of expertise, so I don't have direct advice on whether or not it's legal, quasi-legal, or totally illegal to use this MSI if you're not a Google Chrome for Business member. I guess- I could contact Google Sales, and maybe they'll get a hold of me.

But, if you KNOW the answer, then just email me, and I'll post a follow-up.

Part II of this little story is that there's also ADM and ADMX/ADML files as well.  Once you put the ADM, ADMX & ADML files in the right place, you're cookin with gas and configuring Chrome a-go-go.

The link to THAT is here:

http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?hlrm=en&answer=187945

Interesting stuff.

That's it for now.

PS: Learn how to deploy MSI files, upgrade them, manage them, patch them, revoke them and more.  Learn how to manage ADM, ADMX and ADML files and not shoot yourself in the foot or blow up your network.

I still have the <bleep>-ing discount going for my GPanswers.com Home Study Course – Silver Kits. Gotta email me for the <bleep>-ing discount code.

Check out my Group Policy training with the Online University here:

https://www.gpanswers.com/training/sign-up-now-online/

Talk soon!

Do you have any GPOs which are “not doing anything”? If so, why?

If you have zillions of GPOs, here’s a quick cleanup tip.

Use a Windows 7 machine and PowerShell to quickly find all GPOs which have all their settings disabled.

Here's an example GPO with all the settings disabled.

Sure, you COULD click on every stinkin GPO you have in your domain.

-OR- you can use Powershell to quickly get to the bottom of things.

1. On a Windows 7 machine, open a command prompt.

2. Type “Powershell” (no quotes.)

3. Type import-module Grouppolicy (no quotes.)

4. Type the command you see here: get-gpo all | sort gpostatus

The ones with AllSettingsDisabled will bubble up to the top.

All the Powershell propeller-heads are rolling their eyes right now, because they know there's a cleaner way to produce the output of this showing ONLY the ones that actually match the GpoStatus of AllSettingsDisabled.

Yes, yes, you purists

Here's how to do it:

get-gpo all | where { $_.GPOstatus eq AllSettingsDisabled}

Hope this helps you out!

Guest post by Alan Burchill (Enterprise Mobility MVP) from the Group Policy Center

Services are programs that are configured to run in the background of a Windows computer weather or not there is a users that is logged on. They are essential part of windows and are essential to the operation of any windows computers. Without services computer could not perform automatic updates, run scheduled tasks or even connect to a file share. Therefore the ability to control Windows Services is a vita task for IT administrators.

Quite often disabling services on a computer is the best way to reduce the security surface of a computer or to improve performance by turning off un-used components of the OS. Inversely it is also very important to have the ability to turn on services to enable certain functionality or to ensure that certain services are not turned off.

Below I will go through the two ways you can control services in windows by using Group Policy each ways has its own advantages and/disadvantages but together you can pretty much control any system service the way you want.

In the examples below I am going to show you how to enable the Applications Identification service that is required to be enabled to make AppLocker work in Windows 7.

Using Group Policy to configured a Service

Even since Group Policy was introduced to Windows 2000 you have been able to configured some aspects of services using native group policy.

Now that you can control service using Group Policy Preference there are only two reason that you will still want to use this method.

1. You want to control services on Windows 2000 or a computer that does not have the client side extensions installed.
2. You want to configure the security so that non-administrators can start,stop and pause the service.

Step 1. Edit a computer Group Policy Object that is targeted at the computer that you want to configure

Step 2. Select the services that you want to configure.

Note: If the service that you want to configure is not present in the list you will need to install GPMC on a computer that has the service running. This is a painful restriction of controlling services this way and

Step 3. From the menu click on Action > Properties then tick Define this policy setting and then configured the service startup mode to what you want it configured.

Step 4. If you click on the Edit Security button you can also configured who has control over the service. This would be useful if you want to give end users the ability to start and stop specific services. Tip: Tick Start, stop and pause for INTERACTIVE if you want the logged on user to control the services.

Now that you have configured the services via group policy you will need to reboot the computer for the new startup mode to take affect. This means if you are disabling a service then it will not stop until your next reboot which could be may days, weeks or even months after you made the policy change.

Using Group Policy Preferences to configure a Service

The newer and almost always better way to configure service now is to you the Group Policy Preference Services options. As opposed to the native method which only allowed you to control the startup and security of service, preference now allows you much greater control.

The only reasons you would not want to use Group Policy Preference to control services are:

1. You need to configured the startup mode of a service on a computer running Windows 2000 or one that is not running the client side extensions.
2. You want to be able to configured the security to allow non-admin to start, stop or pause the service.

Always remember that when you do configure a service startup mode using the native method that this will take precedence over Group Policy Preferences and you can use the security options in conjunction with preferences.

Step 1. Edit a computer Group Policy Object that is targeted to the computers that you want to control the service.

Step 2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Preferences > Control Panel Settings > Services

Step 3. In the menu click on Action > New > Service and now click on the button next to the Service Name field.

Note: From here you can either type in the service name in the Service Name field or click on the button to chose the service from a predefined list of services.

Step 4. Select the service name that you want to configured and then click Select

Step 5. Now you can configure the Startup mode from the Startup mode drop down box and you can configure a service action.

Service Action will take place each time there is a group policy refresh so that you do not need to wait for the computer to reboot for the latest startup mode to take affect. This can also be handy to configure if you want a service to start if it crashes or if you have a pesky service that requires restarting on a regular basis to keep running properly.

Step 6. Click on the Recovery tab to configure the recovery options of the service as you would configure in the service control panel.

Step 7. As this is a preference you can also configure the standard Common options from such as item level targeting which will allow you to granularly control what computer you target this setting.

As you can see with the combination of Group Policy Preferences and the native policies there is nothing you cant configure to your system services Enjoy

This post was originally posted here http://www.grouppolicy.biz/2010/08/how-to-use-group-policy-to-control-services/

I’m not exactly sure why.. but sometimes Microsoft goes on a little jag about something. They get a particular bee in their bonnet, then BLAMMO! Tons of stuff on one focused topic comes out, all at once, just overwhelming us.

Well, this kind of just happened recently. And NO, I’m not talking about “Windows 7 Phone Mobile System 7 Mobility Solution for Mobile Phones” … or whatever-the-heck-it’s called.

I’m talking about Office 2010. And, specifically, deploying that big ‘ol beast using Group Policy.

I do cover how to deploy Office 2010 (and Office 2007 for that matter) in my big green book (www.GPanswers.com/book) but it’s also true Microsoft has made some newly available docs which give some extra oomph to dealing with that rollout.

PS: If you’re coming to my Chicago class NEXT WEEK, then GOOD NEWS !    I’ve decided to put my working gloves on, and POOF ! Now, you’ve got a brand new “unannounced” extra bonus lesson with hands-on labs for “Office 2010 + Group Policy = Deployment !” So, see you there. (Two seats left, by the way… https://www.gpanswers.com/training if you want to claim ’em.)

If you can’t make it to Chicago, here’s the “self help” resources I talked about.

() TechNet Magazine Auto Deploy Office 2010 with Free Tools:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ff956190.aspx

() Deploy Office 2010 by using Group Policy computer startup scripts
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff602181.aspx

() For IT professionals: Group Policy for Microsoft Office 2010
http://tinyurl.com/23g8txf

() Office 2010 Administrative Template files (ADM, ADMX, ADML) and Office Customization Tool
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc178992.aspx#section8

I do gotta say “Thanks Microsoft.”  Having to slog though without the docs (even, heck.. WITH the docs) out on your own is PAINFUL. Really. But these newer docs do ease that pain a little bit. I know people are hep on trying to roll out Office 2010.. and it isn’t easy.

Hopefully these docs help you make the magic happen. Until next time !

Jeremy Moskowitz
GPanswers.com (Group Policy Community)
PolicyPak.com    (PolicyPak Software)

By now you saw the video related to this blog posting. If you haven’t yet, then STOP, watch this, then come back here:

http://tinyurl.com/admx-overlap-video

Okay. Now that you understand the “ADMX overlap” issue a little more, here’s the EXACT list of files that are exclusive to each operating system. So, if you want to have “100% of it all” be sure to copy up ONE operating system’s ADMX files, then hunt the rest of these down, and also put them in the Central Store.

(For more information on the Central Store, I would suggest my live or GP Online University Training course. Just click Training | Get Training and check it out.) Here’s the list:

Server 2008 R2 “only” ADMX / AXML files:

• Adfs.admx
• GroupPolicyPreferences.admx
• Group Policy-Server.admx
• Kdc.admx
• MMCSnapIns2.admx
• NAPXPQex.admx
• PowerShellExecutionPolicy.admx
• PswdSync.admx
• ServerManager.admx
• Snis.admx
• TerminaServer-Server.admx
• WindowsServer.admx

Windows 7 only ADMX files:

• DeviceRedirection.admx
• Sdiagschd.admx
• Search.admx

Guest Post by Alan Burchill (Enterprise Mobility MVP) from the Group Policy Center.

Microsoft has now released to the public the newest version of Internet Explorer 9 Beta to the public. If the new functionality alone is not enough to get you to use it is just remember that it is now a Fully Hardware accelerated which makes it much faster than any other browser on the market!!

With any new version IE there comes new features and with new features comes new group policy settings so below I go through the new policy settings and how you can get started right now with managing IE9 using Group Policy.

To get started you will need to download and install IE9 on whatever computer you are using Group Policy Management Console (a.k.a. GPMC) to edit your Group Policy settings as with anything to do with Group Policy it is normally best to make changes from a systems that has the newest software on it in your organisation.

WARNING: This software is still Beta so you are strongly recommended to isolate any testing you do with IE9 and Group Policy from your production environment.

Internet Explorer 9 Administrative Template Group Policy Settings

There are only 8 new Admin Template group policy setting but remember that just like previous version most of the  other older IE policy settings will still apply to this newer of IE. Theses settings are of course not final and Microsoft could change or added/remove more setting before the product goes RTW.

As IE 9 only supports Windows Vista and Windows 7 you now only get ADMX files for the new policy settings which will automatically get placed into the C:WindowsPolicyDefenitions folder on the computer you install IE9. Note: You will need to upload inetres the ADMX and ADML file to the central store (if you are using a admin template central store.) So once the new ADMX / ADML files are loaded you will be able to configured the new IE setting under Administrative Templates in the Group Policy Editor. Sweet!

To save you the time of trying to find where the new policy settings are yourself I have listed the 8 new Administrative Template settings with the location that they can be found so you can check them out yourself.

Disable add-on performance notification

Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer

Turn off Managing SmartScreen Filter

Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer

Allow Internet Explorer 8 Shutdown Behaviour

Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer

Automatically enable newly installed add-ons

Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer

Prevent Deleting Download History

Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer > Delete Browsing History

Enable WebM software (when available)

Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer > Advanced Settings > Multimedia

Prevent configuration of search from the Address bar

Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer > Advanced Settings > Searching

Install binaries signed by MD2 and MD4 signing technologies

Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer > Security Features > Binary Behaviour Security Restrictions

Internet Explorer 9 Internet Explorer Maintenance Group Policy

The other way you can configured IE9 with Group policy is by going to Windows Settings > Internet Explorer Maintenance section and as with previous version you can configure you IE setting (e.g. Home Page) or you can Import the current Program and/or Security using the Import Program Setting option.

Internet Explorer 9 Group Policy Preferences Group Policy

Umm… err… Unfortunately at this point in time there is no support for Group Policy Preferences with Internet Explorer 9. This may or may not change in the future but at least for now you can use Admin Templates and IE Maintenance mode to keep you going.

As the beta has only just been released then it is highly likely that there will be more information coming soon…

This article was original posted on the Group Policy Center at http://www.grouppolicy.biz/2010/09/internet-explorer-9-beta-group-policy-settings/

I really can’t take credit for this one. I’m going to just give the shout outs “in advance” to my friends who made this blog entry possible: Alex Verboon, Alan Burchill GP MVP, Darren Mar-Elia GP MVP, Mark Heitbrink GP MVP and the Group Policy Team itself.

Okay, with that out of the way, here’s “Jeremy’s 100% ripped-off guide to searching for stuff in Group Policy.”

Item 1: Online Group Policy Search
——

There’s a new “online” ability to search for Group Policy settings and items. It’s DUN-DUN-DUN… “In the cloud!” Aiighh.. Run for your life !! Okay, not really. It’s just a web page. Go to this address, and start searching for new Group Policy settings you didn’t know existed:

http://gps.cloudapp.net/

Item 1B: Online Group Policy Search, now inside Explorer
——————————————————–

I first came across this tip in a post from Alex Verboon. I’m not sure if Alan Burchill, Enterprise Mobility MVP had the same idea at the same time, or what, but they both discovered how you can link that “cloud app” to Windows 7 Explorer’s search. So, you can search for Group Policy settings, right from Windows Explorer.

Weird. Geeky. Neat.

The writeup is here:

http://www.grouppolicy.biz/2010/06/msdn-group-policy-search-out-now/

Item 2A:  Searching for GPOs… with comments.. Using Powershell
————————————————————–

The Group Policy team has a new blog entry which talks about the first two items I’ve listed. –And-  that blog entry continues to talk about Group Policy cmdlets in PowerShell.

The idea is that you can use the Group Policy cmdlets to search for attributes about GPOs themselves. Neat.

They’ve got a big ol’ PowerShell script you can use if you like right there.

However, my pal Jeff Hicks, PowerShell MVP helped me get it down to one quick line if you want to try it out. (Actually, it’s two lines.) Remember, you need a Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 machine with PowerShell installed to try this out.

Line 1: Import-Module GroupPolicy
Line 2:  get-gpo -all | where {$_.description} | Select Displayname,Description

When I run this command, I get the following output.. Neat !

DisplayName                      Description
———–                     ———–
OU 1                           Yep. Here’s a comment.

Item 2B: Searching for GPOs.. with comments .. No PowerShell
————————————————————

PowerShell isn’t for everyone; thought it is becoming the “de facto” way of doing lots of scripting. Mark Heitbrink, Enterprise Mobility MVP supplied this little nugget of goodness.

Note that this requires that you’ve got the Group Policy Scripts installed from here.

After that, you can use these canned VB scripts to run a command like…

cscript getreportforallgpos /c:gpo-report | find /i “something” c:gpo-report*.html

Final thoughts…
——————

That’s it. That’s all the stealing I’m doing for one day. Thanks to all my helpers.

PS: The inspiration of the title of this blog entry is from a song on of my favorite albums that no one ever heard of. Track 2; there’s a preview if you want to listen.
http://www.amazon.com/Its-Fun-Steal-Mono-Puff/dp/B0000069SW

PS: One seat left in Chicago with the FIRST7CHICAGO $300 off discount. Get the GP Training you need to rollout and secure your Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 machines. Use that coupon code at checkout. https://www.gpanswers.com/training Don’t be that guy or gal who missed out. You can also call Diane at 302-351-4903 if you don’t want to sign up online.

Team:

I’m racing toward getting out the door for my 30+ day trip to tour Australia and speak at Microsoft TechEd Australia and New Zealand.

But, I had a quick second to share a fun little PowerShell + GP tip… If you’ve NEVER used PowerShell before.. try this one. It’s fun and easy.

If you want to install the GPMC on a Windows Server 2008 R2 machine via command line, you can use PowerShell. The commands are as follows:

• Import-Module Servermanager
• Add-WindowsFeature GPMC

Then, if you then run the following command you will see the status as installed

• Get-WindowsFeature GPMC

Try it.. something “special” that’s unexpected and neat happens. It’s super-fun !

Also.. I came across this super-nice write up of my latest book. I can’t even figure out the person’s name to thank him for such a nice review..  but, Thank You Mr. or Ms. Whomever you are.

Here’s the review:
http://www.anotherwindowsblog.com/2010/08/book-highlight-group-policy.html

Now, get your signed copies at:
www.GPanswers.com/book

Limited number, since I’m running out the door, and won’t have any to sign for a month !

Talk soon.. Gotta run !

Jeremy Moskowitz
GPanswers.com (Group Policy Community)
PolicyPak.com    (PolicyPak Software)